Shine A Light for Peace
When the world seems dark, a little light goes a long way.
Join Oscar–winning actor James Martin in Shining a Light for Peace and support Corrymeela in building bridges of hope, fostering belonging and cultivating mutual respect – values that have guided us for 60 years.
James Martin’s Corrymeela Story
When James was 11 years old, he was invited to Corrymeela by his good friend, Ross. It was a week of fun at our Ballycastle residential centre—with music, art, and drama. James, who would go on to star in BBC NI’s Ups and Downs and the award–winning short film, An Irish Goodbye, caught the acting bug at Corrymeela.
‘It was silly, fun and great!’ James remembers. ‘That week at Corrymeela brought me out of my shell. It’s easy to be in the wrong space in your head—but it was lovely to be fun and silly in front of your friends.’
James continues to have happy memories of mixing with people at Corrymeela, and grateful that he discovered his gift for performing with friends alongside him.
Twenty years later James is an Ambassador for Corrymeela’s Shine a Light campaign so that more people can experience a sense of belonging and fun — and discover what gifts they didn’t know they had.
For 60 years Corrymeela has been providing a place of welcome and fun for tens of thousands of people. Our work is particularly important for those who cannot afford other opportunities for respite, who are seeking shelter from conflict, or who simply need to know that they belong.
In the days after the horrific racial attacks in Belfast this past August, Corrymeela was able to welcome some of those affected to the centre for a weekend of play and restoration. The group was made up of families who are seeking asylum or who have refugee status, many of whom are connected to the Farmbox project run by Redeemer Central.
As one of organisers put it, ‘The weekend was typically Corrymeela: hectic, hilarious, messy and beautiful.’
There was time to process and time to escape. People danced off the stress of the week as the sun set over Kinbane. There were walks to Fairhead, foot massages, and an ice–cream van visit that left kids (and adults) high as kites. Just as there had been for James and friends two decades back, this time together ended with a side–splitting talent show—featuring all–age drama with outrageous costumes, an unforgettable rendition of ‘We Three Kings’ sung on a warm August evening, and tears of laughter. As so often happens at Corrymeela, a collection of people who had gathered as strangers quickly created a new sense of community—and got a glimpse of a better world.
A gift of £58 could help fund essential training for our volunteers to lead workshops to encourage dialogue and build understanding.
Because of the support we receive, we can create experiences of joyful community and offer some much–needed hope. When the world seems dark, a little light can go a long way.
We may not all become Hollywood stars. We may not all be courageous enough to sing the ‘Cheeky Song’ or ‘We Three Kings’ in front of our friends. But we can join James and others, and Shine a Light for Peace.
Please join us in Shining a Light, making a donation and spreading hope.
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