‘The violence is continuing’: scholars examine embodied memory of conflict

Metal sculptures arranged in circular formation.

‘The violence is continuing’: scholars examine embodied memory of conflictby Allan LEONARD6 May 2026 The International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE) at Ulster University hosted a seminar to mark the exhibition “Aftershocks: The Sensory Afterlives of Violence”, on display at the university’s Belfast campus until 13 May. The seminar brought together Professor Roísín Higgins (Maynooth University), who organised the event... Continue Reading →

08/05/2026 0

The afterlife of Troubles’ memories

The afterlife of Troubles’ memoriesby Allan LEONARD10 December 2024 Why do survivors of the Troubles conflict in Northern Ireland recall what they do when providing their oral histories to interviewers? What is the collective effect? In a seminar, “The Afterlife of Feelings in Oral Histories of the Troubles”, Ulster University INCORE visiting professor Graham Dawson... Continue Reading →

10/12/2024 0

‘Nothing for the likes of us to be afraid of’: Me Oul Segocia review

‘Nothing for the likes of us to be afraid of’: Me Oul Segocia reviewby Allan LEONARD13 November 2024 “We’re quiet, decent folk. There’s nothing for the likes of us to be afraid of,” says Danny, who wants to assure his fiancée Eileen that the increasingly deteriorating security situation in their neighbourhood won’t seriously affect them... Continue Reading →

21/11/2024 0

The Memories of Others: the Irish work of Akihiko Okamura

The Memories of Others: the Irish work of Akihiko Okamura by Allan LEONARD 12 April 2024 Highlighting the exhibition and book of the Irish work of Japanese photographer Akihiko Okamura, Photo Museum Ireland hosted a curators’ panel discussion and a publisher’s presentation. Several dozen attended two hour-long sessions, surrounded by framed colour photographs from his... Continue Reading →

15/05/2024 0

Opsahl Commission 30th anniversary: ‘civic poetry’ still yielding insights

Opsahl Commission 30th anniversary: ‘civic poetry’ still yielding insights by Allan LEONARD 4 July 2023 Laurence Simms (joint secretary of the British-Irish Secretariat) hosted a reception to mark the 30th anniversary of the Opsahl Commission, which invited and gathered oral and written submissions from individuals and civil society organisations about their suggestions for the way... Continue Reading →

24/07/2023 0

Acknowledging deep hurt and pain: Day of Reflection at Belfast City Hall

Acknowledging deep hurt and pain: Day of Reflection at Belfast City Hall by Allan LEONARD 21 June 2023 Belfast City Council hosted an annual Day of Reflection event for a second year, providing an opportunity for people and communities across the city to acknowledge the deep hurt and pain caused by the conflict in and... Continue Reading →

21/06/2023 0

The memorials in our heads: the Im/material Monument (Gail Ritchie)

The memorials in our heads: the Im/material Monument (Gail Ritchie) by Allan LEONARD 11 April 2023 As the information sheet for Gail Ritchie’s exhibition, The Im/material Monument, points out, 25 years after the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement there is no memorial to commemorate the collective dead of the Troubles. Through a series of... Continue Reading →

11/04/2023 0

Book review — Refugees and Forced Displacement in Northern Ireland’s Troubles (Niall GILMARTIN and Brendan Ciarán BROWNE)

Book review — Refugees and Forced Displacement in Northern Ireland’s Troubles (Niall GILMARTIN and Brendan Ciarán BROWNE) by Allan LEONARD 17 February 2023 Among the imagery associated with the Troubles, occasionally you see one of a van or car overladen with house furniture and hastily assembled parcels of clothing and personal possessions. These people were... Continue Reading →

18/02/2023 0

Reporting the Troubles 2: An important storytelling contribution

Reporting the Troubles 2: An important storytelling contributionby Kellie BANCALARI and Allan LEONARD19 April 2022 Imagine getting a call in the middle of the night. It’s a source and they have a statement; they are going to execute two of your colleagues every week because they don’t agree with your workplace’s political leanings. Your name,... Continue Reading →

08/04/2022 0

WNIMTM — Malachi O’DOHERTY

In this episode of What Northern Ireland Means to Me, we meet Malachi O'Doherty, who is a writer and commentator. TRANSCRIPT I think in some ways there's a wave pattern in history in Northern Ireland, and the wave pattern being one between trouble and peace. A lot depends on where you were born on... Continue Reading →

23/09/2021 0

The media’s role in peacebuilding: none of its business?

The media’s role in peacebuilding: none of its business? by Allan LEONARD 9 June 2021 So is peacebuilding none of the media’s business? That was a conclusion that broadcaster and journalist, Declan Harvey, posed to a panel of fellow journalists and writers at an online webinar delivered through Belfast City Council’s PEACE IV Programme, which... Continue Reading →

10/06/2021 0

Considering Grace: An invitation to listen

Considering Grace: An invitation to listen by Allan LEONARD 5 November 2019 Considering Grace, by Gladys Ganiels and Jamie Yohanis, is a new book that explores how Presbyterians responded to the Troubles, through a series of narratives from 120 people who tell their stories of how they coped with trauma and tests of their faith.... Continue Reading →

06/11/2019 1

Tag: The Troubles