The Treaty Generation

Introductions to the film by Treaty Generation Descendant Rónán Fawsitt (and one of the core founders of the group), Naoimh McNamee (CEO Glencree) and Pat Hynes (Glencree).

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The Treaty Generation Descendant Group and Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation launch at the RIA of the short 25-minute edited film taken from the Round Table Discussion on “Minorities after the Treaty” – a discussion recorded in the Glencree Centre by descendants of the Treaty Generation on what happened to Southern Unionists, protestants, and other minorities after the Treaty in 1921. The purpose of the Round Table is to tell the human stories of those families and communities without blame or judgement; to aid understanding of those traumatic times and to assist reconciliation on our island.

Following the screening, Turlough O’Donnell (Senior Counsel), hosted the panel with Mr Justice Bernard Barton, Dr Ida Milne, Rónán Fawsitt and Richard Fawsitt. Mr O’Donnell then opened the discussion to the gathered audience for a Questions & Answers session. 

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Rita Cosgrave, Philip Barton, Carol Fawsitt and Tadhg Crowley amongst others spoke about their experiences and the need to learn from the hurts of the past for a better future for all.  One of the negotiators of the Good Friday Agreement, Tim O’Connor also paid tribute to the importance and power of dialogue in ending the fear and silence.