The Northern Ireland Executive Office (TEO) and the Community Relations Council seek to honour individuals, community groups and projects who delivered exceptional Good Relations, intercultural and peacebuilding work across all communities. For 2025, they worked in partnership with NICVA, NI Youth Forum, Volunteer Now, and Community Foundation for Northern Ireland. In addition, they also launched the inaugural Good Relations ‘Housing for All’ Award in partnership with NI Housing Executive.
TEO commissioned Community Arts Partnership (CAP) to create an award that celebrates the winners’ achievement. CAP worked with glass artist Natasha Duddy to render this year’s award. Further information about Natasha’s work can be found at the link below
www.facebook.com/natashaduddyglassdesigns
To tie creativity in to this bespoke, artistic award, CAP invited writers to reflect on six themes of Good Relations through haiku: Inclusion, Peace, Opportunity, Hope, Creativity and Innovation. On the back of each award a QR code links a viewer to a website with the presentation of four selected writers, their written work and a short video presentation of their Haiku. To view the video and selected writers’ work for 2025 that was inspired by the GR themes please see the video below
The 2025 award ceremony was held at the Shankill Women’s Centre on 25th March, 2025.
Please find below a sample of Haiku submitted for this year’s Good Relations Awards:
Roisin McGinn
“Opportunity”
Seeking my fortune
In falling rain, arms open
Drops pool in my palms
Bronagh Mallon
We are stronger now,
soft threads woven together
sewing the future.
Helen Torr
“Creativity & Innovation – Well done creatives”
Well done creatives
innovators changemakers
dreaming up anew
Colin Dardis
planting a lone seed
in the soil of time, waiting
for a friendly rain
Roisin McDonnell
“Peace”
Freedom without fear,
harmony dispels discord,
calm minds steer progress
Heather Martin
Is it safe there now?
Say those who don’t understand
the sun’s warm and gold.
Helena Stuart
A migrating bird
Perched on a flagpole
Sees only a resting place.
Rosaline Callaghan
“haiku eight”
tides storms sea stacks rise
raven’s bright black feather falls
mourning empty skies
Paul Hutchinson
“Headgear”
Would you like my seat?
her pregnant form slumps, grateful
the hooded teen nods
Jane McComb
darkest of winters
yet spring will come once again
as every year
Fionntán Macdonald
“Creativity”
If you hear my words
You can sing my song, for our
music is not gone
