First Women in Heritage film is launched

What a night, South Armagh! I’m still buzzing after our Women in Heritage film launch last night at the Ó Fiaich Centre in Cullyhanna.

We had a full house, with over 50 people braving the freezing weather to watch the film, listen to beautiful music from young local musicians, and most importantly, celebrate Úna Walsh’s incredible work in preserving and sharing the history/heritage of South Armagh.

This feature documentary film was created as part of my Ulster University's research project Creative Archives, in partnership with the dream team Lynsey Gillespie (PRONI), Bronagh McAtasney (Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive) and Emma Mc Aleer (Rural Community Network) and editor/co-director Tara McKevitt.

It was truly a community effort from start to finish: everything you see on screen was created by participants during a Summer participatory filmmaking project, where they learned how to film using their phones.

Standing in that room, surrounded by people genuinely moved by Úna’s work, reminded me why this matters so deeply: community, collaboration, and finally giving recognition to women’s vital contributions to NornIron's heritage!

Thank you to everyone who came along and to all who helped make this film. I’m so proud of what we created together and can't wait to continue sharing it with the world!

Úna’s full oral interview will soon be available at PRONI and the film will go on the festival circuit before being made publicly accessible through the Digital Film Archive.

And this, hopefully, is the first of a series of films about women's vital contribution to NI's heritage. Watch this space 👀