Aliana鈥檚 Award
A huge congratulations to Aliana Kempson, who is currently studying for an MRes in Philosophy and Religion, on being awarded the Wartski Overseas Travel Award. The purpose of the award, which was founded by the late Isidore and Winifred Marie Wartski, is to provide postgraduate students with the means to finance a study abroad trip related to their area of interest.
In response to receiving this award, Aliana said:
鈥淭hanks to this funding, I will be able to travel to Belfast, a city at the core of 鈥楾he Troubles鈥, which is crucial for my research. A number of institutions, like the Ulster Museum, offer information on the troubles and political tours, which take you to the principal sites of the conflict and are conducted by political prisoners who were once Republicans and Loyalists. It is vital to hear their version of events since it would provide me with the chance to talk to those who have either lived through 鈥楾he Troubles鈥 or had family members involved, which may give my research more validity and originality. Witnessing the murals first-hand, which serve as a reminder of the violence that occurred there, may elicit an emotional response, making my research more applicable.
鈥淚n addition, The People's Museum of the Troubles and Peace is a non-profit organisation where Northern Irish, Irish, and British people may interact with one another, reflect on, and learn from their common experiences with the Troubles and the peace process. To learn more about the perspectives of those who have been at the centre of the conflict and what they envision for Northern Ireland's future, I would try to schedule meetings with the religious leaders who oversee this group.
鈥淚t would also be beneficial to visit the Museum of Free Derry in Derry/Londonderry, as it offers an important account of the events of Sunday, January 30, 1972, which is vital to understanding religion in Ireland.鈥
How will this trip complement her MRes studies?
鈥淢y master鈥檚 dissertation is primarily focusing on the role of Christianity in Northern Ireland. I'll be investigating whether religious practice is as prevalent in Northern Ireland or whether the conflict continues to have an impact to this day. It is necessary to visit several establishments in Belfast since they provide valuable perspectives of events from both a Northern Irish and British perspective, and doing so will yield essential information linked to my research. I will also be able to observe how towns that explicitly indicate whether they are Catholic or Protestant, Northern Irish or British, could aid in supplying up-to-date information for my research project and make sure that religion is fully examined鈥攁s it remains a divisive issue between the two countries.鈥
We wish Aliana all the best and look forward to hearing about the fruits of the trip.