Well known local broadcaster Harry Lee will present a special two hour show on LMFM on Christmas Day featuring extracts from his popular Gathering Heritage project, which he ran last year.
On the day LMFM will be playing selected highlights from the project audio archive including interviews with the likes of Jim Corr, Tommy Smyth, John Moore and lots more of Louth’s sons and daughters.
“We are only too happy to air this fascinating documentary especially at this time of year when people reminisce of times gone by,” said Eamonn Doyle from LMFM.
Specially narrated by Harry Lee the documentary will be a journey of personal stories guaranteed to make you laugh and cry. The project is seeking to expand in 2015 and listeners can contribute their own stories directly via http://www.gatheringheritage.com and via the Audio Boom app.
The show will air from 3pm to 5pm on Christmas Day so be sure to check it out.
Louth’s Gathering History Project has successfully made it through to the Arthur Guinness Projects funding scheme.
Project Co-ordinators Harry Lee and Jason McGee along with County Museum curator Brian Walsh are now asking for the public’s support in helping the unique Louth-based project be in with a chance to share in the €3m fund.
The aim of the Gathering History Project is to create an historical archive using the voices of those from the county who have left these shores and who are happily sharing their life stories.
To date, participants include ‘A Good Day to Die Hard’ Hollywood director John Moore, who filmed his own interview in LA, speaking of the people who led him on to a phenomenal career.
Jim Corr sparked international speculation of a Corrs reunion in his interview with the Gathering History Project – hinting it was 95% certain the group would reunite.
Most recently, Louth native and US sports broadcaster , Tommy Smyth, spoke of his hopes for US Vice President Joe Biden to visit Louth and also of the importance of Mr Biden and other senior US figures acknowledging and promoting their Irish roots.
Initially a project under The Gathering initiative, it is now hoped to continue on and expand the Louth project which is where the Arthur Guinness Project funding would be invaluable.
Harry Lee explains: “I am hearing fascinating stories and we have received some great international attention for this project, portraying Louth in a very positive light. To receive Arthur Guinness Project funding would mean we could target continuing with the project beyond The Gathering year.”
Jason McGee adds: “The proof of The Gathering’s success will be to extend initiatives beyond 2013. That is what we are hoping to do – build a legacy. The Gathering History Louth Project can be extended and indeed expanded across the country. There is amazing potential there and we would love to go forward with it.”
County Museum curator, Brian Walsh is eager to see the continuation of The Gathering History Project and believes the Arthur Guinness Project fund could play a major role. “We are more than happy to be involved with the Gathering History Project and facilitate Harry’s interviews here in the Museum.
“What is important to remember is that many people are in Ireland right now seeking out their genealogy. The Gathering History Project is a major genealogy tool of the future. It’s not just seeking out information on paper. These are the voices of generations. Those who come after us will be able to listen to their relatives and hear the tone and emotion in their voice when they speak. You can’t put all that down on paper.”
To vote for the Gathering History Louth initiative for inclusion in the Arthur Guinness Project fund click here.
In this week’s Dundalk Democrat, it’s a sports fan’s feast. The front page story is about Blackrock teenager Jimmy Dunne’s move to Manchester United, while there’s also an interview with ESPN commentator Tommy Smyth and 37 pages of sport, including a preview of Dundalk’s clash against reigning Premier Division champions Sligo Rovers this Friday night. There’s also reaction from the Blackrock Seaside Festival, where a new queen was crowned.
All that and more in this week’s Dundalk Democrat, on sale now!
American vice president Joe Biden will visit Co Louth later this year to strengthen his Irish links.
That’s according to ESPN commentator Tommy Smyth, in an interview with the Gathering History Project last week.
Speaking to Harry Lee last week, the Knockbridge native said his wife Treasa was close to Biden.
“Treasa is a good friend of Joe Biden’s and she finds him to be a very nice man.”
Biden’s ancestors are believed to be the Finnegan family from the Cooley area.
Tommy said a lot of famous people in America had Irish heritage but never established the real connections.
“I mean a lot of these people have connections and never establish them. George Pataki was another one. He was the Governor of New York State. His grandmother came from the Mill of Louth. His grandmother wasn’t supposed to go to America. The sister got cold feet, and her other sister went.”
Tommy joked: “So Pataki was actually an illegal immigrant, whether he liked it or not because the wrong passport was used to get the grandmother to America.”
The proud Louth man is looking forward to the Biden visit, while recalling the Clinton visit of 2000, one of two high points in his career: “Anytime you get the opportunity to cover something like this, that’s good. Many, many, years ago I got a great opportunity on Larry King to cover the Pope’s visit to Drogheda and you would have to say that those are two major highlights. One of the things I like to do in the media is try to highlight where I came from and you can do that when you get the opportunity.”
Talk of the Town 