1974 brought back to life through powerful Northern Ireland oral history project

The year that saw the Ulster Workers Council Strike which brought the region to a halt as well as the Sunningdale Agreement is the focus of the latest instalment of the Ulster Museum’s Troubles and Beyond programme.

Voices Of ’74 includes contributions from more than 30 individuals reflecting on that year from the perspective of their lives both then and now.

They include an author and television reporter, a teenage loyalist political prisoner, a civil rights activist and Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union president, a nurse and civil rights activist, and an internee and Sinn Fein activist.

It is also enhanced with evocative images from the time, including a unionist campaign poster proclaiming, “Dublin is just a Sunningdale away” and a republican poster stating that 1974 would be the “Year of Liberty”, as well as a British Army communication from that year warning of the danger of booby-trapped cars, and a “Sponger’s Badge” which some unionists wore in response to former prime minister, Harold Wilson, referring to them as spongers.

The National Museums NI project comes after Voices Of 68, also delivered in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, which focused on the civil rights movement and other the events of 1968.

1974 was chosen as the follow-up because of the turbulent events the year witnessed in the escalating conflict.

William Blair, director of collections at National Museums NI, said the aim was to aid the understanding of history by exploring a range of perspective.

“We have a shared history, but we don’t have a shared memory,” he said.

“The events of 1974 are acknowledged as another defining moment in Northern Ireland’s history but are often perceived as belonging to one side of the political divide.

“For this project our goal was to harness the power of oral history and bring diverse voices and perspectives together to show how this period of time affected the people and communities within Northern Ireland, and beyond, in different ways.”

He said National Museums NI offer the opportunity for dialogue and promote shared understanding, and can make a positive contribution to peace building.

“We are actively harnessing our collections to encourage discussion and debate, challenge perceptions and stereotypes, and build greater empathy and understanding across all communities,” he said.

“We all have the truth of our own lived experience, and that has to be respected.”

Voices Of ‘74 is a significant part of a new online exhibition Troubles And Beyond which is now available on the Ulster Museum’s website.

Professor Chris Reynolds, Professor of contemporary European history and memories studies at Nottingham Trent University, grew up in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.

He explained that digital formats can be a transformative asset when it comes to connecting young people to the past.

“While Voices Of ‘74 will undoubtedly become a useful resource for researchers and academics, our target audience goes far beyond that,” he said.

“One of our main goals with this project is to engage young people.

“We’re confident that they’ll be valuable for bringing this period of history to life in classrooms across Northern Ireland and we believe that oral history has the power to engage young people in a way that more traditional approaches to history sometimes can’t.

“Oral history projects like this play a crucial role in giving a voice to everyone who lived through this turbulent time, ensuring that the past belongs to all.

“The exhibition is committed to representing the full range of perspectives and experiences, recognising the importance of engaging with people from all backgrounds.

“By doing so, it aims to foster a more comprehensive understanding of the past and help build a more inclusive future.”

To explore the Voices Of ’74 oral history project, visit https://www.ulstermuseum.org/digital-exhibitions/voices-74.