British Ambassador joins Gerry Adams in Dublin to launch Sinn Féin reconciliation initiative

THE British Ambassador to Ireland joined Gerry Adams in Dublin's historic Mansion House on Thursday afternoon to launch the Sinn Féin initiative Uncomfortable Conversations for Reconciliation around the need for a reconciliation process in the North.

In an event hosted by Ard Mhéara Bhaile Átha Cliath (Mayor of Dublin City) Críona Ní Dhálaigh and addressed by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD, Reverend Heather Morris (former President of the Methodist Church) and Declan Kearney, Sinn Féin's National Chairperson and the driving force behind the Uncomfortable Conversations initiative, British Ambassador Dominick Chilcott congratulated An Phoblacht “for prompting these Uncomfortable Conversations” in a series of articles from March 2012 which have culminated in what he described as a “remarkable” book.

“Not being a regular subscriber to Sinn Féin’s monthly newspaper, An Phoblacht,” the British Ambassador admitted with a smile, “I confess to not having read any of the articles in Uncomfortable Conversations before picking up the book.

“These short essays were a revelation. The reader may be surprised by how well written, astute and generous spirited the articles in this book are.

“For all of us with an interest in promoting peace and reconciliation across these islands, this book should be required reading.

“As its title suggests, the thrust of the book is to promote conversations, exchanges of ideas and experiences between people of different traditions who might not otherwise speak to each other.

“But the discomfort of these uncomfortable conversations is less focused on having to deal with an unfamiliar or disliked counter-party than with facing up, in an honest manner, to the reality that other people’s different ways of seeing and understanding the world can be sincerely and cogently held, even when perhaps those other perspectives undermine long-held and cherished beliefs.”

The British Ambassador quoted Declan Kearney in one of his essays reminding people that the two governments (in London and Dublin), and republicans and unionists were not bystanders to the conflict when the Sinn Féin National Chairperson wrote: “None of us is absolved of responsibility to ensure that future generations grow up in a better place than we did.”

“He is right,” the British Ambassador declared. “We must all rise to the challenge.

“The great collective task for political leaders on these islands is to overcome the legacy of the past and to build together a better future for everyone, based on mutual respect, parity of esteem, social justice and equality of opportunity.

“The road to this better future begins with giving the other side a fair hearing. This is not about trying to convert unionists into republicans or vice versa. But it is about restoring the humanity of the other side; developing, as it were, a sense of empathy with them.”

The British Ambassador concluded:

“We all have a strong interest in promoting reconciliation. It is the key to our common, shared future, in whatever constitutional disposition that future is lived.

“This book, Uncomfortable Conversations, like the example of successive Irish Presidents, the Queen and Prince Charles, as well as many others, can inspire all of us to be morally courageous, open-minded and generous spirited in working to make the future a much better place than was the past.”

● 'Uncomfortable Conversations' is available from Sinn Féin offices.

● Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney, Ard Mhéara Bhaile Átha Cliath Críona Ní Dhálaigh, and British Ambassador Dominick Chilcott with Gerry Adams