Tuesday 4 February 2020

LIVERPOOL FAMILY TIES: THE IRISH CONNECTION FILM




Commissioned by the Irish Embassy to deliver an event as part of their national
programme of St Brigid's day events, the Liverpool Irish Festival has worked with
grassroots documentarists, historians and artists The Sound Agents to create 
Liverpool Family Ties: The Irish Connection film. Interviewing community members
They have unearthed fascinating stories about Liverpool, how families came to
live here and what they have experienced as a result of their combined and
sometimes conflicting dual heritage.


The Sound Agents combine of John J. Campbell and Moira Kenny, known for
recording seldom heard stories of everyday life including,

  • The Liverpool Chinatown Oral History
  • Chinese Labour Corps
  • The Forced Deportation of Blue Funnel Sailors in 1946
  • Social Housing
  • The Domestic Effects of families in Liverpool during WWI.


Using Irish Embassy funding, the Liverpool Irish Festival commissioned The Sound
 Agents to document dual-heritage stories from women living in Liverpool identified 
at the Festival's dual-heritage day, held at Tate Liverpool (14 October 2019)


Liverpool Family Ties: The Irish Connection film was shown at the Bluecoat Gallery 
on Saturday 1st Feb. The first showing was sold out leading to a second showing. 
Overall comments rating the film and the talk as  Excellent.


"I enjoyed the film I found it inspiring and it gave me strength"
"I have always thought that our racial mix is one of our greatest jewels"
"Family Ties was excellent"
"Really enjoyed the film exploring our amazing diverse Irish communities"
"Very interesting and heartwarming, quite emotional"
"Might be interesting more dual heritage"
"Appreciate the way LIF is widening to include people’s experiences"


Facebook Comment
"I could have watched a lot more than the video. Absolutely brilliant work and there 
is so much we can learn from these people's experiences and cultures.
Nice one guys! 
Sharon in Greece.


The Sound Agents are currently funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to
make a pilot documentary film:
Then Along Came Lennon: A First Hand Account of Liverpool Art School Bands.