US-Ireland Alliance

Mitchell Scholars Mid-Year Retreat in Northern Ireland

The mid-year retreat for the class of 2013 Mitchell Scholars began with a tour of the Stormont and then a meeting with the NI Head of the Civil Service, Dr. Malcolm McKibbin at Stormont Castle, who gave the Mitchells a thorough overview of the challenges facing the Northern Ireland Executive.  Junior Minister Jonathan Bell stopped in to visit and share some of his experiences.

Next, two Queens Professors, Pete Shirlow and Dom Bryan, discussed the Northern Ireland conflict. Dom led a tour of the murals of Belfast and his tour was embellished by the coach driver who knew much about murals on homes in Republican neighborhoods.

The Mitchells attended an intense play at the Lyric Theater called Mixed Marriage.  The tragic ending left us all sitting in our seats staring at the empty stage wondering how to process the pain in the play.  The amazing thing is that the play, so relevant today, was written by St. John Ervine 100 years ago about a catholic and protestant mixed marriage and the family struggles surrounding this. 

On Saturday morning, we visited the Titanic Museum and learned the history of the great ship and about the role the people of Belfast played in bringing the ship to life.

The Mitchells went on to Derry-Londonderry, the 2013 City of Culture, where they met Pauline Ross, founder of the Derry Playhouse, and Teya  Sepinuck, Director of the Theater of Witness.  These women organized a powerful meeting with participants from the Theater of Witness, a group that is part of a healing process for those carrying the psychological burdens of the Troubles.

 The two participants, both working now for peace, were: 1) Kathleen Gillespie, widow of Patsy Gillespie, and 2) Anne – a former IRA combatant.  Both shared their stories and we saw clips of their onstage performances.  It was a moving gathering that the Scholars will not soon forget.

Finally, we attended Performances by Brian Friel.  As it was closing night, Brian Friel was in the audience and we met Director Adrian Dunbar after the show.  This was our final event and was the only event that did not at all relate the Troubles of Northern Ireland, a time that continues to define the people of this place.