Presentation by Abhaile Arís and HUBB as part of Cultural Diversity Month

An Abhaile Aris seminar which was held in the Station House Hotel last Saturday was described as meaningful, groundbreaking and informative by those who attended.

The seminar showcased the work between Abhaile Aris and the HUBB group who represent Loyalist ex prisoners from North Belfast. The seminar which had been supported by the PEACE 111 Programme, managed for the special EU Programmes Body by Donegal County Council and was delivered as part of the “One Donegal” Cultural Diversity month – Embracing and Celebrating Diversity.

Eamon Deane from Hollywell Trust chaired the proceedings and outlined the context of the meetings and trips taken by Abhaile Aris and the HUBB he then introduced the main speakers of the day Gerry Mc Monagle of Abhaile Aris and Jim Carruthers from the HUBB.

Mr Carruthers spoke of the great work that had been done over the past two years between Abhaile Aris and the HUBB. He talked of the great relationships that had been formed between both groups and of the friendships that have developed since we met two years ago. He urged all those present to carry on and develop the relationships further and that we should now involve young people from our communities in any future engagements.

The HUBB spokesperson continued “The pursuit of accommodation between the two communities can best be advanced by attempts to understand each other and to identify important shared interests, our growing peace process can best be consolidated by steady, orchestrated movement on the two sides, and by ignoring the protests of those who reject compromise”.

“It is really now high time that loyalism, republicanism, unionism and nationalism began the process of delivering to the people the benefits of the Good Friday Agreement. If we fail to deliver the benefits, the people will quite reasonably argue that the Good Friday Agreement does not mean a great deal for them. But contained within the Good Friday Agreement, I believe, are substantial benefits for all of our people”.

Gerry Mc Monagle from Abhaile Aris echoing Mr Carruthers words went on to say
“It would be remiss of us not to grasp the opportunities for building lasting relationships between the two communities that have arisen through the engagements between Abhaile Aris and the HUBB over these last eighteen months
In the past eighteen months I have, through our engagements with the HUBB group learned more about my protestant neighbours beliefs, culture and heritage than ever I had despite me having lived side by side with them for over fifty years.”
I am sure they have also learned a lot about my Beliefs, Culture and Heritage.

“Ex Prisoners and former combatants have made an enormous contribution to helping to build peace on this island.
Instead of condemning ex-prisoners and former combatants we should instead acknowledge the role played by former political prisoners and former combatants in helping to cement the fledging Peace Process.”

Their support for the Good Friday Agreement was crucial as was their support for “Putting Arms beyond use” They have also on many occasions put themselves in the frontline in relation to trying to prevent violence at community interfaces.

Ex Prisoners have also taken the very courageous steps of reaching out to their former enemies in an act of peace and reconciliation. They have been creative in finding ways and means of finding ways of working together, of trusting one and other and in doing so have helped consolidate our fledging peace process.
He concluded by saying:
Ex prisoner groups have a responsibility to engage with wider society and society must also respond to this engagement in a positive manner. We must not expose our young people to the injustices or conflict of the past. We must instead work with them and steer them away from conflict. They are after all our future. So lets work together to build a society that’s conflict free, a society that practices inclusitivity, is non sectarian and has equality at its core.

After the main speeches the seminar broke into four groups for a session of roundtable discussions to discuss the work of Abhaile Aris and the HUBB.

The discussions focused on the future and all of the groups acclaimed the work of both groups. All agreed that engagement such as the one between Abhaile Aris and the HUBB was the best way forward. All present felt the discussions were very informative, meaningful and very positive. They felt that the work between both groups was excellent and shows that there is some real “Peace Building” actually happening.