Impressions on the Glencree Reunion

It was really that much fun.

I wasn’t totally sure what to expect when we were climbing uphill to Glencree in Conn’s BMW and listened to the great man from Belfast freaking out with anxiety.

The mood of our journey with him and Mira ever intensified in the course of leaving County Antrim, crossing the border - after stocking up with alcohol in Newry - and getting closer to the mountain. The conversation in the car turned from professional matters and the discussion of our sex life – or the lack of it – to wild and potentially destructive action plans for the weekend. Clearly, there was some stress involved in returning to that valley. I also had my own hopes and fears about the reunion – you know, will we connect reasonably well, will the people I am so happy to see be happy to see me, etc – but kept them to myself as it seemed pointless to throw them against all that road rage.

Finally we settled for a grand arrival scene with beers in our hands, which seemed to do the trick of impressing the people already on site. From then it was all hugs, smiles from ear to ear and more hugs as people kept on arriving.

Then we entered the Canada Room for the formal reception with plenty of various bottles on the table.

(Social drinking is a vital element of Glencree. Maybe it’s time the place gets renamed as Glencree Centre For Booze and Reconciliation?)

I’ll spare you the whole agenda of the long weekend, mainly for the sake of the forty or so current and one time volunteers and staff members who were there.

What I do need to share are some of the many highlights of these three days:

The first night, people joyfully connecting and reconnecting and Eamon announcing at 2 amish that he is leading a prayer instead of a session the next morning.

Simply sitting down with a cup of coffee at the backyard of the Wicklow Wing outside the Vols Kitchen.

Socks fight on Sunday evening in the Canada Room, Shane tearing Elena’s in two while mine resisted even the fiercest removal attempts.

Lighting candles and sharing stories to remember Brendan, a time of real reflection followed by an epic bonfire party in the Peace Garden. My third attempt of going to bed succeeded around 4 am.

The sessions were probably not constant highlights as a few of us got occasional déjà vus of the old community meetings. However, John’s answer to my question if he intended to attend the one before dinner on Monday was simply priceless: ‘Hell, no! I’d rather kneecap myself!’ And off he went to gather wood for the above mentioned bonfire.

Then on Tuesday people begin to leave, some of us go for the obligatory swim in the lake (as cold as ever…brrrr… but had to be done). Staying a bit longer has the definite drawback of seeing other people go. Still, a few minutes of true peace when we were in the German cemetery and at the stream with Kim, Megan and Courtney.

Finally it’s goodbye for me too… Quite happy to go home after the nearly three month long stint at Corrymeela, but a few days later, having looked at about 200 photos on Facebook, the separation anxiety kicks in.

It was really that much fun. Each of us are still part of Glencree and we will come back here again.

Love,

Zoli