Oral history event with sporting theme is coming to Castlebar
Mayo senior footballers inspect the football from the 1951 All-Ireland Senior Final during their recent visit to Behy National School in Ballina. The ball was presented to the school by the late Fr Peter Quinn, a member of the 1951 team.
The people of Mayo are invited to bring an item of personal sporting significance and tell the story behind it at a free event happening in Castlebar in November.
The Oral History Network of Ireland (OHNI) are organising ‘Magic Moments, Medals & Memorabilia: Sport and Oral Heritage’, which will take place on Saturday, November 7th, at the TF Royal Hotel.
Among the novel elements of the day is an invitation to members of the public to participate in an interactive ‘bring and tell’ session with a sporting theme. Attendees are invited to bring an item that means something to them, such as an object or photograph, and share its story. They will have an opportunity to have the item professionally photographed and record a short oral history interview with a member of the OHNI team.
The event, supported by The Heritage Council, will explore how physical objects, sporting achievements, and lived experiences unlock local history and collective memory. The day includes a fantastic line-up of speakers, a practical oral history masterclass, and will give attendees the practical tools and confidence to begin their own oral history projects, while learning how others have brought theirs to life.
While the event is free, pre-booking is required, with options to register for the full day or just the afternoon, when the ‘bring and tell’ event will take place. A complimentary light lunch will be provided for full-day participants.
“There's nothing like hearing the voices of people describing their own experiences”, said Daniel Carey, a member of the Oral History Network of Ireland steering committee. “We’ve been keen to have an OHNI event in the west of Ireland, and the special scenes we witnessed after Mayo’s All-Ireland victory in July got us thinking about the importance of sport and sporting objects in many communities.”
Registration for the event is available online at https://oralhistorynetworkireland.ie/events/
