Fergal Barr's Page

What motivated you (or your organization) to become involved in peace and conflict resolution?

To be honest I kinda fell into it without really realising - had left school at 16 and fell into youth work which led to my becoming involved in peace and conflict work. The nature of youth work, the political situation in Northern Ireland and my own interest in the subject matter and knowing there must be a better way than violence were probably the reasons that 'pulled me in.'

Please feel free to provide a short bio about yourself or the work of your organization (no more than 3 paragraphs)

Born in Derry/Londonderry in 1971, Northern Ireland I am the proud father of three children, Michaela, Laya and Josh and has been involved in Youth Work full-time since leaving school in May 1987. In that time I have worked for a vast array of organisations across both statutory and voluntary sectors in diverse areas such as Education Welfare, Volunteering, Reconciliation, Conflict Management & Resolution, Community Relations, Mentoring, Street Work, Research, Participation and Rural Work. Iwas also a member of the Youth Council for Northern Ireland between 2000 and 2003.

I am also a freelance trainer and have worked for a number of organisations ‘at home’ (Coleraine Youth Forum, Co-Operation North/Ireland, Warrington Project, NUS/USI and Foyle Youth Institute) and ‘abroad’ (Leargas, Anna Lindh Foundation, Viennese Association of Youth Clubs, ELT, Klick e.V and International Youth Institute Programme). I have co-ordinated, hosted, co/facilitated, and/or participated in more than 70 programmes since 1998 working with partner organisations in more than 30 countries. I am a registered trainer with SALTO - www.salto.org/fergalbarr

Educated at St. Brigid’s College, Derry and at the University of Ulster I have Diplomas in Youth Work and Management and a Masters in Education. I am hoping to commence a PhD in 2010.

I am a (sometimes suffering) life-long Liverpool supporter. Interests include football, music, travel, video-production and sarcasm! My claims to fame include undertaking a solo-fundraising walk (almost) the length of Ireland in 1988 and making legal history in Northern Ireland in 2001 by single-handedly changing Employment Law at an Industrial Tribunal.

Please list the countries and/or regions in which you (or your organization) have direct and significant expertise

Northern Ireland, Israel and Cyprus and in the last few years I have been forging close working relationships with partners in Germany, Poland and Austria and recently Czech Republic.

What is your current country of residence (or location of your organization)?

Northern Ireland

What is your current job (and organization) and/or where and what field are you studying?

Youth Co-ordinator, Inside Out

How many years professional experience do you have ?

15+

What is your personal or organizational website?

http://www.claudyyouth.com

Which are your primary sectoral areas of expertise (or the primary sectoral areas of your organization) ?

Conflict Resolution, Culture, Dialogue, Facilitation, Organizational Development

Which are your primary skills areas(or the primary skill areas of your organization)?

Capacity Building, Communication, Curriculum Development, Evaluation, Fundraising, Qualitative Skills, Training

What are some of your current areas of research (if any)?

No current areas at present but previously anti-social behaviour. My next area of research or that which interests me most is the impact of celebrity culture on young people.

If appropriate feel free to list several of your (or your organization's) publications

‘Young People in the Greater Shantallow Area – A study of values, attitudes and opinions’ (Derry, N Ireland)

‘Anti-social Behaviour – Issues, Concerns and Experiences of young people living in the Greater Shantallow Area’ (Derry, N Ireland)

‘Anti-Social Behaviour in the Greater Shantallow Area of Derry: Reasons & Causes - Developing effective responses for addressing the issue of Anti-Social Behaviour and Young People’ (Derry, N Ireland)

'Youth Manifesto - Improving the health and social well-being status of young people' (Western Investing for Health Area, N Ireland)

Creating A Common European Consenus

Ethnicity, Radicalism and Conflict in an Evolving Europe

Measuing the Intangible

The Things People Say
Political Quotations from the Northern Ireland Peace Process http://www.trafford.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?Book=183463