22 Oct 2018
The Bannview Rooms, Ulster University Coleraine

2018 Ulster University Convocation Lecture

Poetry and the Art of Peace by Pádraig Ó Tuama

Monday 22nd October, 2018 5:30 pm

The Bannview Rooms, Ulster University, Coleraine Campus

Conflict often begins and ends in words: words of negotiation, words of treaties, words of apology, words of caution. While words are not the final word of peace, they are significant in the process of deepening trust, in acknowledging pain and impact, and in acknowledging both the past and the truth.

This lecture will consider words that have current political and poetic currency for peace.

Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet, theologian, mediator and peace activist/educator. Since 2014, he has been the leader of the Corrymeela community, Ireland’s oldest and pre–eminent organisation for peace and reconciliation. He grew up in Cork, and after a nomadic, highly creative decade in Switzerland, Australia, Lithuania, Uganda and the Philippines, he settled in Belfast in 2003. With a poet’s interest in storytelling, language, theology and conflict are among the dominant themes referenced in his work.

Pádraig writes poetry and prose, lectures, leads retreats, and is a frequent contributor to religious broadcasting across the British Isles. His published poetry and prose include In the Shelter, Sorry for your Troubles, Readings from the Books of Exile and Discovering the Spirit in the City. He is also a group worker and has worked with groups in Ireland, Britain, the US and Australia.

All are more than welcome to this very special event; please let us know if you intend to come – for  management of numbers – by contacting the Convocation Executive Committee, Office of the University Secretary, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT52 1SA Tel:(028) 7012 4114 or by email to  convocation@ulster.ac.uk