"1912 One Hundred Years On" - A drama for your community.

Learning lessons from history - The Ulster Covenant.

What do you know about the history of the controversial period 1911-1914 in Ireland during which Home Rule was planned and thwarted, the Ulster Covenant was signed, the UVF were armed and the Irish Republican Brotherhood began to plot revolution? What was the context for our forefathers thinking and acting as they did 100 years ago - the thinking which led to the Covenant?  What did national identity mean in that context - with the resurgence of gaelic sports and history? In the wider context there was the growth of the labour movement, the influence of Karl Marx, dock strikes, lockouts and the impact of new expressions of socialism, not to mention the suffragettes and women exercising their voice in public!

In the light of this what do unionists and nationalists, whether Protestant or Catholic, need to hear today? Do we celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Covenant or ignore it? Were the decisions taken one hundred years ago for the best? Maybe so, maybe not. What choices do we need to make one hundred years on? 

If you want to find out things that will explain some of the who, why, and when matters, the Covenant rationale and mindset and the gender and wider political issues of that time come and see this play and join in the discussion afterwards with  trained facilitators. 

Hope is a central Christian principle - hopefully we can learn lessons from the past as we struggle to work for a better future together.

The play has been written by Philip Orr and Alan McGuckian. It is being performed by two professional actors at various community and church venues between 9th and 23rd March 2012.

See the details of the evening Plays and Road shows on  this website and plan to come!

Noel McCune
Chairperson,
Contemporary Christianity