From Bullets to the Peace Process
Jon McCourt, civil rights activist and former member of the Irish Republican Army, was welcomed to the Foley Institute on October 28th, 2014. Jon spoke about the complexities of Irish Politics from the late 1960’s until the end of the 1990’s, and described his time as a member of the IRA during historical events such as Bloody Sunday and Bloody Friday. Jon spoke to a captivated audience as he detailed the unifying realization on both sides that the war between the IRA and the loyalists would not come to a conclusion anytime soon, and that “even though the armed conflict would continue, there had to be another way.”
Jon McCourt spoke to the audience about the process of de-escalation as both sides realized the senseless violence would find no end unless compromises were made, eventually leading to both sides declaring a ceasefire and peace talks becoming more widespread between the previously militant enemies.
