Published on Monday11thApril2016

Minister Flanagan welcomes Senator George Mitchell to Dublin

20160410 Minister Flanagan with Senator George Mitchell

Pictured are Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan, President Michael D. Higgins and Senator George Mitchell

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan yesterday welcome guests who have contributed to peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland, including US Senator George Mitchell, to the Abbey Theatre where the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in partnership with Poetry Ireland staged a special event on the 18th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. 

Through the media of poetry, music, drama and imagery, Rising to Reconciliation charts the path from the Easter Rising of 1916 to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 and the advancement of reconciliation on the island of Ireland over the last century.

Host Minister Flanagan stated: 

I am particularly pleased that for this event to mark the 18th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement we will be joined by so many individuals from across the community who have made a lasting contribution to peace and reconciliation on this island. I am especially delighted that Senator George Mitchell – who played such a unique and catalytic role in the peace process – is able to take part.

I know that the powerful performances we will see on stage will be an inspiration as we continue the unfinished business of reconciliation on this island and as we continue to honour the vision of the Good Friday Agreement.

A selection of the island’s finest and most respected artists charted the journey of reconciliation from 1916 to the current day through poetry, music, drama and imagery. Presented in partnership with Poetry Ireland, the event brought together powerful texts by internationally renowned poets, including Eavan Boland, Colette Bryce, Seamus Heaney, Michael Longley and John Hewitt.