Life

Corrymeela opens "space of celebration"

Pádraig Ó Tuama, Corrymeela community leader. The reconciliation group is celebrating its 50th anniversary
Pádraig Ó Tuama, Corrymeela community leader. The reconciliation group is celebrating its 50th anniversary Pádraig Ó Tuama, Corrymeela community leader. The reconciliation group is celebrating its 50th anniversary

CORRYMEELA, Northern Ireland's longest established reconciliation community, is in the midst of a year of celebrations to mark its 50th anniversary, with a flagship weekend festival starting outside Ballycastle tomorrow.

Called Aperture, it is billed as a "festival of diversity" with arts, debate, politics, faith, music and celebration part of the mix.

"The Aperture festival will be a wonderful and temporary community for three full days on the north coast," said Pádraig Ó Tuama, Corrymeela community leader.

"This family-friendly festival, marking Corrymeela's 50th anniversary, will give shape to a wide range of ideas and the authentic personal stories behind Corrymeela, placing it all in the context of a celebration of 50 years of community.

"We will celebrate local and international peace building. We will celebrate our common ground and our differences and we'll explore how far we've come and how far we have to go.

"We will listen to voices often ignored and in a space of celebration; dialogue and diversity talk about our differences and celebrate the amazing work of community."

Poets, musicians and theologians are among those involved, as well as politicians and circus acts, though not on the same bill.

Music at Aperture comes from artists including Duke Special, Iain Archer, The Sands Family, Goldie Fawn, Jun Tzu, Master and Dog, Rory Nellis and Voices Together.

Keynote speakers include Nuala O'Loan, Marian Partington - whose sister was killed by Fred and Rosemary West - Glenn Patterson, Tony McCauley and Sigi Rieuwerts.

There will be panel discussions on human rights, the Good Friday agreement, aid and faith.

:: Aperture, the Corrymeela 50th Anniversary Festival runs from tomorrow until Sunday August 2. More information at www.corrymeela.org /50