Statement from St Mary's University College:

From 30 July to 9 August 2015, St Mary’s University College was the venue for aspects of Féile an Phobail, the Festival of the People. The College has been a venue over the past twenty years for this highly successful community event.

During the festival there was a series of talks and debates, as well as exhibitions, on the campus. The debates involved a wide cross-section of society including the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Deputy First Minister, a high-ranking representative of the Orange Order, as well as former Republican and Loyalist prisoners.

One of the exhibitions was the “Remembrance Quilt”, which is a project organised by Relatives for Justice, and it has been on display for many years in public spaces, both locally and abroad.

There was also an exhibition entitled “In the Footsteps”, organised by the Pat Finucane Centre, which comprised pairs of shoes that symbolised the lost lives of a variety of people associated with “the Troubles”.

Neither exhibition was dedicated to any particular group or section of our society, nor did they “honour” anyone. It is disappointing that a highly selective view of the content misrepresents the purpose of the exhibitions. Integral to the College's mission is an ongoing commitment to promote community engagement and dialogue, and only this week St Mary's has agreed to a request from the South East Fermanagh Foundation to have their Memorial Quilt displayed at the College.

Féile an Phobail are pleased to provide any genuinely interested party with details on both exhibitions.

The following is the relevant extract from the Féile an Phobail programme along with some further information on the Remembering Quilt provided by Relatives for Justice.

Relatives for Justice Remembering Quilt

The Relatives for Justice Remembering Quilt is a project designed by families who wish to remember their loved ones lost through the conflict. This project involves dedicating a square to the memory of the loved one and is open to all families who have lost as a result of the conflict, irrespective of their experience or background. Telling the story of grief and loss can overwhelm the individual; however, through this gentle process families can claim ownership of the relationships they once held dear with their loved ones as they recall positive memories of how their loved one lived.

Deciding on how to design the square facilitates a narrative of the loved one’s life according to the family that loved them. Families lovingly choose memorabilia and themes that are intimate to them allowing a sense of privacy, dignity and respect for their family member who is no longer here. Although each square represents the enormity of loss and enduring pain felt by families, they also remain a loving testimony to a life lived. A qualified tutor is on hand to assist and support families who feel they cannot sew or represent their feelings adequately.

Relatives for Justice have provided the College with information on where the Quilt has been hosted.


Relatives for Justice say that over 500 families have participated in it—affected by all actors and from all backgrounds. They have described the Quilt as “a therapeutic expression of love and memory”.