Tuesday, May 12th

9:00am – 6:00pm

Registration

9:45am - 10:15am

Welcome and Introductions: Peace, Reconciliation, and the GRCC Irish Studies Program
Robert Hendershot and Roger Schlosser

10:30am – 11:45am

From Bloody Sunday to Community Reconciliation: My Life between Conflict and Peace
Jon McCourt , who grew up in Derry , Northern Ireland , will discuss his personal experiences during the Troubles and the various methods by which he has worked for peace and reconciliation, both in Ireland and around the world, including the Middle East . He marched for civil rights in 1968, and later became a community peace activist, and has worked in the field ever since, including working with victims of violence, community relations, and youth in criminalized areas.

11:45am – 1:15pm

Lunch Buffet

1:30pm – 2:45pm

Growing Up During the Troubles: The Younger Generation and Political Transformation
Conor McGinn will talk about his experiences of growing up during the conflict, discuss the transformation brought about by the peace process, and give an analysis of the political development of the nationalist and republican community in the last 15 years. Conor works for the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain, a charity that supports Irish emigrants in the UK. He is originally from South Armagh and now lives in London, where he is active in the Labour Party."

2:45pm – 3:15pm

Coffee Break

3:15pm – 4:30pm

Family, Politics, and War in South Armagh
Desmond Murphy will explain how the British presence in Northern Ireland and the Troubles influenced politics and lives in his nation, his community, and his family. This session will include discussion of the war between the Irish Republican Army and British Army, RUC, UDR , and Loyalist 'Death Squads' in South Armagh from the early 1970s to the second IRA ceasefire in the late 1990s.

4:30pm – 5:30pm

Meet the GRCC Irish Foreign Studies Program: (Coffee and Conversation)
For the past six years, Grand Rapids Community College has offered its students the opportunity to take part in a unique study abroad program in Ireland during the summer semester. This program has grown over time and now includes specialized classes in a variety of disciplines, including history, archeology, economics, art, politics, and, of course, conflict resolution. An excellent illustration of GRCC's commitment to offering students diverse educational opportunities, this program is often hailed as an exemplary short-term study abroad experience.

6:00pm – 9:00pm

Dinner and Keynote Address:
John Hume , Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and architect of the current peace process in Northern Ireland, will discuss his efforts (as leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party) to use nonviolent methods to change the world and advance the causes of civil rights, freedom, and peace. He will also explain how connections with America and Americans have benefited the Irish peace process.

Wednesday, May 13th

8:30am – 4:00pm

Registration

9:00am – 10:15am

Historical Origins of the Troubles - The 17th Century in Ireland
Tony Johnston , who owns and operates the Inch House Irish Studies Centre in County Donegal, will discuss the various historical roots of the Troubles during the 1600s, including English conquests, transplantations of people from Britain to Ireland, changes in Protestantism, and the formation of new identities. Through connecting these events to more recent attempts to achieve community reconciliation in Ireland , Johnston will explain the remaining impediments to a sustainable Irish peace.

10:15am – 10:45am

Coffee Break

10:45am – 12:00pm

A Hunger-Striker's Experience: Struggling for Freedom and Recognition Inside the British Prison System
Paddy Quinn will tell his personal story of Republican activism, imprisonment by the British government, and of his participation in the famous prison hunger-strikes during 1981. Because this speaker is not allowed to enter the United States of America , his presentation will be delivered via digital transmission.

12:00pm – 1:30pm

Lunch Buffet

1:45pm – 3:00pm

Politics and Religion in Northern Ireland: The Catholic Church's Role
Roger Schlosser , GRCC Professor and founder of the college's Irish Foreign Studies Program, will analyze the ways in which the Catholic Church has impacted the Troubles and the peace process.

3:00pm – 3:30pm

Break

3:30pm – 5:00pm

Panel Discussion: The Past, Present, and Future of Conflict Resolution in Ireland
Conor Murphy, Member of the British Parliament and the Minister for Regional Development in the Northern Ireland Executive, will initiate this discussion via digital transmission with his thoughts on the current political process in Northern Ireland , from the Good Friday Agreement to the present day. A panel of experts, including conference speakers and GRCC professors, will discuss the current state of affairs in Northern Ireland , how they have emerged, and what the future is likely to bring.