Causeway Coast Peace Group Annual Report April 2025-March 2026
The Causeway Coast Peace Group has been well supported by its 48 members who have enjoyed the programme of meetings and activities this year. Our theme for the second year has been ‘Fortitude and Resilience’ and we are grateful to the National Lottery ‘Awards for All’ for helping to fund our speakers, venues, Christmas lunch and outings.
We celebrated our 23[rd] Thanksgiving Service last June in St Mary’s and St Joseph’s Church, Ballintoy. Bishop Trevor Williams gave the address based on Jesus’ command in John’s Gospel chapter 15, to ‘love one another’, and to ‘bear much fruit’. Music was provided by The McFalls, and members lit candles and renewed their commitment to peace. The collection raised £300 for the work of the RNLI. Following the service tea was served in St Joseph’s Hall.
David McKeown was the speaker at our September meeting. He talked about how stress in his profession as a veterinary surgeon led to him exploring the need to learn resilience against the stresses of the modern world. David helped us understand what happens to our bodies when we experience stress and anxiety, and he gave us a couple of suggestions about how we can manage it. One was to have regular exercise of about 20 minutes daily and the other was his 7:11 breathing technique, which he had us all practising.
In October 28 members travelled by train and taxis to visit the Indian Cultural Centre in Belfast. Dr Singhal, the leader of the Indian community gave us a very interesting and informative talk about Indian culture, the many faiths in India and about the Hindu religion and their gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Following the visit we had lunch at Robinsons Restaurant. Everyone agreed that such visits were very worthwhile as it not only helps us to understand and appreciate our neighbours of different cultures and faiths but also builds up friendships between Peace Group members.
We welcomed former BBC journalist and broadcaster Will Leitch to our November meeting. Most of Will’s reporting had been for radio, and he recounted stories and played recordings of various news events, emphasising how important it was for journalists to describe accurately what was before them. He said it wasn’t his job as a broadcaster to offer an opinion but to say what he saw. Since his retirement from the BBC in 2023 Will has worked for several charities and is producing podcasts about issues he cares about.
Our Christmas lunch was held at the Royal Court Hotel, Portrush where we had sole use of the small dining room. The hotel staff gave us excellent service, and we all enjoyed the food and lively conversation.
In January Emma Mullan and Shirley McPhilemy came to tell us about the work of Coleraine Area Child Contact Centre. Two centres funded by the Northern Health Trust and staffed by volunteers, provide a safe space where separated parents can spend time with their children in a calm, welcoming and non-judgmental environment. It was good to hear about this local and much needed service, and about the opportunities to volunteer.
The speaker at our March meeting was the Belfast born author Tony Macauley, who told us about his life from paperboy to peace builder through reading extracts from his various novels. His perceptive and humorous observations of some of the people he has encountered during his life made for a light-hearted yet thought provoking morning. Tony transported us back to life on the Shankill Road in the 70’s during the height of The Troubles. Whilst the peace process has come a long way since those days, we recognise that there are still divisions and issues which separate our communities. As a Peace Group we have built up friendships, trust and a unity which can still make a difference today in promoting peace, harmony, tolerance and kindness in our local community.
I’d like to thank you for supporting the Causeway Coast Peace Group meetings and activities throughout the year. The continued interest you have shown and positive feedback we have received is an encouragement and much appreciated. On your behalf, I would like to thank the committee for their commitment and hard work this year in planning and delivering the programme. My thanks to Bernadette and Glenise who act as secretaries; to Helen as treasurer; to Pat for her PR; to Kathleen for all the refreshments; to Patrick and Victor for the Charity Commission work and willingness to help where it is needed. I very much appreciate all they do which makes my job as your chair a lot easier. This concludes my report for 2025-2026.
Mary Taylor Chair CCPG May 2026