“Better Together – Níos Fearr Le Chéile” project celebrates successful cross-border peace building programme

A community project which worked with over 1,000 people, North and South, as part of a peace and reconciliation programme, has served to build long-lasting connections between participants, young and old from cross-border communities.

The “Better Together – Níos Fearr Le Chéile” project which has a strong North-South focus worked with participants of all ages and communities in Leitrim, Cavan, Fermanagh and Tyrone with a focus on building co-operation and developing networking opportunities.

The project was funded by the IFI under the Peace Impact Programme (PIP), to deliver positive community transformation through sensitive intervention with communities that have not previously taken part in peace and reconciliation work.

Throughout the duration of the 14-month peace building initiative, people took part in a series of activities, including workshops, discussion and learning groups, employment enhancement courses, writing courses and school visits all with the aim of building a connection and fostering positive long-lasting relationships, North and South.

Mrs Elizabeth Armstrong, Principal Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and Máirín Martin, Chairperson, Ballinamore Area Community Council CLG. Picture: John McVitty

A celebratory event held at the Island Theatre, Ballinamore brought together project participants including pupils from Ballinamore Community School and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, along with representatives from East Fermanagh and Omagh to discuss the shared learnings.

As part of a busy line-up, the event also featured a discussion on building capacity and exploring the concept of social enterprise, with Joanne Cunningham, from Fermanagh District and Omagh Council (FDOC) and representatives from Clankelly, in East Fermanagh.

Leaning into the creative strands of the project, Ballinamore Writers’ Group recited a Peace Poem, developed collaboratively to mark the project.

The evening concluded with an engaging and informed discussion with the IFI AMBIT Group on the Future of Northern Ireland and Youth Peace and Reconciliation strategies chaired by Debbie Watters, Co-Director, Northern Ireland Alternatives.

The AMBIT group, is an annual outreach and capacity building programme in the United States, facilitated by the US consulate in Belfast and co-ordinated by the Washington Ireland programme, which has been successfully running for over 20 years now.

Pictured at a celebratory event held in the Island Theatre Ballinamore to celebrate the Better Together – Níos Fearr Le Chéile Project which brought cross-border communities in Cavan, Leitrim, Fermanagh and Tyrone together with a focus on building co-operation and networking opportunities were (l-r) Joe McGivern, Ballinamore Area Community Council CLg Board member, Camillus Martin, Ballinamore Area Community Council CLg, Leslie McConkey, Clankelly, MJ Reynolds, Ballinamore Area Community Council CLg, Les Graydon, Clankelly, Julie Marshall, Ballinamore Area Community Council CLg Board member, Paddy Harte, IFI Chairperson, Máirín Martin, Chairperson, Ballinamore Area Community Council CLg, Pat Mc Gourty, Ballinamore Men’s Shed, Tony Mac Avinny, Clankelly.

The event was hosted by Ballinamore Area Community Council and included representatives from Ballinamore Community School, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Clankelly, East Fermanagh and Fermanagh District and Omagh Council (FDOC). Pic: John McVitty

Paddy Harte, IFI Chairman commented, “The IFI is pleased to have been able to support this project though our Peace Impact Programme, a programme which aims to deliver real and positive community transformation through targeted and bespoke interventions which are tailored to the needs of specific cohorts. The depth and breadth of activity, undertaken by this project has been extremely impressive.

“It is testament to the vision and energy of Ballinamore Area Community Council and the project team of “Better Together- Níos Fearr Le Chéile” who have spearheaded the series of initiatives that have made a tremendous impact on communities on both sides of the border.

“The project provides a terrific blueprint for others to follow and to learn from. What is most pleasing is that such a strong foundation has been established, allowing for further initiatives to take place, as part of ongoing peace building and reconciliation.”

Michael Mullin, Project Co-ordinator, “Better Together – Níos Fearr Le Chéile” said: “It is a privilege to see the progress and the impact the project has had on communities. It is testament to the work of all involved and to all of our participants. The “Better Together- Nios Fearr Le Chéile” project has shown that through discussion and engagement it is possible to build relationships and deepen understanding between communities.

“The outcomes from the project and feedback from participants have been informative and have provided plenty of great insights on which to build further. We know from this work that there is a real sense of connection with people and a sense of a shared purpose.”