The Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD was in Ballyshannon, Donegal, this weekend to lend his support to the launch of the ‘Healing by Remembering’ programme.  Devised by the Atlantic View Community Development Project Co Ltd, the ‘Healing by Remembering’ project is a one year programme which will consist of 13 facilitator managed workshops located primarily in Ballyshannon, involving 96 women, dealing with the emotional problems that both Catholic and Protestant women experienced as a result of the Troubles.

Delivering his key note speech at the launch event, Minister Phil Hogan said: “I think it is fitting that, as one of my first tasks as Minister with responsibility for Community Affairs, I get to see at first hand the work of community organisations such as this.  I know that Atlantic View CDP has deep roots in the community going back to its days as the Erne Community Network.  The organisation has demonstrated its commitment to the community and to Cross-Border issues through the hard work and dedication of the Chairperson, the Board and the community development workers.  As a Government Minister and a public servant, it is gratifying to see the impressive results of the Government’s longstanding commitment to funding in the community sector.

“The ‘Healing by Remembering’ project can be regarded as an ideal example of the type of reconciliation work taking place in cross-border communities.  It aims to recognise the emotional after-effects experienced by women in both Catholic and Protestant communities as a result of the Troubles, but also seeks to resolve those feelings to allow people in those communities to move forward.”

He added: “I would like to commend Atlantic View CDP for their work in their community and for the commitment and dedication they have shown in getting this project off the ground.  I would like to wish everyone involved the very best of luck now and in the future.”

The Healing by Remembering project has been primarily funded by The International Fund for Ireland (IFI), who earlier this year committed €182,745 under its Community Based Economic and Social Regeneration Programme.   The outcome  of the ‘Healing by Remembering’ project is aimed at creating a more understanding community of young women , mothers and grandmothers, cross-culturally and across generations, who will then take the lessons learned home to their families, thus leading to a greater understanding and a more sustainable peace in Northern Ireland.  

The workshops to be conducted as part of the project will bring together groups from North, South, East and West Belfast and South Donegal, from both communities as well as groups representative of the Security Forces.  These workshops will enable peer-to-peer learning through sharing experiences.  The key themes to be addressed are: Power of Symbols; Stereotyping; Recognising Our Own Prejudices; Segregation; The Right to our Beliefs; Sharing our Cultural Heritages; Appreciating Each Other’s Individuality.  The final two workshops will address issues concerning Women Working Together and Where to from Here.

Speaking at the launch, Winston Patterson, Board member of the International Fund for Ireland, said: “I am delighted to see that the project ‘Healing by Remembering’ links communities in Donegal with several communities in the Belfast area, reflecting and embracing the whole community. This project affords people from both sides of the Border and from across the whole community, the opportunity to share with each other and to learn from each other, in a spirit of inclusion, openness and respect.”

Mr Patterson also expressed a collective thanks to the international donors who have supported the work of the International Fund for Ireland for almost twenty-five years: namely, the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The launch also marks a new phase in the cooperation between the International Fund for Ireland and the Atlantic View Community Development Company. Speaking at Saturday’s launch event, Ann Mc Gowan, Project Co ordinator with Atlantic View, Ballyshannon, said “Further to the work we have carried out Cross Border and Cross Culturally over the last eight years and with the learning we have acquired from this, we are delighted to have been granted this funding for the Healing by Remembering Programme from IFI. We now have the opportunity to bring this learning and experience out to many more women. There is still a lot of anger and hurt in communities from the thirty odd years of the Troubles and women especially have never had the opportunity to voice this anger and pain. This creates many obstacles to moving forward. We hope to help break down these obstacles and continue the process of healing and peace building.”

Lily Mc Geough, Ardmonagh Family and Community Centre, Belfast (partner to Atlantic View CDP) said “I, like Ann Mc Gowan, believe in the importance of this work and understand the need to reach out and to provide for the women a safe environment for the release of their frustration. The Peace Process has now been in place for many years but still there are many barriers to break down. Very often it was women who held the families and communities together with very little recognition given to their place in this. We feel it is important that they are given this recognition and a chance to be heard.”

Atlantic View Community Development Company is a cross-community organisation that works with community groups in the Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Rossnowlagh, Cashelard and surrounding areas and supports community development activities locally, regionally and nationally.  

The official opening event was held on Saturday, 21st May at Dorrian’s Hotel, Main St, Ballyshannon, and was attended by over 50 guests, including a wide range of local representatives, community groups and voluntary organisations.

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