| Description | Interview with Kevin Mitchell from Derry. He discusses the greater political awareness amongst young people in Derry and their support of the Derry journalist, author and political activist Eamon McCann. He thinks that the traditional Nationalist parties are getting less support, and discusses the political activities of John Hume. He thinks that people who had previously supported John Hume have become more cynical since Hume negotiated with the government. He discusses the addition of 'London' to Derry, and the refusal of Derry people to accept the title Londonderry. He expresses his admiration for Bernadette Devlin's politics but thinks that she will have a difficult time, and talks about his identification with the beliefs and career of James Connolly and his involvement in the Easter Rising. He discusses the political activism of young people living in the Bogside, the replacement of the police with vigilante groups in some areas and the need for leaders to restore order to prevent people from becoming disheartened with the civil rights movement. He thinks that there is a danger that young people involved in the movement will return to the old sectarian groupings if there is no progress with the aims of the movement, discusses the possibility of popular leaders standing for election and the difficulty in getting representation in parliament because of the gerrymandering. He talks about the lack of interest in Irish culture and Irish games amongst some of the younger political extremists, and compares this situation with his development of an interest in Irish culture and songs which he thinks is associated with intellectual pursuits. He discusses learning Irish songs, including Gaelic and Orange songs, from a Republican sympathiser who lives in the Bogside and has been interned on several occasions. He goes on to discuss the teaching of Irish culture and the Irish language in schools, his view that it is impossible to separate culture and politics, and the importance of traditional music (tracks 1-13).
Track 14: silence 0.46 mins
Total: 31.51 mins
Dubber's reference number: PLA KF571E0550980 |