The 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement gives legal recognition to the coexisting and overlapping national citizenships in Northern Ireland, entitling those born in the jurisdiction to be British, Irish, or both. The devolved administration codifies the traditional political identities of “Unionist” and “Nationalist”, as well as an opportunity for “Others”. The accord has also pledged greater … Continue reading Post-Agreement identity narratives: A photographic essay
The end of Catholic Ireland? by Allan LEONARD 6 November 2018 In what Alan Meban described the event as a symposium (“but don’t say it was in a bar” [The Dark Horse Inn]), Dr Gladys Ganiel, a sociologist of religion from Queen’s University Belfast, laid out quantitative and qualitative findings about the apparent secularisation process … Continue reading The end of Catholic Ireland?
Book review — Bobby Sands (Yan Morvan) by Allan LEONARD 11 October 2018 Sorj Chalandon ends his foreword with a question from Bobby Sands’ memorial card: “Will tomorrow be remembered?” He is with Bobby Sands, a photobook by Yan Morvan. https://youtu.be/20VVWz6XtVo It is said that a journalist creates the first draft of history, and Morvan’s … Continue reading Book review — Bobby Sands by Yan Morvan
Earning trust “story by story”: Can we believe the media? The role of journalism in the digital age by Allan LEONARD 4 October 2018 Ulster University — along with the UK press regulatory body, Impress, and the Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association (MeCCSA) — jointly hosted a symposium event at its Belfast campus: “Can … Continue reading Earning trust “story by story”
The Lost Moment exhibition: The provocation of 1968 by Allan LEONARD 27 September 2018 In the year 1968, there were street protests and marches in Belfast, Berlin, Derry/Londonderry, Paris, Prague, Selma and beyond. Some of the most powerful captured images and video clips are on display at The Lost Moment exhibition at the Gallery of … Continue reading The Lost Moment exhibition: The provocation of 1968
Developing respect in our politics: Leaders' debate by Allan LEONARD 8 August 2018 The high level of respect displayed by the audience and speakers at St Mary’s University College for a leaders’ debate organised by Féile Belfast belied that of the current political situation in Northern Ireland. Representing seven parties on the island of Ireland … Continue reading Developing respect in our politics: Leaders’ debate
“To change the riverflow of history”: Constitutional pasts and futures by Allan LEONARD 8 May 2018 Political and legal scholars, peacemakers and peacebuilders convened at the Royal Irish Academy to review and discuss potential constitutional relationships between Ireland and the United Kingdom, especially vis-a-vis Northern Ireland and the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the import of … Continue reading “To change the riverflow of history”: Constitutional pasts and futures
Ephemera to direct our future: Introduction to the Peter Moloney Collection by Allan LEONARD 10 April 2018 Peter Moloney, who collected Troubles-related ephemera for over 50 years, presented a personal lecture on how it began, why he decided to donate it all to the Tower Museum, and how he’ll keep on collecting. The negotiation to … Continue reading Ephemera to direct our future: Introduction to the Peter Moloney Collection
Coming to terms with our interdependencies #GFA20 by Allan LEONARD 10 April 2018 On the 20th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, it is easy to neglect the peace process that preceded it. My reference point is the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement, because I learned about the efforts of then Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald the year before, … Continue reading Coming to terms with our interdependencies #GFA20
Using our past better: Launch of Divided Society by Allan LEONARD 22 January 2018 Twenty and two years in the making, the Linen Hall Library launched its website, Divided Society, which features documentary material in its Northern Ireland Political Collection, of the peace process during the 1990s, with over 500 journal titles available. It is … Continue reading Using our past better: Launch of Divided Society
Photo Detectives: An exhibition of community-researched Irish photo history by Allan LEONARD 6 January 2018 Photo Detectives is an exhibition by the National Library of Ireland (NLI) at its National Photographic Archive site in Dublin, of a set of archive images that online Flickr users have assisted with research and providing illuminating further information. The … Continue reading Photo Detectives: An exhibition of community-researched Irish photo history
Rewrite our future! Washington Ireland Program Thanksgiving Ball 2017 by Allan LEONARD 25 November 2017 The Thanksgiving Ball has become an annual tradition of the Washington Ireland Program, held at this time of year in recognition of the generosity of families in America who host visiting participants. Tonight’s event, with several hundred attending at the … Continue reading Rewrite our future! Washington Ireland Program Thanksgiving Ball 2017
