Dawn Purvis, chair of the Board of Healing Through Remembering, recently participated in the post-performance discussion following Padraig Coyle’s new drama “Home Rule?” which took place on Wednesday, 8 February 2012 at the main hall of St Mary’s University, Falls Road, Belfast.

This event was held to mark and consider the centenary of Winston Churchill’s Home Rule speech which he made in Belfast on 8 February 1912.
Twenty five years previously Churchill’s father Sir Randolph Churchill had made his famous ‘Ulster will fight and Ulster will be right’ speech in the Ulster Hall.  However in 1912 the doors were closed to the then First Lord of the Admiralty who instead addressed the crowds in Paradise, Belfast Celtic Football Club’s home ground.
The play featured Alan McKee as Churchill and was preceded by an illustrated lecture on the period by historian and writer Dr Eamon Phoenix.

Dawn Purvis said: “This evening gave us all an opportunity to learn more about the historical context of this event 100 years ago.  The drama and discussion gave everyone the opportunity to consider the complexities of the event and the people involved both then and now.  We were delighted that Healing Through Remembering was invited to be a part of this informative and imaginative event.”
The event was hosted by the Belfast Celtic Society and supported by Belfast City Council.