History Ireland November/December 2021
Sir,
On Behalf od the Messines Association I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your recent editorials and observations and positive comments on the “Truth Recovery Process”(TRP) as a means of addressing the legacy of our violent past. As an organisation made up of individuals from a broad range of identities and backgrounds, we are supportive of the values and intent of the Truth Recovery initiative as a possible way to address the very complex and contentious issue of dealing with the past.
We as individuals, and as an organisation, have met with Padraig Yeates on several occasions to discuss the Truth Recovery Initiative. We are supportive of the motivation and intent of those involved in trying to take this difficult issue forward and will do all that we can through the contacts we have from across our society to positively promote the rationale of the TRP initiative.
The Fellowship of Messines Association was formally constituted in May 2002, by a diverse range of individuals from Republican, Loyalist, and other backgrounds, united in their realisation of the necessity to confront sectarianism in our society as a necessary means to realistic Peace Building. The Association has networks of co-operation and support across the region and is dedicated to creating opportunities for participants to engage in joint engagements and activities aimed at addressing the questions of “History, Identity and Politics” using the concept of “Citizenship” as the basis for open and critical discussions.
The Project is committed to building a non-sectarian political discourse that promotes inclusiveness, tolerance and emphasises the necessity of joint co-operation for the mutually beneficial objectives of social and economic justice for all in our society and equality before the law for all our citizens.
It has utilised shared learning collaborations between community activists, supportive academics, and others who are opinion-formers and influencers, to initiate learning programmes and facilitated dialogues to enable individuals to be self-critical and analytical about their own, and others, socio-political identities.
One of the Association’s key objectives is for participants to understand that an individual’s community, or indeed a nation’s identity, is not necessarily a historically predetermined or fixed phenomenon, and that aspects of political identity can be subject to change and transition. Yours etc.,
HARRY DONAGHY, The Fellowship of Messines Association
