Category: Dealing with the Past

My Review of Tom Inglis’ Unbecoming Catholic

My review of Tom Inglis’ book Unbecoming Catholic was published in the Irish Times on 31 May.

Read it here, or below:

A Sweet Kind of Freedom

In this not-quite memoir, Tom Inglis meditates on his journey away from the … Read more...

“I’ve been Thinking …” about Fr Gerry Reynolds on his Ninth Anniversary

Today is the ninth anniversary of the death of Fr Gerry Reynolds. While my biography of Fr Gerry was published as Unity Pilgrim: The Life of Fr Gerry Reynolds CSsR in 2019, other stories of his witness continue to emerge.… Read more...

The Churches & Peacebuilding: Address at ‘The Primacy of Peace’ Conference

I delivered an address on ‘The Churches and Peacebuilding – Before and After the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement’ at the ‘Primacy of Peace’ conference on 24 October 2023 at the Marketplace Theatre, Armagh.

The purpose of the conference was to promote … Read more...

Tribute to Professor John Brewer

On Wednesday, Queen’s University hosted an event marking the retirement of Professor John Brewer. John has had a tremendous impact on international scholarship, as well as on my own personal career. (It appears John will have an active ‘retirement’, as … Read more...

The Churches & Peacebuilding: Past, Present and Future

On Tuesday 18 April I participated in a panel on ‘Peacebuilding’ at Queen’s University’s Agreement25 Conference.

You can read the full text of my remarks here.

Image from Clonard Reconciliation ministry, including Fr Alec Reid and Fr Gerry Reynolds… Read more...

Reconciliation Fund Marks Publication of Considering Grace: Presbyterians and the Troubles

Last week, the Irish Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs hosted a special event in Iveagh House, Dublin, to mark the publication of my book, co-authored with Jamie Yohanis, Considering Grace: Presbyterians and the Troubles.

As reported on the Presbyterian Church … Read more...

New Post on Slugger – Review of ‘The Ghost Limb’ by Claire Mitchell

I have reviewed Claire Mitchell’s new book, Ghost Limb: Alternative Protestants and the Spirit of 1798, on the Slugger O’Toole blog. You can read it here.… Read more...

Can there be Peace? The Troubles and Faith Leaders in Northern Ireland – Roundtable in Lowell, Mass

On Tuesday I participated in a roundtable on, ‘Can there be Peace? Faith Leaders and Healing after Violent Conflict’, sponsored by the Office of the Provost at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell.

The event was attended by members of … Read more...

Review of Triangle: Three Novellas of Ireland by Pól Ó Muirí, on Slugger

I have a new post on the Slugger O’Toole blog, a review of Triangle: Three Novellas of Ireland by Pól Ó Muirí. 

The review raises questions prompted by the book, such as: What happens in a society when previously dominant … Read more...