Peacebuilding a shared Northern Irish society
‘We collect without fear or favour’: embodying inclusion at the Linen Hall Libraryby Allan LEONARD16 October 2026 A Good Relations Week workshop at the Linen Hall Library offered an unusual angle on this year’s theme of ‘Include’: rather than framing inclusion as a goal to be worked toward, it asked how a library collection can... Continue Reading →
‘If you remove fear, you can build trust’: young people, peace walls, and Belfast’s futureby Allan LEONARD15 October 2026 A screening of Two Sides to Every Wall, a documentary about young people living alongside Belfast’s peace walls, brought young people, community practitioners, a social anthropologist, and a government official together at a Good Relations Week... Continue Reading →
‘Days of conversation, centuries of consequence’: Benjamin Franklin at Hillsborough Castleby Allan LEONARD16 September 2026 The Linen Hall Library in Belfast hosted the final event in its five-part series marking the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. The talk, introduced by Patsy Horton, the library’s cultural programmer, was delivered by David Orr, Castle... Continue Reading →
Violence receding, foundations lagging: findings from new Northern Ireland Peace Indexby Allan LEONARD2 September 2026 Queen’s University Belfast’s Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice hosted the launch of the first Northern Ireland Peace Index (NIPI). The Index is the result of a partnership between QUB and the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), an independent, non-partisan global think... Continue Reading →
'It's all here to be told': Ulster's role in the American declaration of independenceby Allan LEONARD25 August 2026 The Linen Hall library in Belfast hosted a panel discussion as part of its USA-NI 250 exhibition programme, marking the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. The event, “The American Declaration of Independence: American and... Continue Reading →
‘Parental choice is an illusion’: the gap between integrated education demand and provisionby Allan LEONARD6 August 2026 As part of this year’s Féile debates and discussion programme, the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) hosted a public event at St Mary’s University College in Belfast, to launch new research into the reality of parental choice in school selection in Northern Ireland. The event was chaired... Continue Reading →
Songs of the blackberry path: Tia Bow maps a journey from the Troubles to discoveryby Allan LEONARD30 July 2026 Blackberry Path is a forthcoming album by Belfast-based songwriter Tia Bow (Fionnuala Fagan-Thiébot), with her bandmates Clare Galway and Danny Trouton. Their one-hour live performance of all of the album’s songs delved into Fagan-Thiébot’s personal narrative, exploring themes... Continue Reading →
‘Productive discomfort’: artists grapple with identity’s contradictions in live ARINS podcastby Allan LEONARD8 May 2026 Belfast Exposed gallery on Donegall Street hosted a live recording of the ARINS “My Identity” podcast on 8 May 2026, as part of the BIEN programme — an ongoing series of exhibitions and events under the title “British? Irish? Either?... Continue Reading →
A celebration of music journalism and Belfast’s musical legacy:book launch event for The Song is Nearly Over by Stuart Bailieby Allan LEONARD6 November 2025 On a memorable evening at The Deer's Head, music journalist Stuart Bailie launched his new book chronicling 40 years in music journalism — The Song is Nearly Over. The event featured... Continue Reading →
mapsontheweb: The major walls in Belfast known as the “peace lines” that are supposed to separate Catholic majority and Protestant majority neighborhoods There are about 100 ‘peace walls’ in Belfast still, a quarter century after the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Source: Daily Mail
‘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 →
Belfast City Council memorial of the Troubles: "This fountain is dedicated to our employees who were killed or injured at work from 1969 to 1999. It also recognises the contributions of all our staff who continued to deliver public services during a very difficult time. The water and trees symbolise hope, rebirth and a new... Continue Reading →