What the Twelfth Means to Me

imageIn Northern Ireland, the ‘Twelfth fortnight’ is as renowned for people going away for their holidays as it is for people participating in its events. I’ve only recently returned from my holidays (which explains why I haven’t posted on this … Read more...

Talking about Reconciliation … New Post on Slugger O’Toole

imageI have a new post on the Slugger O’Toole blog, titled ‘Talking about Reconciliation,’ which explores some of the implications of recent attempts by republicans to use the R-word in Northern Ireland’s public sphere.… Read more...

Is Reconciliation Making a Tentative Return to Public Debate in Northern Ireland?

imageMy last two weeks have been more unsettled than usual, involving presenting my research at two conferences: The Political Studies Association (PSA) conference at the Europa in Belfast (3-5 April) and the British Sociological Association Sociology of Religion Study Group Read more...

Evangelical Journeys: Patrick Mitchel to Speak at Dublin Launch 26 January at 4.15 pm

imageDr Patrick Mitchel, Director of Studies and lecturer in theology at the Irish Bible Institute in Dublin, and author of Evangelicalism and National Identity in Ulster, 1921-1998, will speak at the Dublin launch of a new book by Claire Mitchell … Read more...

Do Words Matter? New Post on Slugger O’Toole

image I have a new post on the Slugger O’Toole blog: Do Words Matter?: Book Review of Political Discourse and Conflict Resolution – Debating Peace in Northern Ireland. The book is edited by Katy Hayward and Catherine O’Donnell and I contributed … Read more...

Platform for Change Election Hustings Thurs 14 April – New Post on Slugger O’Toole

image I have written a new post on the Slugger O’Toole blog about tomorrow’s Platform for Change election hustings at the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast. Platform for Change describes itself ‘the NGO pursuing a new politics in Northern Ireland,’ and … Read more...

Tinderbox Theatre’s True North: Raising Questions that Northern Ireland isn’t Ready to Answer?

image Belfast’s Tinderbox Theatre concluded its series of three ‘Truth North’ productions this weekend. I attended two of the plays, ‘God’s Country’ and ‘Everything Between Us,’ with students on our master’s programme in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation.

Kathy Clarke’s review of … Read more...

God’s Country: Review of Tinderbox Theatre ‘True North’ Production

image Is religion preventing people from the LGBT community living full and happy lives in Northern Ireland? That’s a question at the heart of ‘God’s Country,’ a new play by Colin Bell.

The play is part of Tinderbox Theatre’s True North Read more...