Rochfortbridge

Rochfortbridge community organiser Áine Doyle recruited participants through social media and by approaching local Community groups. The project was able to bring together not only the younger generation who interviewed the wonderful senior members of their community but also the parents who accompanied their children in the interviews. 

Moate

Community organiser Kirsten worked with students on this lovely project, capturing the lives and memories of some of the local seniors in Moate. The result is some touching words and a great collection of stories from the past.

Athlone Community College

Organiser Rebecca worked with a group of Transition Year History students, highlighting the archival element of this project. On the project, Rebecca said “It gave [the students] a great understanding of the importance of oral history and how our link to the past can be with people we know as well as objects from the past. “

Athlone

Community organiser Ethna worked with students in Athlone to capture a lovely set of interviews and stories from locals from the area.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER

Emma O’Brien is a graduate of The Griffith College BA in Photographic Media. Her photographic practice is concerned mainly with themes of family childhood and home. She documents the personal and the private, domestic landscapes, rural life, small towns and neighbourhoods.

Emma’s work as been published and exhibited nationally and internationally. A career in Social and Community work informs her practice as she has a strong sense of ethics and works collaboratively with her subjects.

THANK YOU

Neighbourhood Network would like to thank everyone who participated in this project, especially our brilliant Community Organisers, teenagers and seniors. Thanks to Westmeath County Council & Creative Ireland, and all Westmeath-based community organisations who helped to spread the word about the project.

Special thanks to our photographer Emma O’Brien for capturing the amazing portraits that make up the heart of this project, and to  Marja Huhta and Ciara Egan for their dedicated work on the website and content.