| Description | Interview with Harry Curran, his wife and another man. Harry Curran discusses a recent gathering of Catholics for a march and the provocation caused by recent Protestant marches. He thinks that the unemployment situation is slightly better than it was when Charles Parker and Dilip Hiro visited the previous year, and Mrs Curran talks about the employment of a Protestant at her relative's business. The couple think that discrimination in employment is still common. Harry Curran thinks that segregation of schools should be ended but he doesn't see how that could be brought about unless there was enough goodwill for Catholic students to have time off to attend mass. The couple talk about their friendship with Protestant neighbours that they have had, who have since moved away, and the need for the Unionist government at Stormont to be dissolved in favour of direct rule from Westminster to alleviate tensions and to end provocation. Harry Curran expresses his approval of Eamon McCann and his campaigning for fair housing and employment regardless of religion, and the levels of support in Derry for Ian Paisley (tracks 1-7).
Another man joins the conversation. He talks about his feelings about the Northern Ireland border, considers whether Protestants in the Republic of Ireland would face discrimination, and discusses his brothers' lives and experiences in England, having left Northern Ireland to seek work. He thinks that there is more integration amongst the younger generation in Derry but that each generation generally hands down hatred and intolerance to their children. Harry Curran rejoins the conversation to talk about young people from both communities mixing in the Irish Kitchen in Derry to sing songs and have a drink, and his long standing friendship with a Protestant man who he goes greyhound racing with. Harry Curran starts to talk about Protestant songs that some Catholics also sing (tracks 8-10).
Track 11: Harry Curran sings 'Battleship Maine' 1.09 mins
Track 12: Mrs Curran sings 'The Sash My Father Wore' 0.45 mins
Track 13: Harry Curran sings 'Irish Soldier Laddie' 2.18 mins
Harry Curran goes on to talk about the violence during recent disturbances and the death of some activists, threats made against Catholic families living near the Fountain Street area, and the location of Protestant housing areas in Derry. The group talk about the likelihood of the escalation of tension in the period leading up to the 1970 12th August celebrations (tracks 14-15).
Total: 31.47 mins
Dubber's reference number: PLA KF565D0877180 |