Mr. Harry Donaghy:

It has been referred to. Although the research into this aspect was completed several years ago, it dealt with the experience of family histories and those who had family members involved in the experience of the island of Ireland in the First World War. We found that from a parochial, local perspective some 500 or 600 men from the Falls Road area of Belfast alone enlisted in the 6th (Service) Battalion of the Connaught Rangers at the outbreak of the First World War. They were trained here at the British army facilities at Fermoy and then went off to fight and take part in the conflict.

My grandfather was one of those individuals. When he left Ireland, it was still part of the UK and the Empire. He survived the turmoil and carnage of the war while his brother and two of my great uncles were killed. They did not return, but when my grandfather came back he said it was to a situation where the process of partition was under way and then confirmed in 1921.

I do not want to labour too much on this point, but when people had those conversations that were honest, open, respectful and compassionate, we saw that it was not just study or research into a particular regiment but a synopsis of and a window into the island of Ireland of more than 100 years ago. It showed what had led to those situations at the time and, more importantly, what took place later. Hopefully, the compassion, understanding and ability to encourage the spirit of generosity will allow us to assist in whatever ways we can in building a level of maturity that will allow people to talk to and engage with one another concerning important issues of the day.

National identity was a feature of the processes under way on the island of Ireland leading up to 1914 and what came later. It is still an issue today.