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Sisters of the Troubles

The untold story of the role of Catholic nuns during Northern Ireland鈥檚 troubles.

The whole world saw the picture of Father Edward Daly waving a bloodied handkerchief as he escorted a dying teenager out of the line of fire on Bloody Sunday; many books have been written about the role of Catholic priests and Protestant clergy during 30 years of 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland.

But the stories of Catholic Sisters working in schools or living on the Peace Line in Belfast, have not been heard. Over a two-year period 20 nuns have been working with projects at the Universities of Queen鈥檚 Belfast and Winchester to redress this gap in Northern Ireland鈥檚 history. They shared their stories with one another during a series of Witness Seminars. And now the Sisters have gathered again to tell them to a 成人快手 World Service audience. The Documentary is presented by Sister Geraldine Smyth, a Dominican, and associate adjunct professor at the Irish School of Ecumenics at Trinity College, Dublin.

In the run up to the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended 30 years of sectarian conflict, listeners will hear about the daily risks the Sisters took and the practical and spiritual challenges they faced. These are stories of trauma, anger and shaken faith but tales too of laughter, hope and reconciliation.

Producer: Rosemary Dawson

(Photo: Catholic Sisters)

Available now

50 minutes

Last on

Wed 28 Mar 2018 23:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sun 25 Mar 2018 02:06GMT
  • Sun 25 Mar 2018 03:06GMT
  • Sun 25 Mar 2018 13:06GMT
  • Wed 28 Mar 2018 08:06GMT
  • Wed 28 Mar 2018 09:06GMT
  • Wed 28 Mar 2018 09:32GMT
  • Wed 28 Mar 2018 17:06GMT
  • Wed 28 Mar 2018 23:06GMT