Bruce Cockburn is a world renowned singer/songwriter who has been recording albums since 1970. Among his many awards Bruce has been inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame and has sold millions of albums worldwide. This podcast was recorded in a very basic format on Bruce’s daughter’s iPhone. The video is obviously not to our usual standard and a Zoom connection limited our ability to make the audio as perfect as normal. Nevertheless we managed to record a really interesting conversation. Bruce spoke of conflict and faith. He spoke of his concern with much of American Christianity, but he also spoke of being welcomed into a church with open arms and unconditional acceptance. He has recently released a few new songs as a video demo in conjunction with his church San Francisco Lighthouse. The songs can be found at https://youtu.be/5ly1fKZa_lQ If you like our podcasts and YouTube videos please like us and rate us on iTunes or wherever you listen. We would love to raise our financial support levels so we can start working on our next documentary. You can support us monthly via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/guardiansoftheflame

Guardians Of The Flame Podcast

GOTF Podcast - Bruce Cockburn: Conflict; Music; Finding, losing & finding faith again...

Liam Ó Maonlaí is probably best known as lead singer for the Hothouse Flowers, one of the biggest bands in Ireland in the 90’s, and still loved today. As a band they are still producing music and Liam continues to collaborate with the band and with all of Ireland’s best musicians today. Liam is passionate about the Irish language, his songs are steeped in a mystical spirituality, particularly Songs From The Rain. In this interview we hear not only the story behind some of the songs but he also plays 5 beautiful stirring versions. He plays a song from Songs From The Rain, he plays a completely apt song for the Covid times we are in called Worry Not, also a hauntingly beautiful song that can be used in a Catholic mass written by Seán Ó Riada, and a Sean-nos song. Sean-nos is a very traditional way of singing Irish traditional music. All of this, as well as Liam’s exceptional musicianship and his contemplative spirit gives this interview a unique feel.

Liam Ó Maonlaí: Songs and Conversation from An Cuan

Seán Farren has been a local politician in Northern Ireland for over 40 years representing the SDLP. He has much to say about Brexit and the prospects of a lasting peace in Ireland. He is also the chairman of the new foundation that is honouring and building on the legacy of Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume, the John and Pat Hume Foundation. One of the books Seán has written was “John Hume: Irish Peacemaker” (2015) and indeed Seán was in the room in Clonard Monastery when secret talks were begun with John Hume and Gerry Adams in 1988. Ten years later in 1998 these talks undoubtedly can be seen to have paved the way for the end of thirty years of civil conflict and the robust peace we have lived with in Northern Ireland since 1998’s Good Friday agreement. In this interview we focus a lot on John Hume who passed away in the summer of 2020 and hear Seán’s reflections on this man who became a giant of peace in this land. John Hume said “Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.” This is an interview with a man who has lived through our conflict in the north of Ireland and someone who has played his part in bringing peace here too.

Seán Farren: on the legacy of peacemaker John Hume & Irish peace today

Richard Moore was blinded by a plastic bullet after being shot by a British soldier in Derry. This was 1972, Richard was ten years old and it was just weeks after Bloody Sunday where one of his uncles was killed. Since that time Richard has become something of a modern day saint. I remember hosting him two years ago in Rostrevor and being so blown away by what I heard. That day he quoted his friend the Dalai Llama: “we as humans have spent centuries developing the human mind, but we need to start to work on developing the human heart”. Richard is a down to earth man who is not used to complaining. He speaks in this interview, not about his lust for vengeance, but of his compulsion to forgive. In fact he speaks of developing a friendship in later life with the soldier who blinded him. This former military man did not initially say sorry. In fact it took him years. Finally he seemed to give in to the weight of mercy he was shown and expressed a “sorry” for what he had done to a 10 year old boy running through a school playground at Rosemount Primary School. Despite a lifetime of blindness Richard speaks of only a few times he dwelt on the sadness of losing his sight. He says he will often show a picture of his two girls to audiences he is speaking to. He says “you’re doing something I’ll never be able to do: you’re looking at my girls.” He then went on to talk about the gift of forgiveness, how it can’t change the past but how it can change the future. He has developed a charity “Children in Crossfire” which has impacted the lives of countless children around the world. This is an episode of profound hope in the midst of tragedy.

Richard Moore: A rubber bullet, forgiveness and the Dalai Llama

This is a fascinating interview with one of the U.K. and Republic of Ireland’s leading public health experts. Dr Gabriel Scally has been a regular commentator on News channels for the last year, often taking the British government to task for their failings in their dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. He has been serving society as a doctor for over 40 years with public health being his main focus in that time. In this interview we chart his life from growing up on the Falls Road in West Belfast during the civil rights movement and early days of the Troubles, his travels as a young man to Chile, Angola and Burkina Faso, and some of the many achievements in his career. It is fascinating and heart wrenching to hear him describe his work on the failings in the Republic of Ireland on the Cervical Check programme. What comes shining through in this episode is Dr Scally’s fierce determination to advocate for those most marginalised in society and to advocate for Public Health policies that will benefit all of those in society. We also touch on the subject of abortion. This is obviously one of the most divisive subjects in many Western societies. I was keen to create a space for someone like Dr Scally to articulate what would have motivated him in his advocacy for reproductive rights in Northern Ireland. As we try to build a broad catalogue of podcasts dealing with all of life, this episode adds a new dimension.

Dr Gabriel Scally: Public Health & Covid-19

Beryl Quigley appears in our documentary telling the story of how her husband, Bill McConnell, was killed by the IRA. Her story is repeated in this podcast where she adds more detail. Several years after her husband’s death she remarried Peter Quigley. Jonny Clark has known Peter and Beryl since the early 90’s and here he allows them to each tell their stories. Peter’s life is one of sadness and redemption. Both speak compellingly about their Christian faith and how it has lead them to walk the path of forgiveness. As people of faith they have made a life’s work out of courageously crossing boundaries that were considered taboo by many in the church. They share a simple faith that is simultaneously uncompromising, profound and one which is steeped in kindness and acceptance. An interesting contribution in this interview are a couple of Peter’s “thoughts from the day” which he regularly shares on BBC Radio Ulster.

Peter and Beryl Quigley

Bruce Clark has been a correspondent for some of the worlds biggest news organisations over the last three decades: the Financial Times, Reuters, The Times and currently the Economist. He was based in Moscow in the final days of Communism and the fall of the Soviet Union. Following this he covered contexts all around Europe and notably for this podcast we talk of how he covered the Balkans in the mid 90’s and the Dayton agreement which brought the Bosnian war to an end. His insight into efforts to bring justice following conflict is fascinating. Bruce is also an author having written extensively about Russia and Greece and he is a cousin of mine. What a privilege it was to interview him. This podcast seeks to look at places with conflict and the roots of these often tribal divisions. Bruce is the first guest we have interviewed who is fluent in both Russian and Greek and well placed to comment on these nations as well as the growth of populism around the world at this unique moment in history. Finally, this conversation is enriched by Bruce’s deep understanding of Biblical Greek. We touch on theology and the importance of his deep Orthodox Christian faith.

Bruce Clark: Journalism, Conflict Zones and Spirituality

James Greer shares powerfully from his experience of membership in the UDA, prison and then starting a new life as a bridge builder. A poignant moment is sharing his entry to the UDA, pledging loyalty to it while having his hand on a Bible. This joining of violence with Religious belonging and identity undergirds what the Guardians Of The Flame project is all about. How do we celebrate the lives of people who have fanned the flame of humanity regardless of what faith they are. And how do we challenge the toxic religious nationalism that can become destructive in societies. James Greer swears no religious allegiance now but he has an overflowing humour and humanity that make his friendship with those who would have been his enemies so poignant.

James Greer: From Paramilitaries to Reconciliation

This podcast comes alongside our accompanying documentary series that explores places of conflict and the redemptive stories that have emerged from the tragedy of religious and sectarian violence. Join us as we seek to profile, celebrate and be inspired by peacemakers from around the world...

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Guardians Of The Flame Podcast

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