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Noli Timere – Christmas reflection from Lord Alderdice

December 21, 2018/in News /by admin

These are difficult and frightening times. Democracy is fraying and peace is hard to find. Those of us who are committed to building democracy and peace could be forgiven for feeling dispirited. So Christmas is all the more welcome for the powerfully paradoxical message that it brings.

Polish Ambassador to visit Belfast this week

November 14, 2018/in News /by admin

The Ambassador, who has held his post since September 2016, will meet with political leaders and senior civil servants to help promote cultural and economic ties between Northern Ireland and Poland.

Noli Timere – Christmas reflection from Lord Alderdice

December 21, 2018/in News /by admin

Polish Ambassador to visit Belfast this week

November 14, 2018/in News /by admin

The Ambassador, who has held his post since September 2016, will meet with political leaders and senior civil servants to help promote cultural and economic ties between Northern Ireland and Poland.

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Noli Timere – Christmas reflection from Lord Alderdice

December 21, 2018/in News /by admin

These are difficult and frightening times. Democracy is fraying and peace is hard to find. Those of us who are committed to building democracy and peace could be forgiven for feeling dispirited. So Christmas is all the more welcome for the powerfully paradoxical message that it brings.

At a time of year when it is cold, dark and wet, we come together to celebrate the Dayspring that came in just such a time as a poor, helpless, little refugee, threatened by powerful forces, in a country under violent occupation and yet is for us, two millennia later, still the Prince of Peace and the most powerful, indeed the ultimate inspiration for our lives and our communities.

We may feel downhearted that, in the words of the late great Seamus Heaney, “The world has turned into a big Ulster”. A depressing thought you may feel, but what were Heaney’s last words? According to his son, the Latin text that Seamus Heaney sent by mobile phone to his wife just before his untimely death was ‘Noli Timere’ (Do not be afraid!).

It was the same command that Jesus gave to his disciples in Matthew 14:27. They were out on the water when their boat was caught in a storm. They were terrified, and even when they saw Jesus walking to them on the water they were not reassured, fearing that he was a ghost. But he told them not to be afraid, and instead to be of good cheer.

As our ship of state is tossed about and we seem to be surrounded by the ghosts of past conflicts and assailed by the fear of new ones, may the Christmas Season imbue us with new hope and a re-invigorated commitment to the building of peace, justice and freedom from want and fear. Noli Timere.

Lord Alderdice
Chairman, Centre for Democracy and Peace Building

Polish Ambassador to visit Belfast this week

November 14, 2018/in News /by admin

The Polish Ambassador to the United Kingdom His Excellency Arkady Rzegocki will visit Belfast this week.

The Ambassador, who has held his post since September 2016, will meet with political leaders and senior civil servants to help promote cultural and economic ties between Northern Ireland and Poland.

He will also give a talk at Queen’s University Belfast on “The Role of Poland in Europe in the Context of Brexit” on Thursday, 15 November. On Saturday, 17 November he will join the ceremony of unveiling of Monument dedicated to Polish Airmen at the Cenotaph, Newtownards, while on Sunday, 18 November he will attend the First Congress of Polish Diaspora Education in Belfast.

Poland is the only European Union state with a Consular presence in Northern Ireland and there are deep ties between the two countries, with approximately 30,000 Poles currently living here. The official opening of the new Consulate on Belfast’s Malone Road is expected to take place in the coming weeks.

Polish immigration into Northern Ireland increased after the EU expansion in 2004, however the connection between the two countries goes back decades with Polish forces playing a pivotal role in the Second World War including the 303 (Polish) RAF Squadron which was stationed at Ballyhalbert in Co Down from 1943 to 1944.

This year Poland is also marking its 100th anniversary of the country regaining its independence.

Paweł Majewski, the Polish Consul General in Northern Ireland said:

“This is a very important year for Poland, its people and its diplomatic missions round the world as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Polish independence.”

“We are looking forward to welcoming the Ambassador to meet political and community leaders in Northern Ireland. Visits like this are important to help strengthen and develop the already solid ties between our countries.”

“Those ties are incredibly important both to the Polish government and to the large community of Polish people living here, who contribute so much to the cultural and economic life of Northern Ireland. There’s a proud history of friendship between Northern Ireland and Poland and we look forward to further building on that.”

For further information and to set up an interview with the Ambassador on Friday please contact:

Tomasz Tadla

Vice-consul
Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Belfast
e-mail: Tomasz.Tadla@msz.gov.pl

Tel. 07880706068

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