After every storytelling residential, Towards Understanding and Healing asks participants, “What should happen next?” And every time, we get a large group of people that say, “Storytelling is great, but I also want a chance to dialogue about the real issues facing us.”

In July 2005, past participants had the chance to do just that.

Towards Understanding and Healing was pleased to host a dialogue residential solely for TUH past participants, drawing together people from the various dialogue and storytelling events that had taken place over the previous two years. The theme of the residential was "Hope and Reality: What Does Reconciliation Require?"

Within the safety of small groups and the TUH process, participants were able to discuss certain pressing issues that have stemmed from the Troubles and deepen the conversations begun at past events. The event allowed participants to reconnect with those they had met before and to meet new people involved in TUH. Three speakers also provided fuel for the small group dialogues: Marie Smyth, head of the "Cost of the Troubles" study; Roberta Bacic, former member of Chile's Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and Johnston McMaster of the Irish School of Ecumenics.

You can download Marie Smyth and Johnston McMaster's presentations below:

Presentation by Marie Smyth

Presentation by Johnston McMaster