Ógra at Glencree Summer School

Laurence McKeown and Dawn Purvis

“UNIQUE, fascinating and engaging” was how several Ógra Shinn Féin activists described the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation’ Summer School, ‘Leadership for a New Generation – Power, Politics and Participation’, at the end of August.
Speakers included Indepen-dent MLA and former Progressive Unionist Party leader Dawn Purvis and the republican former prisoner and hunger striker Dr Laurence McKeown.
Ógra Shinn Féin’s Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire spoke to the topic ‘What is the Role of Young People in Creating Change?’
Other speakers SDLP Councillor Niall Kelly, Seán Ruth (author of ‘Leader-ship and Liberation’), DUP MLA Jonathan Bell, Fianna Fáil TD Thomas Byrne, Fine Gael TD Brian Hayes, Ulster Unionist Party MLA John McAllister and representatives of a whole variety of minority and international groups.
Workshops covered issues ranging from the role of political ex-prisoners in the Peace Process to integrated education. Activists explored many issues outside of their comfort zones, and very much found their beliefs challenged in a stimulating and positive manner.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said:
“Many of the discussions and speakers made some fascinating and interesting points and in particular it was invaluable to be able to have discussions in the social time with other young political activists from the UUP, DUP, the SDLP and the Labour Party to get their perspective as young people on Ireland’s future. These opportunities for discussions are always welcome, and we should grasp them when they happen.”