Women of Ring of Gullion are ‘Changing the Narrative’

The Ring of Gullion’s Winter Solstice Festival this year will showcase five films made by women from South Armagh under the theme of ‘Changing the Narrative’. The films have previously been shown at two film festivals and will be screened at St Mary’s Primary School, Mullaghbawn, on Friday 22 November at 7pm.

The films, which were made by 25 women from South Armagh over the course of three months, cover the themes of songs of the area, women artists, women in sport, women in farming, and the lace tradition in the area. The films highlight the rich culture of the area while also demonstrating the strong link between the different generations of women and are part of the Women in the Archives project which is also part of a larger ‘Making the Future’ programme.

‘Making the Future’ is a cross-border cultural initiative which is empowering people to use museum collections and archives to explore the past and create a powerful vision for future change. The regional programme is being delivered by a consortium of leading cultural organisations including the Nerve Centre, National Museums NI, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and Linen Hall Library, supported through €1.82m of EU funding under the PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Charlie Casey said, “This was a terrific project which used the creative arts and digital technologies to enable the participants to unlock their creativity. At the same time, the initiative allows the women to explore contentious history and identity, and promote reconciliation.

“The project has helped the women to highlight their own lives and their skills and the outstanding stories from the area. These films showcase women and south Armagh and will help ‘Change the Narrative’ around both.”

Women in the Archives is a joint initiative between the Linen Hall Library and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland to uncover hidden women’s voices from their archives.

Between them, the heritage organisations hold some of the key records and building blocks of women’s heritage in Ireland.  In partnership with Libraries NI, an exhibition will tour around Northern Ireland, continually evolving and being added to as new groups interact with the subject through interactive community engagement projects.

Participants from different communities, cultural and religious backgrounds have multiple opportunities to get involved, to have their voices heard, to tell stories relevant to their lives, to be creative and to gain new skills. Stories and creative responses will be exhibited in shared spaces and places–including high profile exhibitions and events, digital content and social media channels–throughout the project.

The Ring of Gullion Partnership worked with the Women in the Archives partners to recruit local groups in south Armagh to develop their own ideas to highlight local women and their importance to the local community and its heritage.

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