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Neil Gallagher (project administrator), Gerry McMonagle (outreach worker), Mike Ritchie, Peter Ogle, Mary McLaughlin, Una Eakin (hidden in background) Hughie Doherty, Marion Kelly, Joe O'Connell and Anne Marie Blair.Mary McLaughlin (wife of Reamon), Mike Ritchie (Coiste Director), Una Eakin (wife of Gerard Casey), Hughie Dohery and Marion Kelly
Members of audience at video launchPoster

Video

In 2003 staff at Abháile Arís began work on the production of a video entitled 'Ár Scéal' (Our Story) which was completed recently and publicly launched by Mike Ritchie, Director of Coiste, on the 30th November, 2004, in the Holiday Inn, Letterkenny.

Speaking at the launch Mike Ritchie praised the group for their endeavours.

'Documenting the history of the conflict is important work. Laying down personal accounts, which we have made ourselves means that future generations will have honest testimony to study. The more we can do of this the better.'


Abhaile Arís project coordinator; Anne Marie Blair described the production of the video as part of a new phase in the evolution of Abháile Arís.

'This is a phase that will see the story of republican ex-prisoners and displaced people told to the wider community. As the peace process has gradually stabilised, much of the trauma and grief endured by republican ex prisoners, displaced people, and their families has at last begun to be addressed. Their stories are stories of conflict. Ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances. Our outreach workers, Gerry McMonagle and Peter Ogle have been overwhelmed in the last number of years in their work and many of these families have received 'listening ear' services and subsequently more focused counselling services.

'It would be fair to say that when our management committee applied for funding initially, they underestimated the extent of trauma and hurt that existed. We had conducted an extensive questionnaire/survey to analyse the needs of the republican ex prisoner and displaced community. There are over 600 people directly affected. The survey showed a community that had suffered from harassment and discrimination on both sides of the border because of their political beliefs. We then devised a plan to assist this community with education, training, counselling, info and advice, and advocacy, that thankfully has been supported by the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation through ADM/CPA and the National Development Plan.

'The video is a documentary of seven remarkable stories and whilst they are individual accounts they are nonetheless representative of the collective experiences of the community we work with. We had recorded the stories of over 40 individuals in total for archive purposes but have used seven examples for this video. The video tells the story of men and women caught up in the conflict. Included are Johnny Walker of the 'Birmingham 6', Hugh Doherty captured during the famous 'Balcombe Street' siege and imprisoned for 24 years, Tony Kelly, one of the 38 prisoners who escaped from Long Kesh in the famous breakout in 1983, Marion Kelly who was displaced from her home town of Dungiven, Una Eakin, whose late husband Gerard Casey was shot dead beside her in their bed by unionist paramilitaries, Jim Boyle, whose young daughter died while he was imprisoned in Portlaoise, and Mary McLaughlin, whose late husband Reamonn was imprisoned in English jails for 10 years.

'The video is an important historical record of one community's story of conflict. We hope that as many members of the public as possible will get to view it. It is anticipated that further to the launch, we will hold public viewings of the video in six different locations throughout the county in 2005.'

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