Port of Call LAST UPDATE July 21, 2010
site design imagesparkle.com
June 22, 2010 Dublin – Building Peace through Dialogue
image

The Centre is situated in a former military barracks, which was built in the eighteenth century to quash Irish rebellion against British rule.
Today there is peace in Northern Ireland, but there are still deep scars from the recent conflict which gripped the region and claimed at least 3,600 lives. The Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation is a non-profit non-governmental organization working to heal the pain experienced by those who suffered during the campaign of violence from the late 1960s to late 1990s. The Centre was created in 1974 after a wave of bombings rocked Belfast amid growing tensions between those fighting for a united Republic of Ireland and those wishing to maintain Northern Ireland's position as part of the United Kingdom. Nestled in the hills outside of Dublin, the Centre is a sanctuary for peace and conflict resolution. Here groups of victims, survivors and even former militants come together to discuss their experiences during the conflict in a bid to reconcile differences and move on from their troubled past.
site design imagesparkle.com
image

Eamon Rafter (right) held many workshops onboard the 69th Voyage to teach participants about the history of Ireland and how conflict has affected the region.

Tensions between Republicans and Loyalists reached a crisis point during the 1970s with the rise of numerous paramilitary groups seeking to reach their goals through violent means. The Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation has been responsible for creating a dialogue between fighters from both sides. Eamon Rafter, the Centre's Learning Coordinator, joined the 69th Voyage from Bergen to Dublin to hold workshops on conflict resolution. "Ex-combatants are central to the future of Northern Ireland and are one of the most important groups that Glencree is involved with," he said during a seminar onboard.
image
A game was played in which two groups had to negotiate and learn how to trust each other in order to meet their objectives.
Mr Rafter told Peace Boat participants that everyone involved in the conflict in Northern Ireland must be included in peace talks. "Though former combatants might have committed crimes, they are seen as leaders by their communities because many people agree with the stance that they took, even though they might not agree with the methods used." Other key groups include victims and survivors, politicians, women's groups and religious leaders. Mr Rafter led a group of participants from the 69th voyage to visit the Glencree Centre. Volunteer staff members at the Centre facilitated a game that simulated a dispute in order to demonstrate how communication is an essential component in finding a resolution. "Since we do not know how we would behave in a conflict, I will create a conflict in this room right now," Mr Rafter said. Afterwards participants said that they learnt that they could only develop a solution to problems encountered during the game by working together and developing trust among each other.
image
The Centre holds regular workshops with widows whose husbands were killed during the conflict in Northern Ireland.
A major focus of the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation is how the past plays a vital role in creating a peaceful future. "If we understand what has happened in Northern Ireland, then we might be able to prevent a continuation of the violence," Mr Rafter said. He explained that focusing on events during the conflict also helps victims and survivors to find a way forward. "Taking responsibility for what has happened will promote healing for those affected by the conflict." Participants left Glencree with a better understanding of how they react in a conflict situation and what they can do to manage such situations.