Milford pupils meet Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern at Good Friday event

Pupils from Loreto Community School in Milford today attended a special event in Belfast organised to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

They got to meet a host of political figures including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at the Building a Better Peace event at Queen’s University.

Mr Blair and Mr Ahern are in Belfast to take part in a three-day conference on the future of Northern Ireland.

It was a day to remember for the pupils, and especially Jack McBride who wrote a poem on the Troubles which was read out at today’s event. The poem was then signed by both Mr Blair and Mr Ahern.

Jack McBride’s poem which was signed by Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern

Loreto Community School staff and pupils linked up with pupils and staff from Portadown College in Co. Armagh with whom they have been involved in a Politics in Action project over the last number of months.

Politics in Action is a project supported by the International Fund for Ireland which aims to cultivate positive leadership, activism and critical thinking skills with the young people.

Pupils from Loreto Community School in Milford speaking to the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy at the Building a Better Peace event in Belfast

The young people developed a cross-border youth manifesto which will be presented to their communities, peers, politicians and government departments on both sides of the border.

Paddy Harte, IFI Chairman, was also in attendance at today’s event as was the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy

Main Pic: Loreto Milford pupils pictured with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and IFI Chairman Paddy Harte

Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere