Peace Process History: Layers of Meaning

Core components included the creation of a heritage interview archive, the delivery of oral history training, stimulation of local projects, and the development of online resources relating to the Peace Process.

Meet the team.

Meet the advisory committee.

Queen Mary in association with DkIT and TCD has now completed a three year project on the Peace Process. Core components included the creation of a heritage interview archive, the delivery of oral history training, the stimulation and completion of local projects, and the development of online resources relating to the Peace Process.

Looking beyond the formal and organised history of conflict resolution we acknowledged that peace-making has many layers, extending far beyond the narrow confines of high politics. At the level of personal recollection there are many individuals crying out to be heard and enduring the painful frustration of being ignored. These extend across every strata of society and include private citizens as well as members of the emergency services, hospital staff, public servants etc. In torn communities peace must mean the reformation of everyday relations in places of education, work and recreation – indeed everywhere that nuance and acute awareness of the ‘other’ guide interactions and transactions.

Our challenge was to channel, empower and preserve these voices and thus to create potentially transformative ripples.

All targets were delivered on-budget and on-time. Indeed, as the project unfolded, we saw in our methods opportunities to create new and additional tools such as the Out of Adversity film and resource pack.

Space does not permit the detailed and heartfelt thanks we would like to express to dozens of truly helpful, sincere and impressive people and organisations. The following is the barest summary of those to whom we are indebted:

• Our team members and ancillary staff
• Our colleagues and friends at Queen Mary, TCD and DkIT
• The valued members of our Advisory Committee
• Our Funders, the European Union’s PEACE III Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body
• Our project case officer
• All those who assisted with and participated in the interview training programme
• The local project leaders
• The 100 interviewees who so generously gave of their time

For further information please contact:

• Seán McConville, s.mcconville@qmul.ac.uk
• Anna Bryson, a.bryson@qub.ac.uk