Where there are people, there is story. Where there is story, there is feeling. Where there is feeling, there is conflict. This workshop will explore how groups of people who collaborate can deepen their encounter with each other. Taking poetry, conflict mediation skills, storytelling, and spiritual practice, this weekend will bring the group of individuals closer to each other, as well as impart practical skills for group work in the home circumstances of the individuals. The language and practice of this workshop will not be abstract: it will be entirely linked to everyday stories — with all their complications, complicities, and kindnesses. Limit of 20; register early to avoid disappointment.

Leader(s)

Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet, theologian and conflict mediator from Ireland. From 2014-2019 he was the leader of the Corrymeela Community, Ireland’s oldest peace and reconciliation community. His published work incorporates poetry (Readings from the Book of Exile; Sorry for your Troubles), prose (In The Shelter), and theology.

A profoundly engaging public speaker, Ó Tuama has worked with groups to explore story, conflict, their relationship with religion and argument, and violence. His work is marked both by lyricism and pragmatism, with an ethic of evoking stories and participation from attendees at his always-popular lectures, retreats and events. He has been a featured guest on On Being with Krista Tippett twice, and is a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio on topics such as Religion in the public square, Loneliness, Conflict and Faith, LGBT inclusion, Reparative Therapy and the value of the Arts in public life.

Ó Tuama’s theological interests span his concerns with violence, language, and poetics: using biblical texts, he explores the civic and artistic dynamics of language, narrative and impact. Most recently he has published a widely acclaimed essay on Celtic Spirituality in Lutterworth Press’ volume “Neither here nor there; the many voices of Liminality” (2019, Tim Carson ed., introduced by Barbara Brown Taylor). He holds a BA Div validated by the Pontifical College of Maynooth, an MTh from Queen’s University Belfast and is currently engaged in a PhD in Theology through Creative Practice exploring poetry and the bible. In addition to these qualifications, Ó Tuama has numerous professional accreditations in conflict and group mediation.