After twenty-eight years in existence as a Quaker peace and reconciliation project at the heart of Northern Ireland’s conflict, Quaker House Belfast is to be laid down at the end of May 2010.

They did an incredible amount in a house where everyone knew they could be trusted

Quaker House Belfast was established in 1982, ‘to further the work of reconciliation and of befriending all parties in Northern Ireland’. Quaker Peace and Service London set up a committee to manage the project consisting of six Friends from Ireland – three from the North and three from the South – and six from Britain. This joint ownership of the project by both Yearly Meetings has been recognised as one of its strengths over the years. In fact, its composition could be seen as a forerunner of the eventual solution – that a resolution of the conflict can only come about with the involvement of all concerned, from both parts of Ireland and from Britain.

The model of a Quaker House has been used successfully in conflict situations in various parts of the world. It involves establishing a house as an informal meeting place in a safe neutral location. The emphasis is on informality and meetings are often held over a shared meal. This enables the representatives to listen to the views of different sides in a conflict and helps them to make wider contacts.

The years between 1982 and 1999 were turbulent ones for Northern Ireland. The 1980s were characterised by a deep suspicion and lack of dialogue between the parties and continuing violence by paramilitaries on both sides. During these years, the representatives at Quaker House continued to meet with all concerned, providing a safe space for people to meet who could not otherwise do so. They fostered a tentative dialogue that was to bear fruit in subsequent years. During the 1990s, the first steps were taken in what became known as ‘the peace process’, with IRA and Loyalist ceasefires in 1994 and, after many difficulties and setbacks, the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998. The work of the representatives at Quaker House Belfast during these years was and remains, of necessity, confidential. However, its significance for the peace process can be gauged by the remarks of Mo Mowlam, former secretary of state for Northern Ireland, who told a Friends House audience in September 2002 that the work done in her time was invaluable: ‘They did an incredible amount in a house where everyone knew they could be trusted. I wouldn’t have been able to talk to such a cross-section of people except for being able to meet in that house. They told me who to listen to. Without them my life would have been much tougher than it was.’
Much important work was also carried out during the period 2000-2010. Themes explored included community relations, dealing with the past, anti-racism work, dialogue with former combatants and input to policy consultations on these issues. A notable success was the work with women’s groups from both nationalist and loyalist communities centred on quilt-making.

Today, there are many groups now occupying the cross-community dialogue and peace-building space that was once a ‘no-go area’ for all but Quakers.

We wish to celebrate the work undertaken by all who were involved with Quaker House Belfast over the past twenty-eight years and, to this end, there will be a special Meeting for Worship on 5 June in Frederick Street Meeting House, Belfast, for all former representatives and committee and other Friends and supporters. The journey is not over by any means, but the example of Quaker House Belfast can serve as testimony to what can be achieved and as an inspiration for such work into the future.

Bairbre is co-clerk of Quaker House Belfast management committee.