“There are some who seek to wreck the peace process. They are blinded by fear of a future they cannot imagine – a future in which respect for differences is a healing and unifying force. They are driven by an anger that holds no respect for life – even for the lives of children.  But a new spirit of hope is gaining momentum. It can banish the fear that blinds. It can conquer the anger that fuels the merchants of violence. We are building an irresistible force that can make the immovable object move. “

Senator Edward M Kennedy, 1998

Established in 2012, the Institute honours the late Senator Edward M Kennedy for his lifelong commitment to justice, equality, human rights, education for all and environmental protection and in particular for his contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process.  The Institute also honours what one could argue is his most remarkable achievement of all –  his ability to articulate a future where the causes of conflict, however ingrained, can be transcended; a future where society, economics, education and politics are organised in ways that support individuals, groups, communities and nations to work together for the benefit of all. This is a future that the founders of the Institute – Professors Robert Galavan and Anne Ryan – fully endorse and hope to play a part in realising. 

OUR PRIMARY AIMS

To support practitioners and policy-makers in building their capacity for peaceful and constructive conflict intervention.

To generate new knowledge and leadership that will support communities to transcend predictable patterns of conflict.

ACHIEVED BY

Creating opportunities for dialogue with and between practitioners, policy makers, thought leaders, and the communities they serve.

Conducting, facilitating and disseminating pertinent research findings in ways that make them accessible to the community of practice and academics alike.

Providing rigorous taught programmes that build the theoretical and practical competence necessary to act as reflective practitioners in the field.

GET IN TOUCH

Our website will be up and running in the very near future and we would invite you to visit us there. In the meantime, we would love to hear from you if you have any ideas or research themes which you would like to explore with us.

Peter Cassells, Executive Director @ 01 708 3474 or peter.cassells@nuim.ie

Rachel Murphy, Project Manager or @ 01 708 4558 or rachel.murphy@nuim.ie