ABSTRACT
The problems of violence are broad and these local peacebuilders expertise is needed. This chapter covers the need to recognize grassroots peacebuilders wisdom, expertise, and applied experience of working in the peacebuilding trenches every day. It includes how politicians often don’t give local peacebuilders the credit and attention they deserve. It includes how local peacebuilders wisdom about building positive cross-community relationships in Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland is indicative of their knowledge of the root causes of the conflict, the environment they live in, local relationships and stories, and the economic and political landscape. It also consists of a discussion of how they believe that fairness and justice needs must be integrated into Northern Ireland’s peacebuilding processes.
