In the myths of Ireland, the whole island was ruled from the seat of the High Queens and Kings at Tara and Uisneach. But these were not rulers who enforced their will on the people: these were leaders chosen for their sense of justice who mediated between the lesser kings and queens of the provinces, counties, and tribes of Ireland.
The Fifth Province was said to be a place where everyone on the Island could meet, setting aside their grudges and tribal loyalties, to find ways forward to the benefit of all, and not just the few.
In this workshop, students will form into tribes, each with their own interests and enmities, and experience the effort that goes into listening and negotiating with those who have different priorities. They will have a chance to see how a distributed power structure might work for them, and where its challenges and possibilities lie.
