Former Irish President praises work of Corrymeela

Mary Robinson said: “It must have sounded hard to be doing the work you’ve been doing over 50 years as well as more recently. You give hope to people who need to see it...continue to build bridges. I honour the last 50 years and wish you well for the next 50 years.”

Northern Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation organisation celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala reception on Friday evening at Belfast City Hall. Around 300 guests were joined by Kathleen Kuehnast (a director at the US Institute of Peace), Ireland’s greatest living poet Michael Longley and guest of honour, former Irish President Mary Robinson.

Corrymeela engages with the world at its points of fracture, faith and potential. The community believes that people can learn to live well together. That theme ran through the evening.

In a twenty minute address on Living Well with the Earth and Each Other in front of an audience of Corrymeela founders, members, volunteers, staff, politicians and church representatives, former Irish President Mary Robinson first paused to recall the references to Northern Ireland in her inaugural address nearly 25 years ago which included the statement:

“As the elected choice of the people of this part of our island I want to extend the hand of friendship and of love to both communities in the other part. And I want to do this with no hidden agenda, no strings attached. As the person chosen by you to symbolise this Republic and to project our self image to others, I will seek to encourage mutual understanding and tolerance between all the different communities sharing this island.”

She echoed the words of Pope Francis and his call for the “need to respect our common home”.

“Our home stretches beyond the natural confines to include all the creatures we share the earth with and the natural life the Earth supports … We have a duty of care to the Earth as our shared inheritance … shared with those on it today as well as those who come after us.”

The former President noted the effect of disrespecting “our common home by polluting the atmosphere” and contributing to rising sea levels:

“The human rights of men and women and children living in the most vulnerable places are undermined. The pollution that causes the problem isn’t caused by those who suffer the worst impact. Instead it is caused by the most wealthy in the world … Climate justice is a reaction to this [and] amplifies the voices of people most affected by climate change and least responsible.”

The renowned poet quoted from a number of his works that poignantly remember people who were murdered admitting “we’re all haunted and most go on engaging with ghosts”.

Corrymeela Executive Director Colin Craig added: “We are honoured that Mary Robinson came to help celebrate our 50th Anniversary. and were excited to hear about her groundbreaking work in the field of Climate Justice and the struggle to protect those most vulnerable to the impacts of global warming.”