To mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, The Linen Hall is launching a new project to explore its origins and legacies. Through an exhibition, a series of events and an oral history project, The Linen Hall will reflect on the processes which led to the accord, the competing sides of the referendum campaign, and its impact.
Origins & Legacies: The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is a project developed by The Linen Hall and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
EXHIBITION
The Linen Hall’s Northern Ireland Political Collection contains thousands of artefacts which document multiple perspectives around politics and identity in Northern Ireland. Using cartoons, badges, posters, and other artefacts reflecting the lead up to and aftermath of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, we have developed an exhibition that will highlight the key events and the talks which paved the way for an agreement, as well as the political and societal outcomes of the accord.
The exhibition will be on display at The Linen Hall Vertical Gallery, from Monday 3rd April to Wednesday 31st May and you can access it for free.
EVENTS
As part of the Origins & Legacies: The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement project we have curated a programme of insightful events that range from panel conversations to drama to a live poll on the anniversary of the referendum. To find out more about the events and the excellent speakers we have lined up, click on the event titles.
The Legacy of the Agreement – A panel conversation with Phillip Brett, Pádraig Delargy, Kate Nicholl, Cara Hunter, and John Stewart.
The Origins of the Agreement – A panel conversation with Gary McMichael, Monica McWilliams, Bríd Rodgers, Lord Peter Weir, and Mitchel McLaughlin.
Implementing the Agreement – A panel conversation with Lord John Alderdice, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, and Carmel Hanna.
The Agreement: Before & After – An evening of drama curated by Ian McElhinney and Dan Gordon, taking place at the Grand Opera House.
Your Referendum – A talk with Professor Jon Tonge and Suzanne Breen, followed by a live poll.
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
Recordings of oral histories are integral to The Linen Hall’s intention to preserve Northern Ireland’s heritage. As part of Origins & Legacies: The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement we have the opportunity to collect and document previously underheard voices and experiences that will be treasured in the permanent archives of The Linen Hall for future researchers and generations to explore and further our understanding of the past and present.
To find out more about the oral histories and how you can get involved, please click here.
PROJECT TEAM:
Julie Andrews, CEO of The Linen Hall
Dr Melissa Baird, Project Co-Ordinator
Laura Caskey, Project Assistant
For press and other media requests please contact, the Head of Marketing & Communications, Ani Kanakaki.
