The impermanence of land and legacy by Allan LEONARD 26 July 2023 Impermanence is a collection of essays by writers from or living in Northern Ireland. Its co-editor, Neil Hegarty led a discussion at a John Hewitt International Summer School event, with contributors Jan Carson, Susan McKay, and Nandi Jola, reflecting upon the book’s themes … Continue reading The impermanence of land and legacy
GFA and Windsor Framework ‘tributes to complexity’: McDonagh at JHISS by Allan LEONARD 24 July 2003 At the opening address of this year’s John Hewitt International Summer School in Armagh, Bobby McDonagh, former Irish Ambassador to the UK and Permanent Representative to the EU, explored themes of the nature of identity, the beauty of complexity, … Continue reading GFA and Windsor Framework ‘tributes to complexity’: McDonagh at JHISS
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 Opsahl Commission 30th anniversary: ‘civic poetry’ still yielding insights
'Forcing carers out of work doubly disastrous': Good Morning Ulster interview with Allan Leonard 5 June 2023 Joel TAGGART: Now many of Northern Ireland's unpaid carers are begging for help for greater support from the health service. They're at breaking point and calling for more opportunities for a short-term break from caring, or respite … Continue reading ‘Forcing carers out of work doubly disastrous’: Good Morning Ulster interview with Allan Leonard
‘Our voice is starting to be heard’: On Your Behalf interview with Allan Leonard 22 April 2023 Linda MACAULAY: Now, there was a call this week from Northern Ireland MLAs for Stormont officials to begin work on a strategy to help thousands of unpaid carers. The letter to the Department of Health's permanent secretary, … Continue reading ‘Our voice is starting to be heard’: On Your Behalf interview with Allan Leonard
‘A long-term devotion to complexities’: women, art and activism by Allan LEONARD 3 June 2023 As part of the Belfast Photo Festival and hosted by the Ulster Museum, several panels of women spoke about how the realms of artistic practice and activism have evolved over recent decades, with consideration of future change. National Museums NI … Continue reading ‘A long-term devotion to complexities’: women, art and activism
‘Human peace wall’ marks Good Friday Agreement's 25th anniversary by Allan LEONARD 7 April 2023 A “human peace wall” event at a Belfast interface marked the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. About 100 people lined up from the Falls Road to the Shankill Road end on Northumberland Street, forming a line of solidarity … Continue reading ‘Human peace wall’ marks Good Friday Agreement’s 25th anniversary
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 Book review — Refugees and Forced Displacement in Northern Ireland’s Troubles (Niall GILMARTIN and Brendan Ciarán BROWNE)
Good Friday Agreement ‘best thing that’s happened on this island in the last 100 years’: Coveney by Allan LEONARD 19 October 2022 Minister Simon Coveney TD, Ireland Minister for Foreign Affairs, resumed his speech that was interrupted by a bomb scare earlier this year in north Belfast. He was the keynote speaker guest as part … Continue reading Good Friday Agreement ‘best thing that’s happened on this island in the last 100 years’: Coveney
Media’s role in mediating our 'different psychic landscapes' by Allan LEONARD 18 October 2022 A set of current and former journalists shared their experiences and thoughts on the role of media and social debate across the island of Ireland. Hosted by the Irish Association, the event “Journalism without borders” attracted several dozen, including other journalists … Continue reading Media’s role in mediating our ‘different psychic landscapes’
‘Just drawing support’ — Bill Rolston’s latest catch of mural hunting by Allan LEONARD 11 August 2022 Bill Rolston published the first volume of Drawing Support in 1992, which contained images of 100 murals from the previous decade. Thirty years later, the fifth volume has just been published, and at a Feile an Phobail event … Continue reading ‘Just drawing support’ — Bill Rolston’s latest catch of mural hunting
‘The South is not ready for unification’: Andy Pollak by Allan LEONARD 26 July 2022 The theme for the 35th John Hewitt International Summer School was “Finding the national: redefining home and country for a shared future”, which asked how much “home”, “country”, “identity”, and “nation” matter, or should matter in a shared future, and … Continue reading ‘The South is not ready for unification’: Andy Pollak
