The seventh annual Day of Reflection is on Friday 21 June.  For the first time, Healing Through Remembering will be using pop-up street theatre as part of marking the Day.

A two character pop-up drama, commissioned by Healing Through Remembering, will be staged at Queen’s University where Pro Vice Chancellor Tony Gallagher will witness the performance in the Quad.

The play will also visit other places in Belfast including the Linen Hall Library, Belfast City Hall, Cornmarket, Culturlann, Spectrum Centre and Skainos.

Kate Turner, Director of Healing Through Remembering, said, “It is hoped the drama helps people to pause and reflect on the conflict and consider how we can build a more peaceful future.”

The Day of Reflection was one of the recommendations made in 2002 following a public consultation by Healing Through Remembering on ways of dealing with the past.

Research revealed that there is no day in the calendar year which is not the anniversary of the death of at least one person who died as a direct result of the conflict in and about Northern Ireland.

21 June, the longest day, was seen as symbolically important because of the relationship between the hours of dark and light – a symbol of the pain and hope in our society.

The purpose of the Day of Reflection is to provide an opportunity for us all to:

• Acknowledge the deep hurt and pain caused by the conflict;
• Remember the men, women and children who on a daily basis live with the consequences of the conflict;
• Reflect on our attitudes which have the potential for a negative impact on others and society;
• Reflect on what more each of us might have done or might still do to uphold and enhance all other people’s right to life and quality of life; and,
• Make a personal commitment that as we begin to move forward as a society such loss should never be allowed to happen again.

Various Day of Reflection activities are also being organised by different groups and organisations across Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.

There will be a space for reflection in the Linen Hall Library from 10am – 4pm on the Day.

The venues and times for the street dramas are as follows:

9:30am – Linen Hall Library/Boots on Fountain Street
10:15am – Front of City Hall
11:15am – Cornmarket Square
12:15pm – Skainos, Newtownards Road
12:45pm – Culturlann, Falls Road
2:00pm – Queen’s University Belfast, on the quad
3:00pm – Spectrum Centre, Shankill Road
4:30pm – Linen Hall Library/Boots on Fountain Street