A Fragile Peace: Brexit and Northern Ireland is a film about the intersection of history and the present, about a peace agreement that many assumed was solid but now faces new and unexpected challenges due to Brexit. The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998, created a delicate balance of identities, political parties, and loyalties within Northern Ireland. It was a promise of shared futures, built on political compromise and a commitment to leave the past behind. However, Brexit has reopened a wound that many thought was healed, casting uncertainty on the future of this hard-won peace.
With A Fragile Peace, my aim was not only to recount the history of the The Troubles and the peace agreement, but to capture the living, breathing reality of its legacy today. Through personal stories, political insights, and reflections from those who were involved in the peace process, A Fragile Peace explores how Brexit has revived concerns about the borders, identity, and sovereignty, all of which lie at the heart of Northern Ireland’s ongoing struggle for stability and peace.
As a filmmaker, my focus has always been on the human experience. In A Fragile Peace, we see the hopes, fears, and daily lives of people caught in the middle of a changing political landscape. Their voices remind us that peace is not just a political achievement—it is an ongoing journey that requires constant care and attention.
This film is my attempt to shed light on how fragile peace can be and how easily it can be threatened by forces beyond the control of those who live within it. It is a call to remember the importance of dialogue, empathy, and the preservation of what was so painstakingly won. In a time of political upheaval and uncertainty around the world, A Fragile Peace serves as both a reflection on what has been achieved, but also offers a modern framework on how to establish a workable peace between warring parties.
Ultimately, I hope this documentary encourages viewers to see that peace is a living framework that must be protected, nurtured, and adapted to withstand the pressures of our changing world.
The island of Ireland is facing a moment of terrible instability.
In 1998, the Good Friday Agreement was signed, putting an end to the thirty-year conflict known as The Troubles, and ushering in a springtime of peace.
A peace which is now threatened by the specter of Brexit.
When the UK leaves the EU, the only land border between the two powers will be on the island of Ireland, running along a wound which has barely healed.
The internationally award winning A Fragile Peace: Brexit and Northern Ireland follows three people from Northern Ireland as they try to maintain peace in this politically uncertain time.
The island of Ireland is facing a moment of terrible instability.
In 1998, the Good Friday Agreement was signed, putting an end to the thirty-year conflict known as The Troubles, and ushering in a springtime of peace.
A peace which is now threatened by the specter of Brexit.
