‘Women of Donegal’ will be projected onto The Communty Newsroom window for one night only this Saturday
Celebrate International Women’s Day with a powerful exhibition in the Community Newsroom window, featuring archival images of Donegal women. The projection highlights their migration story, strength, and impact across borders – including here in Govanhill
By Devon McCole | Photo by Iain McLellan
It’s International Women’s Day this Saturday (8 March) and to celebrate, we partnered with Govanhill Baths Community Trust (GBCT), Artlink and artist Christina McBride, to bring a special exhibition to The Community Newsroom in Govanhill.
From 7pm-4am this Saturday night, a series of archival images of women who emigrated from Donegal will be projected onto the window of our Community Newsroom for all to see.
Paula Larkin, the Archive and Heritage Manager at GBCT, has been working alongside Christina to help bring the open-air exhibition to life: “Our archive's not just about the Baths building, it's about the communities that have used the Baths over time. When the baths opened in 1917, it was predominantly Irish, Italian, Jewish and rural Scots that used the facilities. Because of the Irish connection, we've now established an Irish history group, which is funded by the Emigrants Association support program from the Irish government.
“What's been clear in the Irish history group is there’s a big connection between Donegal and Glasgow. So, for International Women’s Day, we've got a whole day of events, including Christina's projection, which is simultaneously being projected at the ArtLink Fort Dunree in Bunkrana – a place in Donegal where a lot of the women that settled in Govanhill came from.”
The idea, is not only to celebrate the women that came from Donegal and settled here in Glasgow, but also to highlight that link through a simultanous projection across borders.
Paula said: “The work Christina has done, it's amazing. The projection displays images that she's collected, for her Glasgow Ghidor archive, and they're just outstanding. They really take you back in time.
“There's an amazing one that we've used in all the publicity and it's a group of women on the ferry to Rossie. They're quite glamorous, especially with their hairstyles and the lapels on their coats. And then these amazing images of this strong farmer woman in Donegal holding a big staff with her hand on her hip and her elbow pointing out. It's just so powerful.
“I'm really excited about the images, and exploring that connection from Donegal to Glasgow.”
We spoke to Christina to find out more about the work, soon to be projected onto our Community Newsroom Window:
What inspired ‘Women of Donegal’ and how did the idea of a simultaneous projection in both Donegal and Glasgow come about?
The idea developed out of a photographic archive project which I have been developing over the last few years which focuses on migration between Ireland and Scotland.
In response to a real lack which I felt existed, in relation to the representation and research into this history and also a concern that many images which existed, which could make an important contribution to that history were being lost or discarded, I started to create my own archive.
I received support from the University of Galway who have a campus in Gaoth Dobhair, who offered me a residency. This provided me with a very focussed period in which to develop the archive and utilise their scanning resources.
This project highlights the migration of women from Donegal to Scotland. Why do you think it’s important to tell their stories today, and what do you hope people will take away from the projection?
Too often Irish history and identity within Scotland has been dominated by and reduced to, issues around sectarianism and bigotry. It has supressed a lot of important information about its culture and history which should be understood, examined and indeed celebrated. I feel my work is part of a process working to provide a more accurate and informed perspective on the past, to help enable current and future generations to examine and understand their history - and those who contributed to it.
The purpose of the projection project was to create a space in which to reflect on the resilience, strength and spirit of some of these women, who through their incredible work in so many forms have enabled subsequent generations to enjoy the opportunities and choices they/we have today. Also to locate the images in a public place where they can be encountered by many. I know the images will be meaningful for a lot of the Irish community as they see people and places very familiar to them visualised and validated through the work. Issues of migration are not specific to the Irish community and I believe it will contribute to the rich range of narratives and histories which make up the community of Govanhill
How does the connection between Buncrana and Govanhill shape the narrative of the project?
I was interested in finding a location in both Glasgow and Donegal to expand the dialogue that I have been trying to develop through the work. I liked the idea of images being projected into the night and across the sea. I have been aware of the great work/projects Paula Larking has been doing with the Govanhill Baths which includes establishing the Irish history Group. Equally the work of Martha McCulloch at Artlink in Buncrana, and with Artlink’s location on the headland of the Innishowen peninsula looking across the ocean (with all its reference to departure and arrival points), it seemed like the perfect location.
Given the significance of International Women’s Day, how does the timing of this projection enhance its message of celebrating the history of Irish women and their activism?
Activism and protest can take many forms and can happen in loud and overt ways or more shrewd and silent ways. I wanted to use the platform of IWD to highlight the contribution these women, often in very quiet but effective ways, have made to the process of change.
What do you hope will be the lasting impact of this project for both the communities of Donegal and Glasgow?
I hope this becomes part of a process of visualising and validating the history and experiences of these women I also hope it contributes to a larger process which seeks to ensure that silences long haunting archives (particularly of women - and specifically working class women) may begin to be heard.
Finally, can you tell us about any future plans for the ‘Women of Donegal" project or other ways you plan to continue exploring the history and contributions of women in Ireland and Scotland?
I believe my archive is still in its infancy, there is still so much to collect and collate. I am particularly interested in the Irish speaking community in Glasgow – those that are bound together by this beautiful language. So this is my priority in terms of collecting photographs and recorded histories.