| Description | Interview with Jerry Mallet. He talks about the operation of Irish Nationalism in sport and the suspension of Catholics for playing 'foreign games' like football. He remembers playing gaelic football with Protestants and talks about meeting Northern Irish Protestants in the army and meeting up with them when on leave. He talks about his impression that the younger people in both communities are less militant, but agrees that they are more easily inflamed by a sense of injustice and are more likely to get arrested. He discusses the small percentage of people on both sides who just want to make trouble and remembers taking his own children to watch the Protestant parades and enjoying the spectacle. He talks about some of the processions that the Catholic community holds. He goes on to discuss the history of Derry that is shared by both sides and the differences in employment opportunities for Catholics and Protestants, his first visit to a Protestant home when he came back from the army at nineteen and his feelings about the visit. He talks about his daughter's engagement to a Protestant boy and the attempts by the boy's father made to end the relationship, the lack of interest amongst some Protestants in joining the Orange Order and the ban on Catholic marches within the walls of Derry which was broken on 5th October 1968 for the civil rights march. He goes on to discuss Catholic and Protestant marches and celebrations in more detail, the escalation of tension in Derry and the arrest and detention of young men for alleged crimes. He describes the case of one particular young man who appeared in court for allegedly causing trouble during a march and an incident where he was almost arrested and the lack of assistance he received from a soldier. He mentions some of the British army units who have been in Derry and explains the views of the local community about the presence of the soliders, their perceived arrogance, and his view that this has been influenced by the newly elected Conservative government in mainland Britain (tracks 1-10).
Track 11: silence 9.06 mins
Total: 35.53 mins
Dubber's reference number: PLA KF565D0077580 |