Irish Studies : Molly Malloy
by Molly Malloy
Many people around the world have read of the continuing conflict in the North of Ireland, but few have actually witnessed the violence and oppression that the Irish people live with every day of their lives. I have spoken with many (Americans in particular) who are fairly aware politically but do not understand the depth of the pain caused by occupation of Irish land by British forces and supporters.
Most people think that since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement “ the troubles” have stopped, with only occasional outbreaks. Many think this is a sectarian conflict alone, therefore not their concern and not easily remedied. Even people who know something about what has been happening in Ireland do not fully realize the scope of what Nationalist people (those who do not want British rule and who want the North to be reunited with the rest of the island) live with every day.
I am an American, born and raised in the Bay Area. I was raised with Irish culture and music and came to the Irish Studies Program at New College of California 3 years ago. I had been investigating the political history of the entire island on my own for a few years and became increasingly aware of the ignorance of most of the people in America. I first traveled to Belfast in January of 1999 and have gone back 4 times since. I started a project on that first trip which is beginning to take shape in the form of photographs and lectures designed to educate those that know little about the conflict.
Most people in the U.S. have no idea about life in the North of Ireland. They think either bombs are going off every day or that all violence has stopped because of the “Peace Process.” Both of these ideas are ‘off the mark’. The part of the conflict that is the most insidious and the hardest to convey to outsiders is the everyday confrontation by the Nationalist citizens of the North with a police state. The high-powered cameras and high-tech listening devices (trained on people’s homes, almost exclusively in Nationalist areas) that record every aspect of their lives, the wire-tapping of phones that record all, even the day-to-day joys and sorrows that all peoples experience. Things we never think about. The intimidating size and elaborate security of what is called a “police” station is something most Americans cannot comprehend.
The inherent discrimination in housing and employment, the degrading treatment by police forces and British military patrols, the constant threat of violence by Loyalist (loyal to the crown of England, against a united Ireland) paramilitaries against homes, children, and schools are continuing threats to Nationalist citizens of the North.
Over the past few weeks there has been renewed, nightly violence against Catholics and Nationalists in North Belfast and since last September there have been constant attacks against the children of Holy Cross Primary School (girls ages 4-11).
Some of this has made the news, and some of it has touched people that have not previously known about the every day struggles of living in the North. But not enough has been done, not enough people have become vocal in America. We are complacent, lulled into an almost unaware state by the American media for far too long. We must realize that as Americans we have a powerful voice. It is time to use this voice to help the people of the North and bring focus on what is happening there.
The photo show will be an ongoing, traveling exhibit around the Bay Area. Anyone interested in hosting the show should contact me directly at mmalloy32@aol.com. In addition to the photos there will be two speakers inviting audience members to interact and learn about the North, and it’s past and current problems. In addition to myself there will be Mr. Bobby Lavery, former Sinn Fein councilor for North Belfast, to give a personal perspective to the photos and the situation. I encourage not only people that have a direct interest in politics in the North of Ireland, but also those who are interested in the broader issues of human rights, occupation of native lands.
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HOME GALLERY Images of the North Info last updated 11 May 2002 mym