Supported by the Creative Ireland Programme through Laois County Council Arts Office and Westmeath County Council Arts Office, the new ‘Home Stories’ podcast series gives insight into the lives, hopes and childhood memories of Direct Provision and Emergency Accommodation residents.
Throughout the series, writer and broadcaster Manchán Magan speaks to new members of our communities from Africa, Asia and South America about their cherished memories of home, their favourite foods and pastimes, and their hopes for the future.
“A wonderful opportunity to get to know different parts of the world”
Providing a series of evocative glimpses into the lives of refugees and asylum seekers who have fled to Ireland from persecution and danger, the podcast series features 10 interviews with Direct Provision residents from The Hibernian Direct Provision Centre, Abbeyleix and The Montague Direct Provision Centre, Emo. The full series consists of 18 interviews with an additional eight Direct Provision residents from New Horizons, Athlone, Co Westmeath.
Manchán Magan explains, “Ireland is fortunate to have been gifted with this precious influx of people from a range of fascinating and exotic cultures in recent years. Most of them have fled some form of trauma and are currently making their way slowly through the Direct Provision system. These new members of our communities offer us a wonderful opportunity to get to know different parts of the world and different cultural practices that are often full of wisdom and new perspectives.”
All 18 episodes in the series will be available on all major podcast platforms, as well as via www.manchan.com. Shorter five-minute episodes will be broadcast on Midlands 103 FM on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.15am and 12 noon, from the week of April 18 onward.
From traditional languages to culinary delicacies
Edited by Lauren Varian and with a soundtrack by Brían MacGloinn of folk group Ye Vagabonds and musician/composer Myles O’Reilly, each ten-minute episode consists of a short chat on all sorts of topics, including pagan faiths, ploughing with oxen, the rituals of kingship, traditional languages, polygamy, gospel singing, herbal cures and culinary delicacies. The conversations also reveal the hopes and dreams these new Irish residents have for their future in Ireland, and the part they would like to play in society.
Laois County Council Arts Officer and Creative Ireland Coordinator, Muireann Ní Chonaill:
“When we first considered a project about the voices and lives of Direct Provision residents in Laois, we immediately thought of Manchán and were assured that his creative approach would be both sensitive to the needs and context of residents, as well as enabling chat and comhrá to engage with a range of themes close to the hearts and in the memories of our new community members. We’re delighted that this podcast series is now being launched after delays due to Covid-19, and are so appreciative of the time given by Sandy/Charmaine, Noma, Lwandi and Feza from The Montague DP Centre, Emo, and Kemi, Aruna, Ivann, Sie and Pauline from The Hibernian DP Centre, Abbeyleix. Special thanks also to Rosemary Kunene from Dignity Partnership, and Marina Rafter for their support with this project.”
