Holywell Trust has taken stock to have a serious discussion on how we make progress to embed peace more fully into our society.
With the launch of their book Lessons from the Troubles and the Unsettled Peace, Gerard Deane believes it is imperative to continue these important conversations, even as we face Covid-19.
Forward together
The book is a compilation of interviews previously aired as the Forward Together podcasts.
Holywell Trust – a long established peace and reconciliation charity in Derry-Londonderry – is core funded by the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council (CRC). The Forward Together podcasts were supported by CRC through its Media Grant Scheme, and the book financed with a Department of Foreign Affairs grant.
The podcasts and book engaged political and civic leaders to consider how to make progress in Northern Ireland, looking particularly at how we strengthen civic society; how communities can live together in a shared society; how we deal with the past, while improving reconciliation; and how we can discuss the constitutional future in ways that are positive, respectful and not damaging or threatening.
Inequality, poverty, division
Speaking about the book, Editor Paul Gosling believes several causes of the Troubles remain outstanding and it is now time to have a serious discussion about how to continue making progress.
Paul said: “Some of the causes of the Troubles remain outstanding – inequality, poverty, divisions that exist because people have very different lives as a result of where they live or the circumstances they were born into.
“Interviewees told us that peace and reconciliation is a long process – a 50-year journey that we are not even half way into. It is time to take stock and have a serious discussion on how we make progress to embed peace more fully into our society. This book is an attempt to do this."
Heart of our society
Gerard Deane, Holywell Trust Director, feels it is imperative to continue to have these important – and sometimes difficult – conversations, even as we face the Covid-19 pandemic.
Gerard said: "I believe that the Forward Together interviews and this book, which compiles the views of people who have been at the heart of our society for many years, can be an important contribution in helping us to move forward, together.
“We feel that it is essential that we continue these important conversations even as we face Covid-19."
Lessons from the Troubles
You can order a copy of the book here: https://www.holywelltrust.com/