Belfast has a fascinating relationship with the Bahá'í faith. The Persian religion has had a community of worshippers in the city since the 1940s. The community, though small, have always been proactive community contributors. The religion emphasises unity and understanding across socio-economic and religious backgrounds. In 1999, the community held an awards ceremony to celebrate everyday people who made a great contribution to the Peace Process, as well as to mark the centenary of the faith's presence in the island of Ireland.
Among the people
presented with awards included emergency services workers who helped in the
aftermath of the Omagh bomb; Anne Carr from the social group Women for Peace;
and John King, who formed an integrated school for children from the Catholic
and Protestant religions. Many influential people attended the ceremony,
including the highly respected community worker May Blood.