Peacebuilder History
People involved in the peace building and reconciliation process.
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Father Alec Reid (1931 – 2013)
Father Alec Reid grew up in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, where he attended the Christian Brothers school. In 1949, Reid joined the Redemptorist order and later in 1957 was ordained a priest. Reid moved to Clonard monastery in Belfast a few years later where he spent the majority of his life. The monastery is located in west Belfast, positioned directly between the Falls Road, a Catholic Nationalist community and the Shankill Road, a Loyalist community. While he shared the republican ideal of a British-free, united Ireland, Reid was horrified by the violent measures the IRA had been taking towards unification. Father Alec Reid’s ground-breaking reconciliation methods helped finalize the 1998 Good Friday Agreement as well as the final destruction of IRA weapons and explosives in 2005. He has been honored with numerous Peace Awards over the years and in 2008 Reid was made an Honorary Graduate and Doctor of the University of Ulster. He passed away in November of 2013 in Dublin where he had spent the remaining years of his life.
Father Alec Reid grew up in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, where he attended the Christian Brothers school. In 1949, Reid joined the Redemptorist order and later in 1957 was ordained a priest. Reid moved to Clonard monastery in Belfast a few years later where he spent the majority of his life. The monastery is located in west Belfast, positioned directly between the Falls Road, a Catholic Nationalist community and the Shankill Road, a Loyalist community. While he shared the republican ideal of a British-free, united Ireland, Reid was horrified by the violent measures the IRA had been taking towards unification. Father Alec Reid’s ground-breaking reconciliation methods helped finalize the 1998 Good Friday Agreement as well as the final destruction of IRA weapons and explosives in 2005. He has been honored with numerous Peace Awards over the years and in 2008 Reid was made an Honorary Graduate and Doctor of the University of Ulster. He passed away in November of 2013 in Dublin where he had spent the remaining years of his life.
Albert Reynolds (1932 - 2014)
“Who is afraid of peace?"
Albert Reynolds served as the Taoiseach, or prime minister of the Republic of Ireland from February 1992 to December 1994. Prior to his reign as Taoiseach, Reynolds was elected in 1977 to serve on the Irish Parliament where he held several cabinet positions, including finance and commerce ministries. Reynolds was the first to develop contacts between the government of Dublin and pro-British paramilitaries in Northern Ireland as well as persuade republicans and fugitive Irish Republican Army (IRA) members to politically engage in the overall goal of a united Ireland. In addition to helping lay the foundation of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, Reynolds also issued the 1993 Downing Street Declaration (DSD) in tandem with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, John Major. In essence, it granted both the people of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to solve the issues between them by mutual consent. Reynolds recently passed away at the age of 81 in August of 2014.
“Who is afraid of peace?"
Albert Reynolds served as the Taoiseach, or prime minister of the Republic of Ireland from February 1992 to December 1994. Prior to his reign as Taoiseach, Reynolds was elected in 1977 to serve on the Irish Parliament where he held several cabinet positions, including finance and commerce ministries. Reynolds was the first to develop contacts between the government of Dublin and pro-British paramilitaries in Northern Ireland as well as persuade republicans and fugitive Irish Republican Army (IRA) members to politically engage in the overall goal of a united Ireland. In addition to helping lay the foundation of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, Reynolds also issued the 1993 Downing Street Declaration (DSD) in tandem with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, John Major. In essence, it granted both the people of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to solve the issues between them by mutual consent. Reynolds recently passed away at the age of 81 in August of 2014.
Baroness May Blood (1938 - )
During her days as a linen mill worker, Blood began her work as a political activist and peace keeper with the creation of the women’s committee in the trade union, which promoted equality for working women. She later helped to found the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition in 1996. Throughout recent years, Blood has dedicated much of her time and energy towards integrated education. Blood has been awarded many honors including honorary degrees from the University of Ulster in 1998, Queen’s University in 2000, and Open University in 2001, and in 1999 was the first woman in Northern Ireland to be awarded the life peerage award. She is currently a Labour member of the British House of Lords.
During her days as a linen mill worker, Blood began her work as a political activist and peace keeper with the creation of the women’s committee in the trade union, which promoted equality for working women. She later helped to found the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition in 1996. Throughout recent years, Blood has dedicated much of her time and energy towards integrated education. Blood has been awarded many honors including honorary degrees from the University of Ulster in 1998, Queen’s University in 2000, and Open University in 2001, and in 1999 was the first woman in Northern Ireland to be awarded the life peerage award. She is currently a Labour member of the British House of Lords.
Alistair Little (1958 - )
“Reconciliation is built on truth: if it isn’t, it will fail.”
Alistair Little joined the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) when he was very young due to the death of his close friend’s father. At the age of seventeen, Little shot and killed a Catholic man by the name of James Griffin because he was informed that the man had been making threats to some of his Protestant co-workers. He spent next twelve years of his life in the Maze prison and upon his release has been working in a variety of conflict transformation workshops to tackle the causes of violence and the efforts of reconciliation. In addition, Little is also involved with the Forgiveness project, a U.K. charity whose mission is to “open up a dialogue about forgiveness and promote understanding through awareness, education and transformation.”
“Reconciliation is built on truth: if it isn’t, it will fail.”
Alistair Little joined the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) when he was very young due to the death of his close friend’s father. At the age of seventeen, Little shot and killed a Catholic man by the name of James Griffin because he was informed that the man had been making threats to some of his Protestant co-workers. He spent next twelve years of his life in the Maze prison and upon his release has been working in a variety of conflict transformation workshops to tackle the causes of violence and the efforts of reconciliation. In addition, Little is also involved with the Forgiveness project, a U.K. charity whose mission is to “open up a dialogue about forgiveness and promote understanding through awareness, education and transformation.”
Linda Ervine
“Language doesn't fly a flag, it doesn't have a political outlook.”
Linda Ervine was born and raised in Northern Ireland and comes from a mixed family background, though classifies herself as a British Protestant. Ervine’s pregnancy at 16 drastically changed her life, making it difficult to devote her time to anything but her child and work. It wasn’t until her first grandchild that she rediscovered her love of learning. Ervine participated in a six-week long program learning Gaelic, Ulster Scots, and Scots Gaelic at East Belfast Mission and enjoyed it so much that she decided to create her own beginners class. Today Ervine’s Irish Language Programme, Turas (meaning journey) has received mixed reviews from a still divided community. In an interview with Belfast Telegraph, Linda Ervine states that her agenda is to “make the Irish language accessible to everybody, to dilute the power of those who would use it for political purposes. For those who try and make out that the Irish language is there for nobody unless you are republican, nationalist or Catholic, well that's just not true. To me it has the potential to unify people, not to divide them.” However, in 2015, Ervine was recognized for her commitment to Turas and received the Community Relations Council (CRC) Civic Leadership Award. Turas continues to grow, offering a number of classes per week and teaching over 120 students.
“Language doesn't fly a flag, it doesn't have a political outlook.”
Linda Ervine was born and raised in Northern Ireland and comes from a mixed family background, though classifies herself as a British Protestant. Ervine’s pregnancy at 16 drastically changed her life, making it difficult to devote her time to anything but her child and work. It wasn’t until her first grandchild that she rediscovered her love of learning. Ervine participated in a six-week long program learning Gaelic, Ulster Scots, and Scots Gaelic at East Belfast Mission and enjoyed it so much that she decided to create her own beginners class. Today Ervine’s Irish Language Programme, Turas (meaning journey) has received mixed reviews from a still divided community. In an interview with Belfast Telegraph, Linda Ervine states that her agenda is to “make the Irish language accessible to everybody, to dilute the power of those who would use it for political purposes. For those who try and make out that the Irish language is there for nobody unless you are republican, nationalist or Catholic, well that's just not true. To me it has the potential to unify people, not to divide them.” However, in 2015, Ervine was recognized for her commitment to Turas and received the Community Relations Council (CRC) Civic Leadership Award. Turas continues to grow, offering a number of classes per week and teaching over 120 students.