It’s certain that people in Northern Ireland will continue to remember the events of its troubled past. What’s less certain is exactly how they will remember those events, and how they will choose to celebrate, commemorate or even condemn what has gone before.
Beginning in 2012, the island of Ireland will be heading into a decade in which the centenary of a number of key events will no doubt be marked. These include the Ulster Covenant, the Easter Proclamation, the Somme, the Irish War of Independence, partition and civil war.
It could be argued that these events have never been peacefully put to rest and opposing interpretations about them have been nurtured throughout the Troubles and up until the present day.
Beginning this week (Wednesday 19 January, 7.30-9.30 pm) the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin at Belfast, will begin a six-week continuing education course called ‘Ethical Remembering: Acknowledging the Decade of Change and Violence, 1912-1922.’
Facilitated by Dr Johnston McMaster and Dr Cathy Higgins, the weekly topics will include:
- Ethical Remembering and Future Vision (19 Jan)
- Covenant, Guns and Militarised Politics (26 Jan)
- Rising, Blood Sacrifice and Equality Deferred (2 Feb)
- The Somme, Slaughter and Sectarianised Memory (9 Feb)
- An Irish Parliament and a War of Independence (16 Feb)
- Partition, Civil War and Legacy (23 Feb)
The course is open to anyone interested in the subject matter and in improving understanding between the churches and within the local community. More information can be found here.
Gladys is a Professor of Sociology at Queen’s University Belfast and a member of the Royal Irish Academy.
She is also a runner who has represented Ireland and Northern Ireland. She blogs on religion and politics at gladysganiel.com