Pauline Mellon with a piece from her blog The Diary of a Derry Mother. It featured on 25 July 2014. Pauline Mellon is a Community Rights activist and Social Justice campaigner in Derry.
- A follow up to my last blog Cultural Vandalism or lack of thought.
The heat is certainly taking it's toll even on the more level headed.
I attended a meeting tonight over plans to modernise and extend the Museum of Free Derry, otherwise known as the Bloody Sunday Museum. The meeting was compared by one man to the Derry version of the Jeremy Kyle show minus the security, lie detector machine and mediation services that said a lie detector may have been useful.
The event which was organised by veteran civil rights activist Vincent Coyle heard a range of views from residents living nearby the museum, members of the Bloody Sunday Trust, the museum manager and those there in favour of preserving Derry's world famous Civil Rights Mural.
It was clearly stated at the outset of the meeting that the organisers welcomed the development of the Museum but felt that the current design deviated from what residents and locals had given their support to.
At the beginning of the meeting one 'excitable' attendee took the microphone, accused the host/ organiser of being a mouthpiece for the Bogside Artists, then stormed out when it was mentioned that his name appears on one of the murals alongside those of the Bogside Artists for his contribution to the artwork. I wonder will his name now vanish from the artwork or will he claim his name was forged?
The suggestion that the host was speaking on behalf of the Bogside Artists was immediately laughed off given the artists are well known for speaking out about anything that irks them. As we say in Derry “they're not backward in coming forward.”
The meeting which was packed to capacity began with a presentation which among other things showed how the plans had changed from the original plans in 2010 with a new application submitted on December 23rd 2013.
Residents including some of those directly affected by the changes made in 2013 claimed they were neither consulted about nor notified of plans to amend the original plans published in 2010.
Concerns tonight ranged from lack of consultation, antisocial behaviour, the obscuring of the iconic civil rights mural, the possible closure of a family run business and why no-one fought to save the Rossville Flats!
The item which caused the most controversy was the rumour that plans for the museum may also include a type of Memorial Garden to commemorate ALL those killed during the period more commonly referred to as the troubles including British State Forces. When the public anxiously questioned the rumour further the manager of the museum replied that the memorial garden was something they ''aspired to” but as yet there is no definite plans which I took to mean no funding?
If I'm honest the meeting for me was somewhat of a breath of fresh air, what with raised tensions and a frank exchange of views. However I strongly felt the meeting lacked direction with debate venturing off into various tangents. The airing of views is laudable but to address issues you must work towards solutions and in this case with a bit of direction I believe the steps to resolving these issues are reachable with discussion, honesty, reassurance and compromise. I do have do admit I was heartened by the acknowledgement from representatives of the Museum of Free Derry that the plans could be changed.
During the meeting quite a few of the Bloody Sunday family members in favour of the new design raised the issue of their dead relatives and the importance of the museum going ahead. This was confusing as the issue has never been of the museum not going ahead, but the changes to the design.
These changes will not only obscure one of the legendary, world famous murals but also the man who owns the local shop remains in limbo as to whether the plans will put him out of business and jeopardise his livelihood. This gent asked if a representative from the Museum of Free Derry could give him an answer as to whether his shop would be accommodated. Aidan Kerr from Museum of Free Derry said he would give an answer,. He did reply, but I reckon the heat must've been going for him too as his answer would have won an accolade on the floor of Stormont for the biggest load of waffle. I'm still trying to work out what he said, or indeed didn't say. A short time later all those in favour of the new plans filed out like a trail of army ants claiming they had been insulted.
The current chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust, Julie Anne Campbell, stated that they wanted to create a 'World Class Museum' however now the project could be put into jeopardy. This assertion does not make any sense as the planning permission for the original design still stands, not only that if the project will only be world class with the new design, was it not going to be world class with the first design?
It would seem the heat is playing havoc with some which was evident at the end of the meeting with a Sinn Fein Councillor telling a gentleman to expect a solicitor's letter over a heated discussion they were having. Take it from someone who knows Councillor Logue, they are not worth the paper they are written on.
A facebook post from Kate Nash (Bloody Sunday family member)
ReplyDeleteTrue Democracy showed itself at Pilots Row tonight . A meeting concerning the planned extension of The Museum of Free Derry hosted by Vincent Coyle allowed residents of the Bogside to voice their feeling at this extension. A powerpoint presentation showed how the original plan had changed since 2010 to a more recent plan which would obscure The Civil Rights Mural and also leave nowhere for the little shop to trade . The people of the area were poorly consulted in 2010 but were led to believe that these latest plans were what they had agreed originally. Deceit' shamefully practised by The Bloody Sunday Trust. Also revealed tonight and not denied by The Trust was an idea to build a Commemorative rooftop garden in the museum which would include British Soldiers. I cannot conceive who or what came up with this disgraceful idea but I will be talking to the Trust to remove Bloody Sunday from their name. People of Derry I am begging you . Do not allow Sinn Fein to get away with this disgusting treatment to the memory of all the innocent victims of this country . No remorse was ever shown at The Bloody Sunday Inquiry by a soldier nor justice given to any victim . The memory of Gerard Donaghy and the stain left on his character , the pain still felt deeply by his family will be ignored by these ruthless people in their quest for God knows what . ( NOT IN MY NAME )
Well said Kate the very idea of those butchers having their names in a memorial garden is akin to the ss being commemorated at Auschwitz or the other death camps, it would be interesting to see the reaction if a proposal was put forward to commemorate the fallen IRA members in the gardens set up for the ruc/security forces,
ReplyDeletePauline,s post has clearly shown that any opposition to these back door machinations which are about nothing more than greed and control rather than community togetherness,must be disciplined and structured,emotions must be channeled into positive and constructive action, for to long the people have been led by the nose by these gombeen men and women , it seems that if anything positive came out of last nights meeting it was that these community leaders have been shown up for the carpetbaggers that they really are .and people of principle will not be rolled over or fooled as easily as those who make their living as community reps would wish .
Marty I agree completely with the points you make, but coming at this from the other end, why would any British Squadies family wish to have their child or husband commemorated in this proposed memorial garden. It is absurd, they have war memorials in their home areas for that type of stuff.
ReplyDeleteI understand why the English ruling class might enjoy the thought, they like to leave their wretched excreta wherever they go.
If it is part of the terms for funding then the Bloody Sunday Trust should reject it and look elsewhere for funding.
Some wounds never completely heal, nor should they if folk wish to move forward constructivly with their lives.
Mick its exactly as you describe a cara "i.e."leaving their wretched excreta wherever they go" it demeans the whole purpose of any memorial garden,where family,friends or visitors can reflect on the brutality of the horrendous day,after all its called a commemorative garden,who in their right mind wants to commemorate mass murderers except the eejits in some loyalist areas the Sommerville banner as an example,I totally agree that if there was any stipulation in proposed funding stating that these murderers be commemorated alongside their victims then the trust should indeed tell them to stick their money where the sun dont shine.
ReplyDelete