Our Story: A History of the Irish in Derby (promo edit)

Abstract

Our Story is an oral history project that aims to capture the individual stories and experiences of the Irish diaspora here in Derby who emigrated from the 1950s right up to today. The interviews capture the faces and personalities of individuals for posterity while also recording and celebrating the significant contribution the Irish community has made to the Derby area culturally, economically and socially. These interviews are being captured now, particularly with older contributors, so that their stories and personalities can be remembered forever. This project seeks to create an indelible record of the Irish people in Derby so that future generations, including the families of the participants, can always have access to a record of their grandparents, great grandparents etc and that these can also be shared with the wider community. It is a poignant project, especially at a time when we mark the centenary of the armistice and consider the challenges and uncertainty Brexit may bring. This piece offers a timely reminder of the UK’s closest neighbour and the strong ties that exist between Ireland and the UK, which ought not be forgotten. The piece is a teaser video for an ongoing wider oral history research project involving dozens of contributors of all ages. The project is supported by the Derby Irish Association, the Embassy of Ireland, UK and the University of Derby.