Following the visit of the Victims' Commissioner, Mrs Bertha McDougal, and the tremendous networking occasion it provided, a new volunteer has emerged to help in Worn Again.
Crossfire Trust were given an award in recognition of their participation in 'Community Environments for All' as part of the project to create the 'Peace Garden'.
Ian Bothwell was joined by some of the trustees and volunteers of Crossfire Trust on a visit to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet President Mary McAleese on Thursday 12th February 2004.
Áras an Uachtaráin was built in 1751 and became the Official Residence of the President of Ireland in 1938. It is situated in the 1,752 acres of the Phoenix Park near Dublin.
President McAleese was joined by her husband Dr Martin McAleese in hosting a reception for people from all over Ireland. It was a good opportunity to increase awareness of the work of Crossfire Trust.
Despite having his US White House reception postponed until March, South Armagh reconciliation worker Ian Bothwell has just had a fascinating trip to Washington.
As director of Crossfire Trust he was due to formally receive the 2002/2003 US President’s Prize in conjunction with Liam Maskey, brother of Sinn Fein Mayor, Alex.
But Liam was unable to fly at the last minute for medical reasons - so Ian went out to fulfil an unusual list of speaking engagements, in a superpower readying itself for war.
A south Armagh man asked George W Bush – one-on-one - not to bomb Iraq when they met at the recent St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Washington.
“’A blessing is greater than a bombing,’ are the exact words I used,” said Mr Ian Bothwell of Crossfire Trust, who was receiving the US President’s Prize for reconciliation work in Northern Ireland. He was jointly chosen for the award along with Liam Maskey, brother of Sinn Fein Belfast Mayor, Alex.
A faith-based community worker from South Armagh has dedicated a prize from former US President Bill Clinton to the people of Crossmaglen.
Ian Bothwell and his wife Pauline have just been awarded the President’s Prize in conjunction with Liam Maskey – brother of Belfast Mayor Alex - for grassroots cross-community work.
