My Generation

A newsletter by Headliners Foyle, Issue 5

Drumahoe youngpeople step upto the mic

Headliners members get creative intheir writing

INSIDE:MYMY GENERATIONGENERATION

Illustration by Celine Rzychon, 17

MY GEN 5 TEMPLATE_MYGEN3 20/05/2013 10:21 Page 1

contentsA BRIEF LOOK AT WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE...

Welcome,

HERE at Headliners Foyle, the media projects have been piling

up on Peace III themes of peace, reconciliation and

intergenerational relationships.

Young people from the Saturday morning bureau invited their

Belfast counterparts to join them on an exploration of these

themes which they then used in a range of superb creative writing

pieces. See pages 8 - 11 to read a selection for yourself.

Young people from Drumahoe YMCA and older people from

ACE Chinese coffee morning group also examined their feelings

on these themes and many more resulting in a series of podcasts

produced by Headliners Foyle. Dip into pages 3, 4 and 5 to get a

flavour of their views.

Finally, you can find out what local people’s thoughts are on

Derry-Londonderry as UK City of Culture 2013 as discussed with

Headliners members on pages 6 and 7.

Enjoy!

2 My Generation, Issue 5

Page 2: Editor’s Letter

Page 3: ACE interview

Pages 4 and 5: A look at YMCA

Drumahoe

Pages 6 and 7: City of Culture

vox pops

Pages 8, 9, 10 and 11: Foyle and

Belfast Creative Writing pieces

Page 12: Contacts

All of Headliners Foyle work can be

seen on the Headliners websites at

www.headliners.org, and the

Headliners radio website at

www.headlinersradio.org


Issue 5, My Generation 3

My name is Wan Su King and I am 70-something!

I was born in Sarawak - East Malaysia. I came here

in 1964.

When I first came here, everything was pretty strange but

good. The first time I came here, it was summer time and the

weather was good. It was a completely different environment,

a house with a chimney, I didn’t understand! I asked my

husband, ‘What is that thing?’ He said ‘a chimney’. We

entered the house with a fire, that was all new to me.

Two years of living here, then my first child was born but after

that I was homesick so I went back to Singapore for a

few years and then I came back. In my first year

here, I see the snow and all the people here are

good, kind to me. I suppose it was quite early for

me to come here, not many Asians, only two

Chinese restaurants.

I had no bad experience of racism, other

people were really good. Now I wonder why

they complain so much about this racism, I

don’t understand. I never experienced anything

like that. When I first came here, life was good

and people were all so good.

First few years, peace, then I came back 1968/9, still peace,

then civil rights and then start of the Troubles and after that

good and bad but now we’re getting peace and can start again.

A lot of change in my life.

When I first came here, there was no Chinese food. Every day

bread and I’m not so keen on that - and potatoes! I’m very

slim!

I have many friends, some are Irish ladies. I met them as

neighbours and my children mixing with the other children in

school, I met their parents and kept in contact. My

mother-in-law’s side was very, very kind to me also.

All the neighbours all very good, seem to be very

broad-minded, never call you names. Only the very first time

that my children started school, they called them Japanese. I

said, ‘I’m not Japanese’ and they were never called names

again! Never say any nasty thing.

I had no language barrier because I was educated in an English

school and I would study GCSE in Malaysia. I didn’t go to

university, my brother and sister did. I went into nursing.

I think the City of Culture is pretty good. At least people can

meet together, have the same interests, not much about

politics!

I don’t think my opinion on its own would do much good. A

single person is such a small amount, you need a very

powerful spirit for people to take notice of you. If you’re just

an ordinary person, people won’t.

ACE coffee mornings are good, it doesn’t matter who you

are, you just enjoy yourself. I’m quite easy to mix with

people really because I can speak English so that is

no worry.

I don’t think I have much clue about who can

help make Chinese and other ethnic minorities

feel safe. I feel safe myself but you can’t judge

everybody.

I think it is your parenting - try to tell your

children, ‘go out and respect everybody and their

stuff’ – that helps the generations get on. They could be

friendly. You have to be broad-minded. If you respect

people, they will respect you. What gives someone authority to

tell someone else what to do? All the children seem to be kind,

every time you meet on the street you say ‘hello’.

Older people in our culture are looked after by older children.

Nowadays everyone’s so busy so mother living alone and they

hire a maid to look after her. It’s a family responsibility, not for

an outsider. When my mother was getting old, I used to go to

stay with her for a while. The brothers and sisters paid for a

nurse and carer to care for her. They don’t have nursing homes

there or if they do, they pay for it themselves. Here, it’s social

welfare paying that. In Malaysia, there is no social welfare, the

family are responsible. Usually a parent has some money

themselves so they don’t need the children to care for them

financially but if the children do, then those with more money

will pay more than those who can’t afford so much.

Interview by Grace, 18

‘A lot of

change in

my life’

I had no bad

experience of

racism, other

people were

really good

Wan Su King pictured at Alexander House



YMCA Drumahoe young people pictured with members of Headliners Foyle.

What’s your name and age?

Holly, 14

What’s it like living in Drumahoe?

It’s alright sometimes, I grew up around

Protestants. It’s probably where I’d

choose to be. Nearly everyone’s the

same so there’s not much bother, or if

there is, it’s nothing to do with religion.

Where you live, is it mixed?

Mostly Protestant but some bits are

mixed

What’s your culture and how

important is it to you?

Protestant, but I don’t really mind, I go

to a mixed school in the town.

Are there any parts of the city that

you do not feel safe being in?

Over the town, the cityside probably

because nearly everyone knows who you

are and what school you go to and where

you’re from. And because you’re

different they’d start with you and

there’d probably be lots of fights and

stuff.

How have the fights started?

Someone goes over and makes a stupid

remark and then they start hitting at each

other.

Is that about religion or being from

the Waterside?

It’s all kind of connected.

How would you feel if the Twelfth of

July was removed from the calendar?

I wouldn’t be happy, it’d annoy me

because it’s one of the days of the year

that you can actually celebrate. If they

take that out it’d be the same as taking St

Patrick’s Day out.

Why do you think some Catholic and

Protestant young people don’t get on?

Their backgrounds, how far it’s ran

through their family, how family and

friends’ beliefs have influenced them.

How’s your relationship with the older

generation and do you enjoy hearing

their stories from the past?

If they’re interesting! I don’t mind, they

can get really interesting, depends what

they’re about. But other things, I don’t

care, I just pretend to listen.

Do you think that you could learn

from the mistakes of the older

generation?

Not really, it’s your life, your mistakes,

you have to learn from what you do, not

from what people are trying to tell you.

Do you feel connected with the city

centre and stuff that happens there?

No, not really at all.

If there was an event you really

wanted to go to, would you go to it?

Probably, it shouldn’t really bother

anyone, depends. I wouldn’t go on my

own, I’d have to have a group with me

that was comfortable with it.

Do you feel connected with the City of

Culture?

No, I don’t think there’s anything special

about it, just a pile of empty promises.

Nothing for me or young people. Only

exciting thing is Radio 1’s Big Weekend.

Describe Derry in 10 years time.

It could go either way. Everything could

be sorted, there wouldn’t be any trouble

and you could go anywhere without

being worried about it. But then, it might

be worse than now and you might not be

able to go anywhere. It could go back to

the way it was whenever the Troubles

were happening, constant fights and

riots.

In an ideal world, where do you see

yourself in 10 years’ time?

Lying on a beach in Australia

somewhere! I’d like to see the world.

Describe a peaceful Derry.

No fighting and no differences, being

able to do whatever you wanted really,

no labels or anything like that.

Here is a sample transcript of one of the interviews conducted for the Peace

III project. All of the interviews have been produced into podcasts which are

available to listen to on: headlinersradio.org



Members of Drumahoe YMCA speak out on interfaces, older people and the issues

that most affect them as young people growing up in the North West today

VILLAGE PEOPLEHEADLINERS members Katie, Becca, Daniel,

Aidan and Grace hooked up with the young people

from Drumahoe YMCA to see if they felt an affinity

to Derry-Londonderry or if coming from the village

made them feel like they were living a world away.

While some who are students at Foyle College feel they can

freely venture about both the Cityside and the

Waterside, most feel some degree of fear at crossing the river.

Lisa, 16, when asked

where she didn’t feel

safe, replied: “Over

the town basically,

everywhere. As soon

as you go over they

know we’re a

different religion and

you just don’t feel

comfortable going over.

They know from our

accents and the way we

dress and stuff.” Almost all the

young people interviewed said

they would not enter the Bogside area.

Living close to interface areas within the

Waterside also posed a problem for some. Mark, 15, said: “It’s

annoying because you can’t go anywhere. If you walk about,

even the elderly, they think you’re all up to badness. There

could be boys walking about with Gaelic tops or whatever, and

you’re walking about in Northern Ireland tops and they expect

you to take it off and I don’t see why because we’re in our area

and they’re not. I think they feel they have a right over us.”

When asked why they thought some Catholic and

Protestant young people didn’t get on, many agreed that a

person’s upbringing was of crucial importance. Fergus, 17,

said: “It all goes back to their parents and friends, they’re

brought up with that mindset of not liking the other religion

and they’re not really willing to change or listen to anyone

else, just stuck in that mindset”.

Jamie, 15, said: “They’re too caught up in what went on before

and they just can’t change it.” He added: “Some people can

and are willing to move on but then there’s the small groups

from both sides that will not move on and that’s why I don’t

think there ever will be peace.”

Lauren, also 15, said: “Cause there’s just labels on everything

you do. If I was to go over the town with a Rangers top on, I

probably wouldn’t come out of town alive, or I would – in an

ambulance. And if someone came into the Waterside with a

Celtic top, depending where you are, it would be the same.”

But a few were cautiously optimistic for the future. Charlie,

16, said: “I think if our generation does a good job of mixing

then the younger ones will but it depends

because some families are brought up to

say ‘You hate Catholics’ or ‘You hate

Protestants’ and that’s the way

you are and the wee ones

might live on and tell their

ones and it might keep

going on in some parts of

Londonderry, or Derry;

I don’t mind what you

call it.”

Family and friendship

between the generations

was a theme both

Shanagh and Mark felt

strongly about. Shanagh,

17, said: “I love old people.

When you live round here you

kinda have to because it’s a pretty

old community round here for the most

part. I’ve never had a bad experience. They

don’t think we’re up to nothing. I work in the shop round here

so you get to know most of them. They’re really lovely

people.”

Fifteen-year-old Mark ‘definitely’ believes that his

generation can learn from the older generation ‘because

they’ve been through it’. He said: “My dad gives me advice,

don’t be doing this or doing that. My granda’s the same. He

sort of advises me on life and what steps to take.”

So, the message is clear - Drumahoe young people want to

play their part in city life, so we all need to make this happen

now to make Derry-Londonderry a shared, peaceful place for

everyone to live in.

“My dad and granda advise me

on life and what steps to take”

Mark, 15

“As soon as you go over [the town]

they know we’re a different

religion and you just don’t feel

comfortable”

Lisa, 16

Mark interviews Lisa on

life in Drumahoe.



I think it could bring both sides together. There’snot a problem with the majority [on each side],

it ’s just the minority that has issues.

Steven , 28

Well , I think they have already been brought together. I think they’ve come a long, long way inthe last five - 10 years so I don’t think this will

do anything to affect that because I think everybody has already made the effort to do that

so hopefully it will continue.

Lee, 58

THETHE

WORDWORD

ON THEON THE

STREETSTREET

GIVEN THE CITY’S TROUBLED PAST, WILL YOUFEEL SAFE ATTENDING HIGH PROFILE EVENTS INDERRY DURING THE CITY OF CULTURE?

Aww yes, it never stopped us going out even atthe time of the Troubles.

Lee, 58

Well , yes and no, it ’s a bit unpredictable . Younever really know so you just have to get onwith it.

Nicole, 16

Maybe not at night, because it could be rough .

Keelan , 15

WHAT CAN YOU DOPERSONALLY TO HELPCREATE A PEACEFULAND SHARED FUTUREFOR ALL IN THE NORTHWEST?

Try to get along morewith people from otherreligions and do moreactivities to bringgroups together.

Kirstine, 16

Well , you have to goout and attend all theevents to show thateverybody is willing tomix and go to different things, notjust for City of Culture but all thetime! It shouldn’t justbe this one year, itshould be all the time.

Lee, 58

DO YOU THINK THEEVENTS ORGANISED

FOR the CITY OF CULTURE ARE EQUALLY

APPEALING TO BOTHTHE PROTESTANT AND

CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES?

I think it ’s fair onboth sides because theyseem to be able to come

together and interactin the same activities.

Shaun , 20

I think nowadays itappeals to everybody -

or should do.

Lee, 58

DO YOU THINK THECITY OF CULTURE

WILL BRINGCATHOLIC AND

PROTESTANT COMMUNITIES

TOGETHER?

Roman Sandhu (16)Roman Sandhu (16)

pounded the streets ofpounded the streets of

Derry to get these viewsDerry to get these views



OUR big moment? Or a damp squib?

Ruaidhri and Liam, both 17, from

Headliners Foyle Bureau took to the

streets of Derry-Londonderry to find out

what the locals thought about the year

ahead as City of Culture 2013.

Overall opinions were on the positive side – though

perhaps cautiously so. When asked if he thought

City of Culture will benefit Derry or just be a

temporary solution to Derry’s problems, 54-year-old

Ian Leech said: “That’s a very good question but I

would hope it will set a trail for something better in

the future”, while Anton O’Hara (24) said: “I don’t

think it could do any harm”.

Stephen Taylor, who is 25-years-old, saw the

benefits from both sides. He said: “The eyes of the

world are going to be focused on Derry for 2013,

and it’s going to open up a lot of local people’s eyes

to what culture is and what it means and the

importance of it.” So, not only will it showcase the

city but it will also broaden the horizons of those

living here.

Indeed, musician Colette Connolly thinks the

benefits are already being felt. She said: “The place

is buzzing with a lot more foreign nationals. I think

already it’s made an impact” while her friend Conor

Mills added: “ I think it would really benefit for the

long run, people coming in to check out what’s

going on, seeing what Derry has to offer. It’s a

bustling city with pretty much everything. It’s great

that we’re getting the exposure.”

So far, so good. But there were a few questions

raised when our respondents were quizzed on how

connected they felt personally to the events over the

course of the year.

Colette and Conor said they ‘definitely’ feel

connected, and hope to be fully involved through

their music and Ian also had links through his

involvement with agencies that work with City of

Culture. He said: “I’m very happy to see it up and

running, hopefully in the future it will go

forward rather than being negative.”

But Stephen wasn’t so sure. When asked if he felt

connected or felt he didn’t know what was going on,

he said: “I feel a bit of a mixture of both because I

feel like I don’t know how to get involved with it

myself and a lot of friends feel the same way, we

feel it won’t benefit us.”

Ian had mixed feelings, however, at the programme

content. He said: “I think it’s good local-wise but I

think there should be more acts coming from further

afield rather than locally. Acts we have here are

good but not high-status acts we want like big bands

from across the water.”

But Conor concluded on a more upbeat note, saying:

“Programmes are all around, in Foyleside, all over

pretty much. You can find them anywhere you want

to go out and find one. I think there’s a large range

of events that are being covered and there’s

something in there for everyone, something for

everyone to look forward to. And the website’s great

to check out as well.”

So it seems the best way to make up your mind is to

get out there and find out for yourself!

BRING OUT THE FLAGS?BRING OUT THE FLAGS?



Happiness relived on family visit to fairgroundAs the gravel crackles under the car tyres in the car park, I

look in the mirror to see my grand-daughter’s smiling face. At

17 she looks just like my younger sister did years ago. I park

the car and we exit.

Our faces are instantly hit by the bright neon fair lights. The

sweet smell of cotton candy. Ahh! The waft of burgers and

chips, all rushing to fill our senses. It brings me back to my

youth; suddenly I’m snapped back to reality by a tug on my

arm.

“Come on granddad, let’s go on the rollercoaster.” My

granddaughter’s eager face smiles at me as I hand her the

money and she joins the queue. If only I could join her. My

brittle bones know better.

I visualise instead the memories, the wind rushing through my

hair slapping my smiling face pink, the screams, the lights, the

whirr of the wind on the tracks. Good times, which I can relive

with my own young family, each ride bringing on new

sensations for the ones I can go on, experiences reborn. The

laughter, oh what joy I feel inside. The warm night air relaxing

amongst the hub of bodies.

by Deanna

HEADLINERS young people

turned their talents to creative

writing to explore the issue of

intergenerational relationships.

Through play-writing and short

story writing, young people

collaborated and produced an

array of poignant pieces, ranging

from harsh to whimsical, playful,

illuminating to complex.

Becca and Katie took on the

fraught scenario of a family

Christmas in their play ‘Keeping

in Touch’. Granny Mabel is out

of touch with the twenty-first

century so when her grandson

Matthew presents her with an

iPod, it’s fair to say she is

unimpressed. But by Matthew

explaining how it works, it brings

him and Mabel to a better

understanding of one another

and strengthens their relationship

for the future.

Christopher and Michael set their

play in a library. The characters

representing the ‘Two

Generations’ of the title are

William and Christopher. The

latter helps the former get online

to research his family tree and

they end up sharing stories and

discovering that they have

common ground despite the age

gap.

A number of short stories – by

Rhianna, Naomi and Emma McN

- take place with a courthouse as

the backdrop, each illustrating

Young people enjoy discussions on an intergenerational theme for creative writing.

Michael, Becca, Tarah and Emma McN share their ideas in the Foyle Bureau.

how the experience of the older

generation can provide security,

comfort and support to the younger

in times of stress and difficulty.

Lauren imagined the thoughts of

an old man out from his care-home

to watch a match while surrounded

by younger men and their sons,

while Emma M. brought to life an

older person watching young

families create new memories on a

day at the beach while she

remembered her own from years

gone by.

Rachel also focused on making

special memories in her short story

of a grandfather bringing his

grandson to the fairground.

Over the following pages, read for

yourself a selection of the

thoughtful and thought-provoking

pieces created by young people

from Headliners.

Bridging the age gap



between generationsCourthouseThe boy fidgeted as he waited for the trial

to begin. He regretted wearing a suit, the

jacket was too long and shoulders too

large. It was his father’s suit. He must

have looked ridiculous, he thought.

He felt awkward and uncomfortable but

the worst thing was that he was roasting.

Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead

and trickled slowly down his face.

It felt like he was being suspended over an

open furnace and with every anxious

minute he was being steadily lowered

closer to the roaring flames.

It must have been 100 degrees celsius in

that courtroom, but the various lawyers

and solicitors seemed unmolested by the

heat. They glided effortlessly in their

crisp, well-fitting suits, gathering up all

sorts of papers and documents.

Beside the boy sat a security guard whose

eyes were glued to the magistrate’s chair.

He yawned and absently checked his

watch but he always seemed mindful of

the chair, which stood like a polished

wooden obelisk at the front of the

courtroom.

The boy heard a door slam and the

magistrate, an enormous old man with his

robes billowing behind him like a mad

crow, entered the room. He was fat and

balding and walked with a slight limp

which only made his movements more

jerky and ridiculous.

The boy had to remind himself to stand up

as the magistrate came in. How strange,

he thought, that such a man could be the

decider of his fate.

The judge mounted his throne and

everyone sat down, the trial was about to

begin.

The old man surveyed the defendant in

silence.He had seen his like innumerable

times before and would go on to see

countless after. Just another young fool,

still with the mind and judgement of a

child. It mattered not why he was here,

what he was charged with. And the

experienced magistrate noted the

defendant’ sheepish scowl, his arrogant

slouch, he was confident that he was

guilty.

The judge cleared his throat and spoke,

his deep baritone voice rebounding

throughout the courthouse.

“Now then, the trail will begin.”

by Aaron Crossey

Destination unknown

on troubled train tripGlancing around the train station, I noticed a young girl, something in her

demeanour reminded me of myself. She was almost like a ghost of my past, her

innocence still intact.

I could hear a nearby train rushing to the platform, the train clonking on the

tracks. My mouth is suddenly very dry as memories of my younger self resurface,

plaguing my mind.

I stare hard at the girl who was may be about 10 years old or so. She stares

blankly at the ground as the world rushes around. Not acknowledging her or

them.

I mount the next train, destination unknown, but that didn’t matter, running

from my past has almost become a hobby. Still I watch the girl as she shuffles on

board, tugging at her sleeves, looking around nonchalantly.

The smell of the stressed businessmen and women, babies and old people and the

cologne of the young man beside me fill my nose.

The bumping of the train journey almost sends me throttling forward but the girl

doesn’t move. Babies cry loudly at the other end of the compartment and people

cough as the winter’s cold begins to creep up.

The next stop is announced, the girl slowly rises and softly leaves the train, I

wonder then if her destination was unknown too.

By Fionnuala, 15

Fionnuala, Grace, Deanna and Katie read to the group from their work.

Audrey from Headliners Foyle with Naomi and Christopher.



DISPATCHER: (crackle of radio static)

Yes Mickey, can ye go and pick up Mrs.

McCloskey in Creggan Heights?

MICKEY: No bother.

(SFX: car pulling up. Horn beeps twice.)

MICKEY: Come on missus, where are

ye?

(SFX: car door opening. Doorbell rings.

Door opens.)

NELL: Sorry, son, I can’t move as fast as

I used to.

MICKEY: No bother.

(SFX: car door opening. SFX: car door

closing.)

MICKEY: Where are ye going missus?

NELL: Alexander House please.

(SFX: car starting)

NELL: I can’t believe I’m leaving that

house for the last time, it’s only the

second house I’ve ever lived in, the first

was down in Hamilton Street, down in

the Brandywell, now I’m going to my

third house. Not bad for a woman of 80,

eh?

MICKEY: (laughs) Not bad at all, I’m

from Shantallow meself, lived all round

the place down there. Hamilton Street did

ye say? Sure we’ll call past on the way.

NELL: Only if it’s handy for you. I had

some wonderful times in that street, there

was a real sense of community, every-

body looked after everybody then. There

were 15 of us living in that house, my

mammy, my daddy, and all of us. There

was hardly ever space to sit anywhere,

my brother Charles used to climb into the

coal bunker to get peace to read, God rest

him. And even when my daddy was away

to the war, there wasn’t much room.

MICKEY: Aye, I know what ye mean. 15

people? Are ye serious?! Along this street

here?

NELL: Aye. Look, there’s the window we

broke, we all grew up a lot slower then, not

like you would see now, I was still playing

rounders in the street in my ankle socks at 15

after work in the factory.

MICKEY: What factory was it?

NELL: The one on the Abercorn Road. It

was some trek in the winter mornings I can

tell you, but it was work, we were grateful

for it. I canny hardly begin to describe the

camaraderie in the place, some of the friends

I made in that factory are still my friends to

this day. We were proud, we had money in

our pockets, not that what we earned would

get you much these days. They were the

glory days.

MICKEY: Could do with a bit of the glory

days myself, can’t get work anywhere hi. A

couple of mates of mine have emigrated to

Australia, but until I get the money together

to join them I’m doing this.

Everyone my age has practically left for

America or Australia, I feel like I’m on my

own these days.

NELL: Don’t get me wrong, it was hard

work, but we had the work ethic equal to it.

Australia? That’s the whole world away, our

Mary lives out there now with her husband.

The furthest away I had ever been at your

age was Buncrana, we used to cycle there in

the summer.

MICKEY: (laughs) Whereabouts round here

did the factory used to be?

NELL: Just over there, I can’t believe it’s

closed now. I can see it so clearly in my

mind’s eye, all of us walking in together,

linked on to each other, talking nonstop. My

mammy worked there as well, so did two of

my own wee girls.

MICKEY: How many of your own do you

have?

Tale from the taxi takes

Illustration by Celine Rzychon, 17



NELL: I had seven. Have you any

yourself? Our Tom died in the Maze, God

rest him, and then five years ago our Jim

committed suicide. God forgive me, I never

even knew he was unhappy, he was always

while quiet. Just like my Hugh, Hugh was

the original quiet man.

MICKEY: (laughs) Weans? Are ye joking

me missus? I canny even look after meself.

Awh, that’s terrible. Was Hugh your

husband?

NELL: (laughs) Aye, plenty of time, you’re

only young yet. He sure was, he was my

husband and my best friend, I met him in

the dancehall, down here at the Guildhall

you know? When I was nineteen. We got

married soon after that. He was a builder,

he used to do all the handy jobs going in

Creggan. I can tell you, from the minute I

saw him I knew he was the man I was

going to marry, even though he was

wearing these terrible mismatched fluffy

socks, that you could just about see because

he was wearing his brother’s trousers and

they were about an inch too short! Have

you got a girl yourself?

MICKEY: (laughs) Naw, not at the minute,

still just looking if ye know what I mean? I

can never stick for very long, there’s a lot

of me to go around! I can’t really see

myself having a steady girlfriend for a long

time like. What happened to your husband?

NELL: He died (short pause). Been on my

own for about eight years now. He was

building our neighbour’s wall, God rest

him, he never saw himself as old, then he

took a heart-attack. I think it’s still

unfinished actually. We got married in

there.

MICKEY: In the Longtower?

NELL: Aye, that was always my parish, all

our weans were baptised in there, and

Hugh, God rest him, was buried in there. It

was a gorgeous day when we got married,

I’d never seen the chapel looking so well.

MICKEY: Aye. My ma got married in

there as well I think.

NELL: Where’s your parish?

MICKEY: Awh missus, I don’t really have

one. I’m not much of a holy joe myself, I

just go at Christmas and Easter.

NELL: (laughs) It’s changed times, I’m

telling ye. I went to chapel every day

during Lent for the stations after work, and

every day for the October devotions.

MICKEY: Are you serious? I can’t

imagine ever doing that, I’d miss my nights

out too much!

NELL: There’s a lot of disillusionment in

the Church now, but back then the Church

was a big part of our lives. We were proud

of our faith, we were prepared to fight for it

and no one was willing to give it up or

change it to make circumstances better for

themselves. You just have to look out over

those murals over there in the Bog to see

that.

MICKEY: Aye, I know what ye mean, it

canny have been easy. I had a few uncles in

the Kesh and the like but I’m not very

politically minded meself like, I don’t vote

or anything.

NELL: It wasn’t, and I’d never want

another generation to go through what we

went through, definitely not. I’d never

dream of not using my vote, mostly

because I’m a woman and a Catholic, you

know?

MICKEY: Aye, but I canny stand all them

politicians like, I just don’t get it at all, I

don’t support any of them on our side, and

the other ones are even worse!

NELL: Let me tell ye something son,

there’s no such thing as ‘our side.’ We’re all

the one as far as I’m concerned. You see up

there? In the Fountain? There was a young

fella that lived up there when I was

younger, Simon you called him. He was a

Protestant and when I was fourteen I was

mad about him, I was dying about him like.

But my mammy, God rest her, it would

have broke her heart if I had went out with

him. But I always wonder what things

would have been like, if we had been the

age we were then in a world like today’s.

MICKEY: I suppose so like, like that is

terrible. I canny imagine not being able to

go out with someone just because of their

religion. Your life could have worked out

so differently, it’s mad to think about.

NELL: Now, don’t get me wrong son, I

have no regrets about my life. I’ve loved

the life I’ve lived, I loved my work, and I

loved married life and I loved life with

Hugh, I’m just a contented person now. I’m

content.

MICKEY: I know what ye mean missus. I

hope something like that turns out for me,

to find something I like doing for a job and

maybe get married and all. I don’t know

like.

(silence)

MICKEY: Right, here we are now missus.

NELL: Thanks son. How much is that?

MICKEY: Awh missus, don’t worry about

it, seriously.

NELL: Here take that.

MICKEY: I’ll get your bags.

(SFX: door opening. SFX: door closing.)

NELL: Thanks again son, what’s your

name?

MICKEY: Mickey Doherty.

NELL: Ellen Elizabeth Susan Bernadette

McCloskey, or Nell (laughs).

MICKEY: Alright Nell, I’ll see you later,

I’ll come and visit.

NELL: I’d like that, here, give us a hug.

MICKEY: (laughs) Right, see ye.

a journey back in time

By Grace C, Lauren and

Grace M


This newsletter was published by Headliners Foyle, Suite 2, 23 Bishop Street, Derry, BT48 6PR, Tel: 02871309397,

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