Voices of '74: Ulster Museum unveils powerful oral history project

Ulster Museum has unveiled a powerful oral history project available exclusively on their website, as part of their ‘Troubles and Beyond’ programme. ‘Voices of ’74’ is a collaboration between National Museums NI and Nottingham Trent University which presents varied memories, experiences and perspectives, from a diverse group of contributors, surrounding the Sunningdale Agreement and Ulster Workers Council Strike of 1974. Importantly, the project examines the period around 1974 in a broad context, incorporating a range of perspectives from across the social and political spectrum.

Over 30 individuals contributed to the project, sharing their reflections on 1974 from the perspective of their lives both then and now. The diverse range of voices include people, who were at that time, an author and television reporter, a teenage loyalist political prisoner, a civil rights activist and QUB Students' Union President, a nurse and civil rights activist, and an internee and Sinn Féin activist. Together, their stories provide a powerful and compelling glimpse into life during a pivotal year in Northern Ireland's history.

The ‘Voices of ’74’ oral history project builds on the foundations and learnings from ‘Voices of ’68’ – a project delivered in 2018 also in partnership with Nottingham Trent University. Voices of ‘68 focused on the civil rights movement and the events of 1968, a year that is widely viewed as a turning point in Northern Ireland’s history. The turbulent period surrounding 1974 was specifically selected as it offers another important prism to consider the Troubles within its evolving social, economic and political context. 

William Blair, Director of Collections at National Museums NI commented that supporting the social peace process is a key priority for the Ulster Museum through its ‘Troubles and Beyond’ programme.

He explained, “We have a shared history, but we don’t have a shared memory. The events of 1974 are acknowledged as another defining moment in Northern Ireland’s history, but are often perceived as belonging to one side of the political divide. For this project our goal was to harness the power of oral history and bring diverse voices and perspectives together to show how this period of time affected the people and communities within Northern Ireland, and beyond, in different ways."

"Our museums offer the opportunity for dialogue and promoting shared understanding and can make a positive contribution to peacebuilding. We are actively harnessing our collections to encourage discussion and debate, challenge perceptions and stereotypes and build greater empathy and understanding across all communities. We all have the truth of our own lived experience, and that has to be respected."

Voices of ‘74 is a significant part of a new online exhibition ‘Troubles and Beyond’ which is now available on the Ulster Museum’s website. It allows people to explore the collections and deeper layers of content associated with this period in our history, offering a comprehensive look at the decades-spanning conflict to peace.

Along with the oral testimonies, the ‘Voices of ’74’ project is enhanced with a digital collection of objects that reflect the polarisation and tensions of the time. These include a Unionist campaign poster proclaiming, ‘Dublin is just a Sunningdale away’ and a Republican poster stating that 1974 would be the ‘Year of Liberty’. The collection also features a British Army communication from that year warning of the danger of booby-trapped cars, as well as a ‘Sponger’s Badge’ which some Unionists wore in response to former Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, referring to them as spongers. The wider impact of the conflict on society is also illustrated through evocative photographs and archive film, drawn from a range of sources.

Professor Chris Reynolds, Professor of Contemporary European History and Memories Studies at Nottingham Trent University, explained that digital formats are a transformative asset when it comes to connecting young people to the past. 

He said, “While Voices of ‘74 will undoubtedly become a useful resource for researchers and academics, our target audience goes far beyond that. One of our main goals with this project is to engage young people. We’re confident that they’ll be valuable for bringing this period of history to life in classrooms across Northern Ireland. We believe that oral history has the power to engage young people in a way that more traditional approaches to history sometimes can’t."

“Oral history projects like this play a crucial role in giving voice to everyone who lived through this turbulent time, ensuring that the past belongs to all. The exhibition is committed to representing the full range of perspectives and experiences, recognising the importance of engaging with people from all backgrounds. By doing so, it aims to foster a more comprehensive understanding of the past and help build a more inclusive future.”

The project team has liaised with the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessments (CCEA), and the History Teachers’ Association NI, to develop a suite of new educational resources, including a bespoke set of online assets aligned to GCSE History. There are also plans to deliver a series of workshops that will allow teachers and pupils to use the oral history material to support teaching and learning around this vital period.