{"id":2211,"date":"2018-05-21T10:58:31","date_gmt":"2018-05-21T10:58:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kilkennyheritage.ie\/?p=2211"},"modified":"2018-05-29T10:54:46","modified_gmt":"2018-05-29T10:54:46","slug":"oral-history-a-tool-to-explore-our-past","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kilkennyheritage.ie\/2018\/05\/oral-history-a-tool-to-explore-our-past\/","title":{"rendered":"Oral History – A tool to explore our past"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ireland is in many ways defined by its storytelling and oral culture. For generations, the knowledge of our past was passed from generation to generation, around an open hearth fire, the ancient forum for lore and tradition.<\/p>\n

A key application of oral history surrounds the capturing of this information and its preservation for the future. Effective oral history projects must attend to central aspects including the need for research and preparation, a strong ethnical process, archival structures and a programme for outreach and dissemination of collected material.<\/p>\n

Oral history is the digital recording and preservation of historical information, memory and tradition, from people with personal knowledge of past events.\u00a0 The method can also capture oral tradition, inherited by the interviewee from the generations before them.\u00a0 It can also refer to elements of our past including folklore, beliefs, customs, myths, rituals and practices.\u00a0 As both a method of exploring the past and as a resource, oral history helps illuminate more nuanced and human insights into our history.<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>

Iverk Show 2016<\/p><\/div>\n

Iverk Show Oral History Project<\/strong>
\nThe Iverk Show Oral History Project (ISOHP) documents oral heritage and memory associated with the Iverk Show<\/a>, Ireland\u2019s oldest agricultural show.\u00a0 The project began in 2015 to capture information to celebrate the 190th anniversary of the show in 2016.\u00a0 The overwhelmingly positive response to the project has now led to an ongoing programme in advance of the 200th anniversary of the show in 2026.<\/p>\n

The ISOHP was developed through the co-operation of the Kilkenny Heritage Officer with the Iverk Show Committee.\u00a0\u00a0 In early 2016, Dr. Tomas Mac Conmara, an oral historian and heritage consultant, was appointed to conduct a number of interviews.<\/p>\n

\"N.<\/a>

N Storey, E. Storey & N. Murphy<\/p><\/div>\n

The Interviews <\/strong>
\nThe interviews for the ISOHP were conducted in March 2016 by oral historian and heritage consultant Dr. Tom\u00e1s Mac Conmara in locations at Tybroughney and Belline, County Kilkenny, B\u00e9alough, County Waterford and Carrick-On-Suir, County Tipperary.\u00a0\u00a0 Four men and one woman ranging in ages from sixty-seven to ninety-four, were interviewed. To\u00a0read\u00a0segments of the\u00a0interviews click here<\/a>. To listen to segments of the interviews click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Interview Approach for ISOHP<\/strong>
\nThe interviews were designed by the consultant to operate in a semi-structured format, in order to elicit the type of conversational narratives which most interviewees would be comfortable with. In addition, this method provided the optimal opportunity to follow lines of memory which may not have been anticipated prior to the interview. To find out more on the interview approach click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How can you help?<\/strong>
\nIf you have memories or tradition associated with the Iverk Show that you would like to share, or know someone you feel should be recorded in time, please email heritage@kilkennycoco.ie with the following information<\/p>\n