The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr. Emer Costello, in the presence of Mr. John Curran T.D. Minister for Integration, will launch a multi-media exhibition of photographs and digital storytelling portraying stories and images from the north inner city’s diverse community on Thursday 3rd September, 2009 at 6.30 p.m. in Killarney Court Community Centre, 1- 2 Killarney Court, Buckingham Street, Dublin 1.

This multi-media exhibition of stories and images reflects the lives and memories of seniors, youths and migrants in the area of Dublin known as ‘the Monto’.

Speaking at the launch the Lord Mayor said

“I am delighted to be here this evening to launch this exhibition of works by people living and working in this area.  Integration and heritage are the main themes of this project and we can see this reflected throughout this exhibition. This area has a rich and diverse heritage, and has undergone a major demographic change where many migrants have come to live here over the last ten years and have made such a huge contribution to the area. I congratulate the staff in Dublin City Council, in UCD and the local folklore project on their wonderful achievement in this unique collaboration.“

Minister John Curran said

"I would like to congratulate Dublin City Council for its vision and foresight in establishing an integration office in acknowledgement of the number of non Irish nationals working and living in the city and I was delighted that my office was able to provide funding of €250,000 to Dublin City Council for integration initiatives last year. It is important to remember that despite the recent drop in inward migration 12.5%, over 600,000, of people living in Ireland were not born in Ireland."

 Ends
 

Notes to the Editor:

Heritage is about the memories and association with places people carry with them and what they seek to pass on.  What is it like to have always lived in an area steeped in history and memories? What is it like to move into such a place, bringing memories of home and attempting to get know the culture and history of the place where you now live? What are the ways heritage can and does reflect these diverse experiences and senses of belonging?

Integration is defined as a mutual process of adaption over time based on structural participation, social inclusion and cultural competence. What can we do as academics, public servants, local development agencies, community actors and society at large to serve this common cause.

This exhibition goes beneath the surface of ‘official’ heritage to give voice to what matters most to people in their everyday lives. Often, it is not the things people keep or buildings of the area, but the people from these places and how they lived, remembered and shared through anecdotes and stories.

While migrants are keen to learn about the history and heritage of the area and Ireland in general, they are equally keen to share the stories of where they come from, to point out the commonalities between their life experiences and Irish culture and values, and how they are combining them.

The exhibition also includes a selection of photographs taken by young people from the area. These photos convey something of their sense of alienation within a harsh urban environment and from the popular nostalgia of the past, but they tell new stories that reflect what will become the heritage of this generation.

In contrast, the stories recounted by those from previous generations recall both hard times and struggle as well as the strength of personal and community spirit that sustained them, and that is carried on today through community work by and for all of those living in the area, including those recently arrived.

The exhibition emerges from a Heritage Council funded project to explore the potential meanings of heritage in a culturally diverse Ireland. The project was jointly led by UCD, Dublin City Council, and CREATE who brought together a team of artists and community activists to collaborate with the people of the area in exploring their sense of heritage as part of their daily lives. The activities in the Monto were undertaken in partnership with the Dublin Folklore Project.

Key Contributors:

• Terry Fagan, Folklore Project
• Darcy Alexandra, Digital Storytelling Facilitator
• Michael Brown, Photographer
• Bernie Pearse, Lourdes Senior Citizen’s Day Care Centre
• Laura McDonnell , North Dublin City Centre Community Action Project
• Nadette Foley, Dublin Multicultural Resource Centre