On May 9, 2025, the Northern Ireland workshop on Monument(al) Challenges took place. The key focus of the training built on the ‘Train the Trainers’ Seminar in The Hague, where an overview of Monument(al) Challenges, Case Studies and Contested Histories were presented. Building on the Northern Ireland presentation in the Hague, the day was designed to explain the theory behind effective place-based learning in the early session, while allocating most of the rest of the day to allow teachers to try everything out ‘live’ at various historical sites in Derry/Londonderry, discussing Monuments, trialling the techniques and taking 360-degree pictures. This was to get the teachers ready to take the students to Derry/Londonderry during the following week.
Teachers were invited from the Magherafelt and Rural Learning Partnership (MRLP) and the current cohort of Ulster University’s Post-Graduate Certificate in Education History students. There were 20 at the training, plus Dr Clare McAuley, PGCE Lecturer.
The workshop was broken into two parts:
1. The Theory of Place-Based Learning
2. Putting Place-Based Learning into Practice
Morning in St. Mary’s Grammar School – The Therory
Mairtina McCormick led the first session, where teachers were taken through the pedagogical theory that underpins utilising the interrogation and exploration of Monuments, as a key method to discuss contested histories, as well as looking at the techniques and strategies for discussing difficult topics with students. This also involved looking at the benefits of place-based learning, in allowing students to discuss and connect their learning to the Monuments, Murals and Structures that all hold historical meaning and significance. Denver Charles then took the opportunity to look at some of the Case Studies from Contested Histories, to give some further background into how Monuments in certain spaces can generate intense dialogue, while also using modern day examples from Northern Ireland to illustrate the point, such as statues of Winnifred Carney (City Hall) or a recent statue of Bobby Sands in Twinbrook. Mairtina McCormick mocked this up in another short presentation, commenting that it would be great to utilise these approaches at the City Hall in Belfast. Doing this highlighted the applicability of Place-Based Learning to Northern Ireland and demonstrated how the resources can be transformed to suit the Northern Ireland context, and encouraged teachers to get out and about exploring with their students.
Afternoon in Derry/Londonderry
While the training is directly applicable to investigating all statues and monuments in every locality, it was felt that it would be good for teachers and beginning teachers to go somewhere where there is a vast array of Monuments, Murals and Structures, many of which are clearly contested. Teachers were broken into groups of three or four, and after trialling the approaches live at the newly unfurled Factory Girls Sculpture, the groups were sent to several different Monuments throughout the City. Some dealt with potentially controversial material, while there were clearly other monuments, where the controversy has relented and the Monument has become more accepted in time. Monuments ranged from the Bogside Murals, H-Block Memorial, to Governor Walker’s blown-up monument and the imposing Cenotaph in the centre of Derry. Teachers had been given the sheet that the students will be given, thus preparing them for working with the students. Derry/Londonderry is small, and groups were able to visit more than their designated monument as part of the training.
Highlights
The clear highlight was being able to take a group of twenty educators to Derry/Londonderry to trial the lessons. The feedback on this aspect was extremely positive. This allowed the teachers to get ready for running the same programme with students during the week after. We were also delighted to host the teachers who are at the beginning of their careers, and to introduce Monument(al) Matters and Contested Histories to them. They will find this invaluable. The Maiden City is renowned for indifferent weather, so we are happy to report that the weather was also perfect.
