SquaresRenew 11: Clonard Monastery
Clonard Monastery is a Catholic church located off the Falls Road in Belfast, and home to a community of the Redemptorists religious order. We visited as part of our Conflicting Stories tour which I wrote about yesterday. In 2008 the church went through a £3 million pound restoration project, completed in 2012, so it could qualify for SquaresRenew under reconstruct. However, I had more in mind renew and move forward because of the part it played in the peace process.
Two of Northern Ireland’s most significant clergy who worked for peace, Fathers Alec Reid and Gerry Reynolds, lived here. Secret conversations between Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and Social Democratic and Labour Party leader John Hume, looking for a political solution to the Troubles, were held in rooms in the complex while wider, interfaith conversations helped contribute to the 1994 IRA ceasefire. Definitely a move forward to where the country is today.
Part of Becky’s SquaresRenew Challenge, using images from our April 2024 trip to Northern Ireland to illustrate one or more of the following:
- Move forward
- Reconstruct
- Renew
- Burgeoning
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
How interesting to see all the places where peace finally took shape. And to understand it’s often those who work quietly behind the scenes that get things accomplished.
LikeLike
Yes, it was interesting – and informative. I had no idea about the meetings which took place there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love old churches. This one is truly stunning!
LikeLike
It was beautiful, I wish we had had more time.
LikeLike
what a great history. I like the ceiling of this cathedral
LikeLike
It’s beautiful, but we only had a short time there unfortunately.
LikeLike
I haven’t heard of this religious order before. What a beautiful interior this church has, especially the altar.
LikeLike
Yes, it was lovely but we didn’t have time to look round properly unfortunately.
LikeLike
A place in history!
LikeLike
Yes, it is!
LikeLike
What an excellent square, fitting the prompt several times over, Anabel – nice one!
LikeLike
Thanks Sue! It’s amazing how much you can bend into shape for the challenge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that is much more like my expectations of Belfast today, a positive account of the peace process!
LikeLike
Yes – still part of the same tour, but the first half which was much more encouraging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Much more positive than the experience you described yesterday.
LikeLike
Yes, although all part of the same tour – the more optimistic part!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like all the reasons for including this one in squares
LikeLike
Yes, it qualifies on multiple levels, and all good things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love those organ pipes, they are so beautifully decorated 🙂
LikeLike
Simply stunning – it was a beautiful church altogether, but we were only allowed a minute or two before we had to get on with the walk so those are the only photos we got.
LikeLike
what a lovely peace, and the stories the walls must be able to tell
LikeLiked by 1 person
ooh I meant to write place, cearly my brain had other days in light of what happened here
LikeLike
I got your drift!
LikeLike
phew, glad you did. My brain is having a little meltdown this morning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So interesting to see these places.
LikeLike
It was, Barbara, and we learned such a lot on this holiday.
LikeLiked by 1 person