LIVERPOOL IRISH: JOHANN LATES & JOE KAN

"My mother could not speak Chinese, my father could not speak Chinese, they spoke in broken biscuits"

Chan Kan 1889 - 1960

Joe Kan & Johann Lates. Photo: Moira Kenny- Campbell

The Sound Agents met with Johann Mc Cormack nee Lates and her Uncle Joe Kan to discuss recording them for the Liverpool Irish film. Having met Johann's father in 2013, it was a pleasure to meet up. 

During the Liverpool Chinatown Oral History, so many people reminisced about Chan Kan, Joe Kan's father, selling peanuts in Chinatown, he was mentioned in the verbatim play 'The Curious Disappearance of Mr Foo' based on the forced deportation of Chinese seamen in 1946. The play was written by The Sound Agents and performed in the Unity Theatre, Liverpool in 2014. 

Joe talked about how his father would boil the peanuts, then roast them and sell them in the Nook pub in Nelson Street.  

LIVERPOOL IRISH: DECLAN MCSWEENEY

"Home is here now"

Declan McSweeney Photo: Moira Kenny-Campbell

The Sound Agents are looking forward to recording Journalist, Declan McSweeney's story of growing up in Tullamore, Ireland and moving to Liverpool.

"The Irish in Liverpool, everyone has a different story but people back in Ireland don't know much about the Irish over here, people assume people left the country for lack of work, that is far from being the whole story"

 

CELEBRATING A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY HERITAGE FUND

THE LUCK OF THE IRISH!

Today, The Sound Agents are delighted to announce a £74,980 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to record an oral history of Liverpool Irish people, a heritage at risk, to secure previously unheard family stories for future generations to learn and 

Join Liverpool Irish Oral History Facebook group here: LIVERPOOL IRISH ORAL HISTORY

This project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to

National Lottery Players.

@HeritageFundUK #HeritageFund #NationalLottery

HISTORY IN THE MAKING! LIVERPOOL CHINESE ARCHIVE JACK YUE MBE, OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED TODAY IN LIVERPOOL.

The Sound Agents working with Vicki Caren, Team Leader, Archives, Liverpool Record Office, Central  library, William Brown Street, Liverpool started an important historical archive for the City of Liverpool today. 

Ozzie and Linda Yue deposited family photographs and documents documenting the life of Ozzies father; Jack Yue MBE. 

The Jack Yue MBE archive starts an important chapter in the city as Liverpool Record Office did not hold any Chinese records previously. 

 

A call out for Liverpool Chinese documents and photographs will be published on the Friends of Liverpool Chinatown Face Book Group. Friends of Liverpool Chinatown | Facebook

Ozzie Yue, Linda Yue and Vicki Caren making history in Central Library
Photo: Moira Kenny-Campbell

Vicki Caren, Team Leader Archives examing the suitcase used by Jack Yue MBE
when he first left China and travelled to Liverpool.
Photo: Moira Kenny-Campbell 

 

AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE LIVERPOOL IRISH

After over 12 years of consultation to record an oral history of the Liverpool Irish including dual Irish and quiet Irish, we have submitted the application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

We aim to make an hour long film, digital archive, pod casts and an exhibition. 

Here is a link to a pilot film we made a few years ago:

 Liverpool Family Ties: The Irish Connection

Liverpool Irish Oral History Logo

UK CHINESE UNICORN AND ARTS ACADEMY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SOUND AGENTS CELEBRATING CHINESE NEW YEAR

A pleasure to work with The Quirky Quarter, Duke Street, Liverpool, designing a window to celebrate Chinese New Year - Year of the Horse - 2026

Thanks to Colin Wan, UK Chinese Unicorn and Arts Academy, who worked in collaboration with The Sound Agents loaning his beautiful Unicorn, flags and musical instruments.

Photographs Moira Kenny-Campbell

 

The Sound Agents John and Moira in the Quirky Quarter