TYNESIDE Irish cultural Society is back on the road in Teesside next week for the next stop on its Raised on Songs and Stories project (ROSS).
ROSS aims to capture some of the memories and life histories of Irish people who came to the region mainly in the 1960s.
Working with Newcastle’s largest theatre company, Northern Stage, the intention is to fashion some of the material collected into a musical play celebrating the struggles and achievements of this remarkable generation.
Coordinator Tony Corcoran said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response to date and by the fact we have found so many senior Irish people we have been able to bring together.
“Already we are aware that it needs to be an ongoing commitment and we shall definitely seek further funding to carry this out.”
Last week over 30 Irish people attended a Middlesbrough event where they enjoyed a lunch arranged by Ann McGeever and music by Tony Corcoran and Paul Hetherington.
There were memorable contributions from the community. Maureen O’Donnell — originally from Achill, Co. Mayo — sang as Gaeilge; Damien Moore played the fiddle, while solicitor Dermot Winters, from Cork, and special guest singer Dermot Hegarty regaled guests with songs and stories.
To date the project — funded by the Ireland Fund of Britain, the National Lottery and the Arts Council of England — has visited three centres.
Next stop for ROSS is Jarrow’s Alberta Club on Wednesday, May 13 at noon. Anyone wanting to join in in Jarrow or at future functions should contact Mary Mallatratt on 07811 375449.
Memories from Middleborough - Here’s what some of those who took part in the recent Songs and Stories gathering had to say…
Maureen O’Donnell is originally from Castlebar and Achill Island in Co. Mayo.
“The day I came to Newcastle I loved it and I never wanted to leave it. I have been involved in the Irish Centre for years and it has been a big, big part of my social life and making a home. Dancing has been a huge part of my life here.
“They even sell red lemonade over here now,” she joked. “Going in on a Sunday night is like walking into your family.”
She added: “I've just met people today who I know from back home and I haven't seen them for years and years, possibly 40- 50 years. Their aunt lived in our village and they stayed in our village for a while... my sister used to go to school with their cousin. And when I walked in he said, ‘I know who you are! You are the image of your mother’.”
Bridie McHugh first arrived in Blackpool in 1955 and worked as a Clippy on the buses before moving to Coventry and meeting her husband, who was originally from Galway.
After moving to Barnsley and getting married, the couple then moved to Middlesbrough with work, and made connections with the Irish community. “It has been so very important to our lives here," Bridie said.
Patrick McMahon is originally from Limerick. When he first moved to London he remembers hard times.
His first digs " slept six-eight people in one bedroom and I saw a man sat on the bed who was polishing the back of his legs. I wondered why until I saw him put his socks on and there was a hole in his socks! I thought I'm getting out of here!
"So, in 1954, I moved here and I found a touch of Irishness in Middlesbrough. I felt it as soon as I came here and I have stayed here ever since."
John Keane moved to Britain from Bandon, in Co. Cork, when he was 13, following his father who had moved here in 1952.
"I was never quite sure why he came here as he had a great job in Ireland, he was a postman, which was a well-paid job and he spoke Gaelic," he said.
John worked in many different job roles from the age of 13. In 1961 he was given one of his most important jobs - he was asked to "look after this young lady" by the doorman at The Lady of Knock, the Irish Club in Middlesbrough.
Four years later, John and his young lady, Margaret, got married. Music brought the pair together and keeps them meeting together with the Irish community for the monthly dancing run by Eddie White.
