PeaceIV Newsletter Spring 2020

Newsletter
Spring/Summer
2020
Changing
Perceptions
“You don’t always hear the other side
and you don’t always hear the human
story. See that re-humanisation? That
empathy? That goes a long way. It opens
a lot of doors.”
The group of women sit on red velvet
cinema chairs. There’s no popcorn.
They’re taking part in a ‘Theatre of
Witness’ workshop as part of their
Changing Perceptions project (delivered
by Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership).
“We don’t do this to upset you. We do
this to deliver truth,” says Anne, the
facilitator. “Most of us don’t get a chance
to use our voice or tell our own stories.
Everybody’s voice is important.”
The film has shown first hand testimony
from police, army, paramilitaries, victims,
survivors. Three of the women are in
the room. One a former member of the
IRA. One the wife of a civilian murdered
by the IRA. One a woman who suffered
domestic violence and mental health
issues in a Republican family. Together,
they witness to their combined healing
journey and transformation. Anne speaks
of the grace and emotion in the process.
The freedom to drop secret-carrying
and allow questions. “We’re trying to
show what’s possible…” she says. “It’s
about tackling paramilitarism as well…
showing women how to empower
themselves, that empowers their families,
their communities. The ripple effect is
immense...” There is a mumble of voices
as participants take a break to reflect.
The women on the ‘Changing
Perspectives’ project are from Creggan,
the Bogside and the Fountain. Interface
areas – predominantly ‘single-identity.’
“It’s our belief that paramilitaries have
functioned in all sides of the community,”
says Shauna, Creggan Neighbourhood
Partnership. “These women came
together on the project without
pretence. In the past, they’d never have
stepped foot into each other’s estates.
That the project survived, following the
murder of Lyra McKee, was remarkable.
We thought Fountain residents would’ve
been afraid. Instead, they knew the
Creggan portrayed in the media was
not the Creggan, nor the residents,
they’d got to know. Through residentials,
workshops and intense discussions,
they’d built unbreakable friendships.
Trust.”
There is a bravery in their working
together. They discuss the film. “Growing
up I thought it was all one sided,” says
Bridie. “This showed me two sides.” “It
sort of got me,” says Rachel. “Secret
stories I didn’t know. What went on
behind the scenes in the Troubles.”
Heartbreaking. Powerful. Moving. Words
repeated around the room. “It’s very
inspirational that people can come
together from different backgrounds and
work together,” says another participant.
“Lots of people ask me, how can you
work with that woman there?” says
Kathleen, facilitator. “We like to show
what is possible. My husband, murdered
by the IRA, her and ex-IRA woman. Do
you know where we’re going after this?
Shoe shopping in Buncrana. It’s strange
the way everything evolves…” The air is
thick with support for her as she speaks
of how her post-trauma stress is still
ongoing – triggers, flashbacks… Why
does she reach across difficult divides?
‘I’m doing it for Patsy,’ she says. ‘I’m not
condoning his death. I’m making good
come from it.’
“Whenever we have difficult stories,”
says Anne, “it’s best to tell them in a safe
place with the right people around you.”
Kathleen agrees. “It has transformed us
as people,” she says. “Our relationships
with families, how people in each other’s
communities see each other.” There is
something very poignant in the honesty.
A participant responds. “If more people
get together and talk, maybe we’ll not
go back to the Troubles,” she says. “If we
don’t talk how are we going to fix it?”

Shared Space
Orange Heritage & Islamic Traditions
Bryan Adams crackles on the bus
radio. Many of the Senior Citizens on
the bus remember a very different
Summer of ‘69. Today’s crosscommunity
trip is headed for the
Museum of Orange Heritage and
Belfast Islamic Centre. “We’ve been
taking people out of their comfort
zone to places they wouldn’t usually
go,” says Fiona, project worker. The
Triangle, Bonds Street and Shepherds
Glen are geographically close but
socially different. Before this project,
residents had never worked together.
“We’ve really gelled,” says Fiona.
Parenting classes; summer schemes;
sewing classes; Tourist in Our City, the
older people’s project…
“At the beginning you do be a wee
bit, is this going to work?” says Lloyd
“But it’s been fantastic. We’ve done
the 2 cathedrals, St.Columba’s trail,
the Mem (Apprentice Boys Hall), the
cemetery - places you’d walked past
but never been inside. Hearing history
we’d never heard of. Every story has
two sides. Working together – I love it.
My fear is a sudden stop.” He gestures
with his hands. “See if you’re building
trust and communities together, you
have to keep it going, but the man
above is looking down on us. See all
these trips – we haven’t had a bad day
ever.”
“I was never in the Longtower Chapel
or City Cemetery in my life,” says
Arlene. It’s lovely to be able to see my
whole city. “We’d cultural workshops
too – Indian saris, a Scottish ceilidh.”
“This project has linked people – big
time,” adds Thomas. “Fort Dunree – I
didn’t realise how beautiful it was. The
places we’re going today? Never been
in either of them.”
In the Museum of Orange Heritage
there is sshhing as we listen to the
guide. King Billy sits in solid silver
astride his horse. The Glorious
Revolution wasn’t a standalone
incident. The wars in Ireland were part
of events going on across Europe…’
Kings. Queens. Catholics. Protestants.
We hear the history with its quirks and
trinkets. William’s gloves. Lambegs
and banners with biblical scenes.
Posters of rights William introduced
– Freedom of Speech, Trial by
Jury… A 1690 Jacobite coin - James
‘made a mint’ in Dublin - coined
‘Gun money’ from melted weapons
and church bells to pay his troops.
Cannon balls. War medals. Wire
from Belsen Concentration camp.
Uniforms. Collarettes. Displays of
lodges in Brazilian Sugar Plantations
and French Trenches. Orangemen as
social reformers and Gaelic language
enthusiasts. The Battle of the Boyne
lasted half a day. We’re still talking
about it 300 years later.
Over lunchtime stew, May invites
everyone to her church luncheon club.
Annette enthuses about learning Irish
for the first time. “The trips together
are great,” says Sylvia, 94. “I loved
Lifford Jail.”
We take our shoes off entering the
Islamic Centre. “Allah is just the Arabic
for God – Arabic speaking Christians
use the same word,” says Almar. He
shows us a Koran. Leather bound
in navy and gold with Arabic script.
The thick red carpet is patterned
for prayer. Youtube shows us a boy
reciting the Koran from memory. It
triggers a flood of questions. “Do you
have simplified stories like children’s
bible stories?” “What about life after
death? Jesus? Confession?” “That
boxer, Mohammed Ali. He was a great
man...” “Are there many converts?”
“Would ye’s eat a wile lot after sunset
in Ramadam?” Almar explains the 5
pillars of Islam pointing out similarities
and differences with Christianity.
“That was from the heart,” says one
participant as we board the bus home.
“I never would’ve went here. Never
would’ve thought of this.”
“Now remember,” says Fiona, “safety
workshops, the trip to Sligo, the
Peace Walls residential. You’s have
it on those wee leaflets.” She smiles
at conversations up the bus. “You’re
asking about cross-community
friendships?” she whispers. “I’d be
wondering do we need to buy a hat!”
Page 2

The Sash,
the Snow
and the
Tin Whistle
The streets are like a bottle. Blizzard
conditions obscuring red, white
and blue kerbs. I half expect the
Newbuildings workshop to be
cancelled. I don’t expect to walk in on a
tin whistle lesson.
“Where’s the B?” asks one teenager.
“One finger,” says the tutor, Andrew.
They’re talking notes, not insults. “Exact
same fingers as the Bb flute,” says
Andrew. “You’s ’ll find this easy.”
Strains of Three Blind Mice. Hot Cross
Buns. A banner stand being used as a
drum. Lily Bolero. The Queen. The Sash.
Tin whistles held sideways like flutes for
fun. A surreal evening. Not just from the
snow.
“Theobald Boehm invented the
fingering system for flutes and
whistles,” says Andrew. “Flute players
often play tin whistle as a second
instrument.” He explains D is the usual
key for traditional music. Teenagers in
hoodies and runners listen attentively.
The group watch a YouTube clip of a
soldier. “He played in the Edinburgh
Tattoo,” says Andrew. “He’s from a
marching band round Lisburn.” The
Irish Guard plays two tin whistles at
once - top three notes on one whistle
sellotaped so he can harmonise, play
a counter melody alongside the tune.
Faster and faster. Highly skilled. In the
room there’s rhythmic foot tapping.
Spontaneous applause. “That was
lethal.”
Taylor, a young man on the crosscommunity
ARCH project, plays
Londonderry on the Foyle on his Bb
flute. “I’m from Newbuildings Youth
Club,” he says. “The flute’s always been
what’s played in our band. I never even
seen a tin whistle before. It’s exciting
- very similar to the flute. I’ve always
been musical. I do GCSE music.”
“Tonight’s about tin whistle and
bagpipes,” says Chris, project coordinator
with the North West
Cultural Partnership. “A lot of these
teenagers play in marching bands.
They’ve never heard tin whistle.
Given the environment, community
factors, they might never before have
had the chance.” The ARCH project
(Arts, Reconciliation, Culture and
Heritage) is about involving teenagers
in music, dance, drama - safe, fun
ways to experience culture. Respect
and understanding. They’re working
towards a legacy showcase. “We’re
teaching young people it’s okay to have
a culture and also engage with other
cultures.” Six hundred 8-14 year olds are
involved from Clady, Eglinton, Strabane,
The Derg, Lincoln Courts, Rosemount
and all over the city.
“Bagpipes are roughly 3000 years
old,” explains Darren, after a piping
demonstration. “They originated in
Egypt. These Highland ones are only
1000 years old. There’s pipes from
Spain, Northumbria, Border pipes…”
“Are you in a band?” asks one
participant. Darren nods. Bready. He
demonstrates how air travels down the
blowpipe and goes into the bag. The
teenagers guess the names of bagpipe
parts. “What’s this?” “The chanter.”
“This?” “A reed.” “Like a clarinet?” asks
one participant. “Naw,” says a girl. “More
like an oboe.” “Has any of your grannies
ever said would ye stop droning on?”
Darren asks. Nods round the room. “A
drone’s just a noise that keeps going.
Bagpipes have two tenor drones
and a bass drone.” He demonstrates
tuning. “No higher drone like alto and
soprano?” asks a girl.
“The Field Marshall Montgomery band
are five times world champions. They’ve
two players from Newbuildings. Dublin
has the St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band.
Two of the best bands are north and
south of the border,” says Darren. “The
Queen has a piper for an alarm clock.
He plays at 8.30am every morning.
Can’t play the same tune twice the
whole year.”
Outside, everywhere is blanketed
white. “You need a lot of skill to play
in a group,” says Andrew, closing the
workshop. “It’s critical we listen to each
other.” He’s right. It is.
Page 3

Homelessness
Going Beyond Tokenism
“It’s all in at Christmas. Come summertime, no-one wants
to talk about it,” says Martin (First Housing). “You can
be homeless for 101 different reasons but we all just see
somebody on the street corner with a brown paper bag
and a bottle… that’s a very small part of homelessness.”
In the Derry and Strabane area NIHE accepted 1315
people as homeless. Noel McNulty NIHE Local manager
in Strabane Office. “The people coming in are getting so
complex,” says Noel, NIHE Strabane Manager. “We’re not
health professionals. Our waiting lists are filled with single
males and pensioners. Demand for single lets is double the
availability.”
It is about discrimination. In days gone by, the ads in
England read “No Blacks. No Irish. No Dogs.” “All the
adverts locally are No DHSS…” says Kat. “The issues impact
Travellers worse. Landlords see a Traveller surname…”
It’s also about resources. “We’ve supported housing,” says
Aidy, First Housing. “Staff dealing with residents self-harm
at 4am would earn more working at the cinema.”
The conference in Strabane is part of the Beyond Tokenism
project, led by Lettershandoney and District Development
Group and bringing together people from Black and
Minority Ethnic, Disability, LGBT, political ex-prisoners and
victims/survivor’s groups. “The five groups we represent
disproportionately face homelessness as an issue,” says
Kat (Social Justice Trust). “This conference kicks off our
research. We need collaboration. Risk taking. Creative
thinking.” “It’s a strategic project,” says Aggie (Foyle Racial
Equality Forum). ‘Homelessness – not just on the street.
Also hidden homelessness.”
The quiz focuses minds on statistics. The number officially
homeless in the world? 100 million. People lacking
adequate housing? 1.6 billion. 25%. Of everyone. Closer
to home, in 2018, 55,000 presented as homeless to
the NIHE (Northern Ireland Housing Executive). 18,000
households. In 2019 NIHE allocated £1.8million to dealing
with homelessness. Murmurs. It’s a lot of money in a
population of 1.8 million. At one recent count, there were
13 rough sleepers in Derry. Disproportionately they’re
from minority ethnic backgrounds. Who’s to blame?
Participants discuss addiction, mental health, government
policy, community spirit, individual responsibility. “It can’t
be one single cause,” they say. “The biggest presenters
are single males. The biggest causes are tenancies ending,
relationship breakdown, drugs and alcohol, mental health
and affordability.” Can foreign homeless people get NIHE
accommodation? It depends. It’s complicated. More so now
with Brexit.
And also about reframing the conversation. “That term
voluntary homelessness. It’s problematic,” says Alexa,
Transgender NI. “How we talk about homelessness - there’s
an aspect of victim blaming… you chose to come out as
trans… you chose to drink… we see the coping mechanism
as the reason for the homelessness, not the symptom
of social alienation. Often it’s not that Trans people are
kicked out by their families,” she explains. “It’s that they’re
choosing to leave an unsafe situation that’s causing them
damage. We avoid going to the root of this because it’s
complicated. We’ve stayed too orange and green to focus
on the crisis impacting our communities.”
From conversations at the conference, three things are
needed. Early intervention. Sustainable solutions. Working
together.
Page 4

Don’t
Judge
a Book…
The venue is Strabane Library, but
the book borrowing in the Strabane
Shared Spaces project is completely
different. ‘We’ve human books in the
room today,’ says Gerard, Holywell
Trust. ‘They’ll each tell you their own
true story. Please treat the books with
respect.’ Participants move to different
tables. Conversations start.
“I’ll not tell you how old I am but
I bought the Beatles first single
on vinyl,” says Jennifer, a female
with transgender history. “I always
gravitated to girl’s things. By seven,
I knew intrinsically I was a girl. I
prayed. Puberty was horrendous. I
was 17 before I came across the word
transgender.” Participants listen. “We’re
taught at school there’s two genders,
but gender is a spectrum. It’s not as
cut and dried as we think. Epigenetics,
chromosones, genes, cells… it’s
complicated. Sexual orientation is who
you’re attracted to. Gender identity is
who you are. Gender dysphoria is like
a female brain in a male body or vice
versa. I came to Derry to transition.
For me, it was a safe place to become
the person I always was. One my life’s
greatest moments was getting my new
birth certificate. It said girl.”
Participants ask questions. Everything
is on the table. Puberty blockers,
gender affirmation surgery, family
impact, conversion therapy, religion,
mental health, differences north and
south of the border. “Today is my first
time to meet a transgender person,”
says one participant. He smiles.
“I’m Liam. Originally from Dungiven,”
says another book. ‘I remember
thinking at Primary School maybe
I’ll be a Republican when I grow up.’
He recalls witnessing trauma after
Burntollet; being in Derry on Bloody
Sunday. ‘I’d a mouthful of CS gas. It
forced me to the back of the march.
Then I heard the firing. Early 75 I joined
the INLA...’
Remand in Crumlin Road. A tenyear
sentence. H Block 3. “Our job
inside was to resist criminalisation.
No washing. No prison uniform.
Wrapping ourselves in prison blankets.
I could hear thumps, shouts, forced
washing, beatings. I also began to
read the bible,” he says. “One of the
lines, forgive us our sins as we forgive
others, seemed too far. That meant
the RUC, British Army, Loyalists, the
whole works. I prayed the prayer of
St.Francis – to understand rather than
be understood…”
“The whole thing was an era of
aggression. Beatings. Shootings. The
Iron Lady. We wanted political status.
Through small holes under heating
pipes a cigarette paper was passed…
I put my name down for the Hunger
Strike. I just thought, no matter what
comes – pain, psychological pressure
– just don’t let the side down.” Liam
pauses. “But I was changing. That
prayer… A foot in God’s camp and a
foot in the Republican Camp. Prisoners
cheered the deaths of 19 paratroopers
at Narrow water. That night I prayed
for their souls.” Participants are
attentive. “Hunger was the big thing.
After 4 weeks that passes. Day 44 my
eyesight started to go. I was violently
sick. Day 50 I went blind. Day 55 my
energy was leaving fast. I was sorry I
had to die.” Liam describes the priest
and his mother coming in to intervene.
The decision to stop. Recovery in
Musgrave. Personal reflections. “After
much mental struggle I dropped the
Republican end,” he says. “I went 100%
spiritual. I lived to tell the tale. My main
reason for doing this is to emphasise
the need to forgive. There’s a lot of
trauma that hasn’t moved on.”
Over lunch, participants reflect on the
overall project. “It was great to have
the chance to shape the programme,”
says Bríd, Lifford Clonleigh Resource
Centre. ‘It’s the first time in years we’ve
networked cross-border with Strabane
groups.” “The project has had different
elements,’ says Craig, facilitator. “A
Steering Group, Women’s Project,
Music Project, Cemeteries project…
we’re contributing to an empathy
revolution. That’s transformative.”
Page 5

Burning Issues
Something is afoot with bonfires. Not
the ‘same old.’ Something new.
“Crowds came from Irish street, Top
of the Hill, everywhere. Deckchairs,
wheelchairs, families, older residents…
they arrived at 4pm and stayed until
the fireworks,” says Claire, Community
Worker in Irish Street. “Jimmy Buckley
had a Dublin Reg Mercedes. He was
like “Am I OK? Is my car alright?”
By the time he hit the stage he was
“Unbelievable. Such a welcome!”
Claire smiles. You’d be forgiven for not
realising she’s describing bonfire night.
At an interface.
Bonfires are a tough area of peace
work. A poisoned chalice with rare
breakthroughs. So what’s changed with
the PEACE IV Bonfires/Alternatives
project?
“Previously council had no reference
point for bonfires – no policy, no
officer,” says Sean, Community
Engagement Officer on bonfires. He
recalls the project starting two years
ago. “Bonfires were a high profile issue
in many council areas. In unionist areas
the move on bonfires was seen as
a cultural attack. In nationalist areas
bonfires were in defiance at unionist
bonfires and largely unwanted events
by the majority within the community.
The flip side was communities wanted
to transform their celebrations. Some
for total alternatives, others in terms of
toxic materials and flags.” Sean’s job?
Connect with communities, build trust,
transform practice. Tough enough
for one bonfire. The council area
has nineteen.
“11th July, 12th August, 15th August,
Hallowe’en…” Sean gestures across
landscape. “Bonfires spanned from
Castlederg to Creggan. We started
with scoping who, what, where and
why – understanding the dynamics, the
influences behind the fires.”
Key initial building blocks included a
council bonfires policy and an all-party
interagency working group. “Political
consensus means we’re possibly the
only council issuing unified press
statements,” says Sean. “The bonfires
policy when developed was endorsed
by all political representatives at that
time and recognises bonfires as a
legitimate cultural expression if done
safely and respectfully.” In the political
and community context, confidence
and trust building, frank conversations
and confidential meetings were
essential. Listening, understanding
and engaging communities in action
planning was vital.
Seeking external support was of great
assistance. The Diamond Regeneration
group in East Belfast hosted a site visit
and then facilitated a cross
community conference in
Derry and Strabane Council area. They
explained howbonfire celebrations
there were transformed through
connection with neighbourhood
regeneration and re-imaging.
“Every neighbourhood’s different,”
explains Sean. “The next stage was
cross-community. Collective dialogue
asking what would impact positively?
What were shared issues? Anti-social
behaviour? Fly tipping? Interface
tensions? What did communities want?
Tyres, flags and election posters or
wood only emblem free? Could working
together create unity?” Engagement
became dynamic. Constructive. The
project wasn’t about usurping but
enhancing celebrations – making area
plans with agreed goals.
Collectively council, communities,
statutory agencies and emergency
services, co-ordinated cross-community
training - Events management, bonfires
alternatives, health and environment
awareness, good relations, fire safety.
Page 6

Conferences, site visits and dialogue
challenged thinking and awareness.
“Clooney, Irish street, Lincoln Courts,
Galliagh, Bogside, Creggan, Top of the
Hill… people worked to understand
each other’s communities,” says Sean.
“Ultimately they championed each
other’s areas and positions.” When a
Waterside community worker said
“We want an event like in the Gasyard
– no alcohol, no flags.” Bogside
community workers said “We’ll support
you in getting that.”
It wasn’t just talk. “The project’s
been hands on. We’d direct access
to council,” says Claire from Irish
Street. “If the lads needed non-wood
materials lifted, it worked. That feeling
of being understood… Council got
their heads round the why Protestant
communities want bonfires. It’s about
cultural diversity.” She grins. “You could
say council’s really flown the flag.”
“Council’s changed thinking was
significant,” says Alison, Waterside
Neighbourhood Partnership Manager.
“The policy, protocols, the working
group… mindsets changed. Unionist
bonfires were recognised as a cultural
celebration. That enabled working with
communities on event management
and hard conversations about what’s
burned.”
The project built on existing work.
“We’d already tackled tyres and
anti-social behaviour,” says Don from
Clooney. “PEACE funding took us
further – a culturally oriented day.
Pipes. Drums. Highland dancing. With
mediation the fire’s down to one flag.
The event is properly stewarded. It’s
the progression of five year’s effort.
We need continuing education. These
boys are engaging but there’ll be a
next group.”
Community workers identified
strength in combined working.
“Tackling bonfires here is a genuine
multi-agency thing going on eight,
nine years,” says Cathal, Shantallow
Centre Manager. “This community
doesn’t want bonfires. Our alternative
summer programme is a collective
effort. PEACE money filled in gaps.
Working with bonfire builders meant
we’d only one bonfire. 300 tyres were
removed. No toxic material. No reports
of anti-social behaviour. No arrests.
Three times young people moved the
bonfire – away from gas mains, roads,
housing.” Galliagh’s bonfire strategy
involves eight weeks of developmental
work with teenagers and a residential.
200 teenagers are away on bonfire
night. The same teenagers run the
summer programme – turning former
bonfire sites into community fun days.
“Young people usually collecting
were doing their bit instead – setting
up, contributing positively. Or saying
we can’t build here, there’s weans on
bouncy castles...”
Conchúr, Youth and Health Coordinator,
reflects on the situation
years previous. “One weekend cost
over £100,000 damage. Road surfaces,
traffic islands, police and fire callouts…
never mind the social impact of a
community in distress. All it takes is
investment. In this area, with funding,
we can eradicate bonfires.”
Success went beyond the city. In
Castlederg the bonfire was swapped
for a three day festival with broad
community appeal. “The marquee
beside the Orange Hall had GAA
supporters and local bandsmen,”
says Sean. “In Newtownstewart the
Somme Memorial Hall is close to the
GAA club. The family event had a flute
band parade and a wood only, emblem
free bonfire. People from different
communities intermingled.”
Yes, there are setbacks. Some
communities aren’t yet engaged. Flags
remain an issue. Clearly though, the
project is influencing behaviour. Of
19 bonfires, this year only 2 burned
tyres. Paramilitary flags and poppy
wreathes were removed. Communities
empowered. “Despite everyone’s best
efforts,” says Sean, “with bonfires
sometimes at the last minute things
go backwards.” This project breeds
cautious optimism. Sometimes things
go forwards.
Page 7

After Armageddon
After Armageddon we emerged
michelined and yawning
wide-eyed at first
stretching legs and vocal chords.
After Armageddon children spoke
of baking bread and garden plantings
parents basked in forest birdsong
elders embraced in ballroom dancing.
After Armageddon workers in pubs sat
mesmerised by bubbles in fresh pulled pints
cafés refilled with clatter
communities conveyed thanks.
After Armageddon people professed
new-found love for opera
opened doors into pristine houses
welcoming grubby fingerprints.
After Armageddon we looked skywards
in collective wondering
writers published wisdom and epitaphs
Forget-me-nots sang anthems of resistance.
Are you taking part yet?
There is something for everyone in our Council PEACE IV Programme. Why not get
involved and support peace in person? Contact us – we’re happy to help direct you to
something that meets your interests.
Want more information?
Sign up for our monthly e-bulletin at www.derrystrabane.com/Peace-IV or
browse our website.
The PEACE IV Team can be contacted at:
Email: peace@derrystrabane.com
Tel: 028 71 253 253
A project supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU
Programmes Body (SEUPB).
Page 8