"In Northern Ireland terms, denomination dictates identity."

In this episode, Paul speaks with Paul McLaughlin, Director of Development at Northern Ireland Mixed Marriage Association, about the long history of mixed marriages in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland one in five marriages are mixed, but inter-church relationships are still regarded with suspicion and considered a betrayal against one's religious identity. In their chat, Paul and Paul reflect on the role that young people and education has in a country with deep religious divides and how the growing number of mixed marriages show hope for the future.

Learn more about NIMMA:

http://www.nimma.org.uk/

Paul McLaughlin's book, "Mixed Emotion: Real Stories of Mixed Marriage":

https://sharedfuture.news/mixed-emotions-introduction/

Recommended Viewing and Listening:

Derry Girls (Series on Netflix)

Belfast (movie)

99 Percent Invisible, Peace Lines (podcast) https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/peace-lines/

full quote from above:

Paul McLaughlin [On describing mixed marriages]: "It should really be described as an inter-church marriage. But sadly in Northern Ireland terms, denomination dictates identity, with most Protestants regarding themselves as British and most Roman Catholics regarding themselves as Irish."

This episode was edited by Helen Packer.