our generation reminiscence
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH FATHER DES WILSON
Father Des is a well known West Belfast figure with even a play written based on his life. Recounting memorable experiences such as being shielded by the women of Ballymurphy on a particularly violent night in West Belfast and an iconic walk along a smouldering Bombay Street in 1969, his passion for community education and cooperatives shine through in this interview. He talks of helping to set up Springhill Community House and the Conway Mill Education project. "I don't think people realised how deep and awful was the prejudice against their own people. The only difference between them was a difference in income."
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH MAY BLOOD
For 39 years Baroness May Blood MBE worked in a local mill as a cutter, during which time she was an active trade unionist. In 1990 she became a full-time community worker. She is a passionate advocate for those living with the effects of poverty, particularly in relation to housing, unemployment and early years education. May was a founder member of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition and of the Coalition’s Talks Team during the multi-party talks, which culminated with the Good Friday Agreement. May speaks to Ann Hope about her life and tells of her experiences giving us an insight into the times she has lived through.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH ROISIN McGLONE
Roisin McGlone is the Director of Interaction Belfast, a network of community activists who work on both sides of the Springfield/Falls/Shankill interface in West Belfast. In 1998 Roisin played a key role in creating and implementing the groundbreaking Mobile Phone Network. This project has been successful in reducing violence along the interface. It has allowed activists from both sides of the wall to build relationships and discuss issues of common concern. Roisin talks to Aisling Nic Eoin about her work, her upbringing and how she experienced 'the Troubles' close up at a young age.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH VERA HENDERSON
Community worker Vera Henderson has supported the establishment of many organisations over the years to help people of all ages from the young to the elderly to cross community groups. 'I try to help as many people as I can' says Vera on her work. Vera talks about her life, and her work with First Steps Women's group in Dungannon.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH JB VALLELY
Painter and musician J B Vallely talks about his life and work as one of Northern Ireland's most respected and productive artists. Born in Armagh, J B Vallely was painting from an early age and by the time he was thirty was regarded as one of the most exciting Irish painters. He talks to Northern Visions about his love of music, his recent one man show celebrating 50 years of his work and his fondness for Armagh "There is something about Armagh... I couldn't live anywhere else".
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH SAM McAUGHTRY
Internationally respected, Sam McAughtry is a writer and broadcaster who was born in the Tiger's Bay area of Belfast in 1923. Throughout his fascinating and varied career, he served in the Royal Air Force, worked as a laborer, then civil servant, before becoming a full-time writer. He was a devoted trade unionist and Northern Ireland Labour Party member, as well as founding chairman of the Peace Train organisation which protested against the bombing of the Dublin-Belfast railway line.
However, it was during a radio broadcast promoting his first book that Sam was recognised for the gifted storyteller that he is. McAughtry made many contributions to radio and television programmes over the years, giving his memories of life in Belfast as well as political analysis during the Troubles.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH DENIS O HEARN
Denis O'Hearn is an author, scholar and professor. He was born and brought up in the middle of the desert in New Mexico, USA where his early experiences were often tough and gave him an awareness of issues of ethnicity and workers' rights. He moved to Belfast in the 1970's and got involved in community work becoming chair of the West Belfast Economic Forum and also on the Board of Governors of the Irish-language primary school, Scoil na Fuisoige. He is probably best known for his book, 'Nothing But an Unfinished Song: The Life and Times of Bobby Sands'. Denis speaks to Milène Fegan about his life and work.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH DALE HARRISON
Dale Harrison talks to Pete Bleakley about growing up during 'the Troubles' and how she became involved with community work on a voluntary basis whilst living in the Springmartin area of Belfast, Northern Ireland. At that time the areas was being neglected by statutory bodies. For over 20 years, Dale has been employed by various community groups within a small radius of this area of the city working for the betterment of others and in the summer of 2009, Dale was awarded an MBE for services to the community in North & West Belfast.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH NOELLE RYAN
One of seven children, community worker Noelle Ryan was born in Dublin, and after a variety of jobs entered a convent. It was after six years doing parish work in Liverpool that she realised this wasn't the vocation for her. "It took me awhile to settle back into ordinary life" she says. Eventually she made the move to Belfast. She arrived at the height of the Troubles and met with Father Des Wilson. "Most of my family were very vague about what I was doing or what the area was like". From this point onwards Noelle immersed herself in community work, helping the people of west Belfast with many successful projects, one of which was the development of Conway Education Centre.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH NELSON McCAUSLAND
Pete Bleakley interviews Nelson McCausland MLA. A former school teacher. The Oxbridge educated DUP member has many passions, including the Ulster Scots and local history. Mr McCausland shares the driving forces and pivotal moments in his busy life, reflecting on his career.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH AODAN MC POILIN
(Subtitles)
Labhaireann laithreoir Aisling Nic Eoin le Aodan Mc Poilin sa NvTv studio faoin polaitaiocht aisteach a bhi ag a theaghlaigh nuair a bhi sé óg agus an dóigh ar thosaigh sé le Iontaobhas Ultach, áit neodrach a bhfuil an Ghaelige scartha on Chreideamh agus ón pholitaitaíocht. Lena chois sin labhaireann sé ar an tabhacht le 'pobail a sheasann ar a chosa fhéin'.
Aisling Nic Eoin talks to Aodan Mc Poilin about the strange politics that he grew up with as a child and how this eventually lead to his involvement in the Ultach Trust. He also talks of the importance of 'a community that can stand on their own two feet'.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH JOE BAKER
Local historian and prolific writer, Joe Baker, talks to Michael Elliott about his life and how it could have turned out very differently. When Joe left school he could barely read and write. From the Barrack area of the New Lodge, Joe was constantly in and out of trouble. His interest in local history began in these days when he and his friends drank cider and sniffed glue in the local graveyard and the only real pastime was reading the tombstone inscriptions. Joe got involved in the local community at a young age when he joined the 'Recy' community centre and attended meetings about anti-social activity. He has since worked tirelessly on issues such as housing and youth work, and contributed towards the establishment of the Ashton Centre.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH PILIB O RUNAI
Labhaireann Pilib O Runai leis an laithreoir Nuala Ni Scolláin faoin t-obair uilig ata déanta aige sa phobail , go hairaithe LORAG an t-ionad phobail agus an fáth ar bhun sé scoil an Droichéad 'gan plan gnó' agus le £2,000 sa bhainc. Labhaireann seé faoi na eacrachtaí uilig i rith an t-am sin. Thosaigh an scoil i halla snooker agus bhi ár na curtaini a druidim i rith an lae ar eagla go bhfeicfidh duine eigean na paistí agus go gcluinfidh siad iad a labhairt i ngaelige. Ach sáraidh Pilib agus na daoine eile a ghlac páirt na deacrachtai seo agus tá an scoil a feidhmniú go h-iontach mhaith. Dúirt Pilib leis an laithreoir Nuala Ní Scolláin go raibh orthu 'oideachas comh maith le scoil ar bith san airnéal béarla a chur ar fáil.
Pilib O Runaí talks to host Nuala Ní Scolláin abut his involvement in the community. He talks especially of LORAG Community Centre in the Short Strand and why he embarked on setting up the Irish language school An Droichead in 1992 with 'no buisness plan' and only '£2,000' in the bank. He speaks of the many difficulties he and the others involved faced during this time. They began the school in a local snooker hall and were forced to draw the curtains in the daytime incase anyone saw or heard the children speaking in Irish. However Pilib and others involved overcame these hardships and the school is now extremely successful. Pilib tells host Nuala Ní Scolláin that his goal has always been ' to provide an education as good as any English speaking school'
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OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH JIM DEERY
Jim Deery is a community worker in the New Lodge area of North Belfast. He was a key figure in establishing the Ashton Centre in the early 1990s which is a hub and flagship for the area. Jim has been involved in developing the area and creating opportunities for local people including the New Lodge Respect Week and a project to offer discounted books to young people. Jim talks to Frances Dowds about how he first got involved in youth and community work, the projects he has seen including a very interesting collaboration between people in the high rise flats in Tiger's bay and the New Lodge lobbying together on common issues.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH KATHLEEN KELLY
Community Development Worker Kathleen Kelly was born on the Beersbridge Road in east Belfast. In the early 60s she became a teacher in North Queen Street at St Patricks Primary School, it was during this time she became aware of the poverty, housing problems and social issues that existed in the area. This led to Kathleen becoming involved in the conversion of waste ground at North Queen Street into an adventure playground. Since then Kathleen has been involved in many community development groups throughout the years, helping people make changes and improvements to their surroundings.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH BILLY DUNLOP
Pete Beakley interviews union activist Billy Dunlop. Billy started working in the post office when he was 14 and describes this as something that has defined his life since then. As well as this topics discussed range from his service in the Second World War to his archaeological digs in the latter part of his 89 years.
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OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH TOMMY WILSON
Tommy Wilson MBE is a community worker who grew up in the Village area of south Belfast, an area that didn't have much for the people. At the age of 14 he became involved in community work and by 17 had helped set up the Empire Community Centre, a project he supported with his own money. "I used a lot of my own money to pay for bills, I was determined that if I took a fight on, I was going to win". Tommy talks to NvTv about his life, his community work and receiving his MBE from the Queen.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH MINA WARDLE
Mina Wardle is the founder and former-director of Shankill Stress and Trauma Centre. The start of the Troubles combined with the problems of redevelopment led her into community work beginning with the building of a wooden community centre just off the Shankill Road. Mina talks to Pete Bleakley about her life and experiences and how being a victim of a robbery and the onset of agoraphobia eventually ended up with her coming up with the plans for the stress and trauma centre where she remains highly involved to this day.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH HELEN BELL
Helen Bell has been involved in community work in the Greater Shankill for over 40 years. She started first of all when she was moved to the Glencairn estate during the redevelopment of the Shankill. A group was formed to lobby for change due to the poor housing conditions including ice on the inside of windows. Living where she did, she could not avoid the impact of the troubles on the community and Helen was later involved in the Peace Movement as well as initiatives to try and make Glencairn a better, safer place. Another passion of Helen's life was education and she also worked to help people back into employment as large employers such as Mackie's closed down.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH HELEN HOLLAND
Helen Holland talks to Pete Bleakley about how she first got involved with community work and what projects she has been involved with over the years. Helen works as a teacher during the day but still manages to balance her life to be involved with her own kids and children from the local community. In a voluntary role with Glenbank Community Association, she has fought and won many battles including obtaining and restoring a hall, starting up childcare and building a play park.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH SISTER KATE O HANLON
When Kate O'Hanlon started work at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, the people brought in to the A&E were victims of road traffic accidents and Saturday night scuffles. So when the telephone rang on 26th June 1966 with the news that there had been a shooting in Malvern Street, no one in the department could believe it. Soon such incidents would become daily occurrences and Sister Kate went on to spend sixteen years as sister in charge of A & E, working through many of the darkest days of the Troubles. This is her fascinating and extraordinary story of nursing on the front line.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH EILEEN BELL
Eileen Bell CBE has an extensive background in community development and constituency politics, which has led to her to become an influential figure in Northern Ireland. Her first realisation of a sense of justice and social issues came when "we were put out of our home twice and... I knew other people were having an even worse time than I was, and I thought this just isn't right." With the 'Peace People' she worked as Welfare Worker with prisoners' families and people who suffered intimidation, and with the Peace Train, she acted as Coordinator organising 4 of the 5 Peace Trains between Belfast-Dublin, Belfast- Derry and Belfast-London. Eileen worked with the Alliance Party since the 1980s, having various responsibilities, including Deputy Leader and Speaker to the Transitional Assembly in April 2006. Despite retiring from political life on Devolution Day in May 2007, she continues to work extensively with many groups and worthy causes, such as Women into Politics and Autism N.I.
OUR GENERATION
IN CONVERSATION WITH DALE HARRISON
Dale Harrison talks to Pete Bleakley about growing up during 'the troubles' and how she first got involved in community work on a voluntary basis when she lived in the Springmartin area due to the area was being neglected by the statutory bodies. For over 20 years, Dale has been employed by various community groups within a small radius working for the betterment of others and in the summer of 2009, Dale was awarded an MBE for services to the community in North and West Belfast.