Launched in October 2018, Voices of the Troubles is a unique oral history project which chronicles the lives of a border community during the turbulent years 1968-1998. It was sponsored by the EU Special EU Programmes Body Peace IV fund under the objective to build positive relations with people from different backgrounds and communities to support peace and reconciliation.
Due to the history of division in Northern Ireland and the border region, some sections of society have not developed the capacity to deal positively with difference, segregation and the legacy of 30 years of conflict. Eighty-five people from the border area of Cavan and Fermanagh from all persuasions were interviewed during 2017 and early 2018 to find out how ‘the Troubles’ from 1968 to 1998 affected their lives. All interviews were carried out by Maurice O’Keeffe of Irish Life and Lore on behalf of Cavan County Library Service.
The interviews were conducted in a sensitive manner allowing participants the opportunity to discuss their feelings and emotions, in many instances for the first time. One person interviewed said that “…many people have spoken on our behalf, now we can speak for ourselves”.
The Voices of the Troubles Oral history project is available to the public through Cavan County Library service.
The recordings are also available to download free of charge on the Voices of the Troubles page on the Irish Life and Lore website.
