A Peace of My Mind

The Troubles - Mark Durkan

Mark Durkan has spent much of his life navigating Northern Ireland 's difficult path from conflict to peace. A native of Derry, he was deeply involved in the negotiations and implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, later serving as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and as a member of Parliament. Throughout his career, Mark has championed the idea that peace is more than a political settlement. While agreements can create the conditions for change, he believes reconciliation is sustained by the everyday work of communities, artists, educators, and ordinary citizens who choose connection over division. Drawing on decades of experience, he speaks about the challenges of addressing painful histories, building trust, and creating shared spaces where people can re-imagine a common future. Today, through his work with the John and Pat Hume Foundation and other civic initiatives, Mark continues to encourage dialogue, understanding, and the belief that lasting peace is built one relationship at a time. Credits: * Photos and text, John Noltner [https://www.noltner.com/] * Field production, summer interns Kate West, Sawyer Garrison, and Kaitlin Imai * Audio Engineering, Razik Saifullah Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website [https://apeaceofmymind.org/]and follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apommstories/?hl=en].

The Troubles - Martina Anderson

Martina Anderson is a lifelong Irish republican, former political prisoner, and veteran political leader from Derry’s Bogside. Arrested in the early years of the Troubles, she spent nearly fourteen years in prison, including a decade in England, before her release under the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Following her release, Anderson unexpectedly found herself in public office, serving as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, a Junior Minister in the Executive Office, and later as a Member of the European Parliament for Sinn Féin, where she represented Northern Ireland for more than seven years.  She was also among the first Sinn Féin representatives appointed to the Policing Board, helping oversee reforms aimed at increasing accountability and human rights protections in post-conflict policing. Credits: * Photos and text, John Noltner [https://www.noltner.com/] * Field production, summer interns Kate West, Sawyer Garrison, and Kaitlin Imai * Audio Engineering, Razik Saifullah Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website [https://apeaceofmymind.org/]and follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apommstories/?hl=en].

The Troubles - Chris McDonagh

Chris McDonough is a community development worker based in the Fountain/Bishop Street interface area of Derry, where he works to bridge divides between Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods through peacebuilding, regeneration, and youth engagement.  Raised in a family shaped by both nationalist and republican traditions, Chris combines deep knowledge of Northern Ireland’s history with a practical commitment to reconciliation and social equity. His work focuses on addressing the lingering trauma and tensions of the Troubles by fostering dialogue, shared understanding, and cross-community relationships—especially among young people. Passionate about justice, identity, and democratic change, he believes lasting peace comes not from suppressing differences, but from learning to respect and understand them. Credits: * Photos and text, John Noltner [https://www.noltner.com/] * Field production, summer interns Kate West, Sawyer Garrison, and Kaitlin Imai * Audio Engineering, Razik Saifullah Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website [https://apeaceofmymind.org/]and follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apommstories/?hl=en].

The Troubles - Shelley Cowan and Tracey Farry

Shelley Cowan is a disability advocate, speaker, and founder of Justus, a community organization creating inclusive social spaces and opportunities for adults with disabilities across Northern Ireland. After becoming severely ill at age fifteen, Shelley spent more than a decade confined to bed, unable to walk, eat independently, or continue her education. Through years of determination, family support, and rehabilitation, she gradually regained mobility, returned to school as a mature student, and earned a master’s degree focused on accessibility and inclusion. Today, Shelley is known for transforming personal hardship into community impact. Alongside her close friend and caregiver Tracey Farry, she advocates for accessibility, disability awareness, and connection across social and cultural divides. Together, the pair have become known for their humor, honesty, and deep friendship—building spaces where people of all abilities feel seen, welcomed, and celebrated. Credits: * Photos and text, John Noltner [https://www.noltner.com/] * Field production, summer interns Kate West, Sawyer Garrison, and Kaitlin Imai * Audio Engineering, Razik Saifullah Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website [https://apeaceofmymind.org/]and follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apommstories/?hl=en].

The Troubles - Martina Byrne

Martina Byrne is a community builder and quiet changemaker rooted in Hilltown, County Down. Originally trained in marine biology and business development, Martina’s path shifted after becoming a mother, when she experienced firsthand the isolation that can exist in rural life. Rather than wait for connection, she created it. As a co-founder of a local women’s group that has now thrived for more than a decade, Martina has helped cultivate a space where women gather, learn, and grow—often in unexpected ways, from coffee mornings to creative workshops. What began as a simple effort to bring people together has evolved into a powerful platform for community development, cross-border collaboration, and grassroots peacebuilding. Guided by the belief that real change happens in small, consistent steps, Martina works to bridge divides—social, political, and personal—by building trust one relationship at a time. She is especially passionate about elevating the role of women in peacebuilding and creating opportunities for voices that have too often gone unheard. Credits: * Photos and text, John Noltner [https://www.noltner.com/] * Field production, summer interns Kate West, Sawyer Garrison, and Kaitlin Imai * Audio Engineering, Razik Saifullah Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional content, visit our website [https://apeaceofmymind.org/]and follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/apommstories/?hl=en].