Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News - Raidió Fáilte broadcasts a new documentary series featuring doffers, tiffler-uppers and Irish speakers!

04 July 2012

Raidió Fáilte's seven-part documentary series 'Samhlaigh Sin/Imagine That' produced and presented by Eoghan Ó Neill and Máirín Hurndall takes us on a journey exploring tragedy, triumph and our shared yet sometimes hidden history.

The series, which marks a number of significant anniversaries during the period 1912 – 1923, could not have been produced without the assistance of the Community Relations Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

We hear voices from the gantries – the stories of the riggers, drillers and boilermakers in the shipyard where Titanic was built… and memories from mill workers – the scutchers, doffers and tiffler-uppers!

The radio programmes explore the founding of the labour movement and the legacy of the Ulster Covenant. Former trade union organisers recount their fight to be heard. Political representatives of various shades of opinion, university academics and a range of local historians and well-known Irish speakers all have their say.

The series also looks at ‘The Irish speakers of the Shankill Road’ and at the Protestant heritage of the Falls Road, with input from Irish language speakers and enthusiasts from various backgrounds… and traces the steps of Conradh na Gaeilge back to an era when it had numerous supporters including from the Presbyterian tradition.

Amongst the participants exploring the issues and lessons for today - Drew Nelson, Grand Secretary of The Orange Lodge of Ireland, Ruairí Ó Bléine, Author/Historian and Éamon Phoenix noted Historian/Academic, who had this to say;

‘I commend the work of Raidió Fáilte in highlighting issues around labour movements, the signing of the Ulster Covenant… and the position of the Irish language…timely as we approach a number of significant anniversaries in the coming period. The programmes are a reminder of the rich cultural tapestry in the North and the unexpected linkages between the two traditions in that critical decade 1912-22.’

Raidió Fáilte will broadcast the series in its entirety in the week 16 – 22 July 2012 at 08.00 and 22.00 daily and at 04.00 for listeners abroad.

Raidió Fáilte can be heard on 107.1fm in the Greater Belfast area and via live streaming on www.raidiofailte.com

The series will be available on the Raidió Fáilte ‘Listen Again’ service on www.raidiofailtearis.com from August 2012