Christian youth confront Northern Ireland's troubled past

Ireland's largest Christian youth festival, Summer Madness, will give thousands of young people the opportunity to ask Northern Ireland politicians how they should deal with the legacy of the past.

Panellists at the "Whatever you do...Don't mention the Past" debate on Sunday include Environment Minister and DUP MLA Sammy Wilson, Sinn Fein MLA John O'Dowd, and Belfast City PUP councillor Dr John Kyle. They will be joined by a fourth speaker, Father Aidan Troy from Holy Cross parish in Ardoyne, North Belfast.

The debate is being hosted by the Church of Ireland's Hard Gospel Project, an initiative addressing sectarian issues and promoting reconciliation and understanding in local communities still coming to terms with their troubled past. It takes as its basis the teaching of Jesus to love your God and your neighbour as yourself.

The Rev Earl Storey, director of the Hard Gospel Project, hopes the debate will shed some fresh light on the thorny issue of reconciliation.

He said: "In Northern Ireland we have to find a way of dealing with our past. There are two temptations - to be imprisoned by it or to walk away from it as though it never happened. Neither is a healthy option.

"The key question is how we deal with the past in Northern Ireland in a way that ensures we don't end up repeating it."

Summer Madness, organised by the Church of Ireland, is one of the most popular youth festivals for Christians in Ireland, taking place each year in Belfast. This year's festival kicks off on Friday and will run until Tuesday, featuring Scottish Christian rockband Superhero, Belfast locals Innereye, and UK band Finchley.