Pictures: Documentary on social history of Douglas ‘thought provoking’

A new documentary about the social history of Douglas, lauded as a “thought-provoking” piece with “wonderful contributions” was launched this week by the Tanáiste Micheál Martin.

Produced by Douglas Tidy Towns in collaboration with Frameworks Films and Cork Community TV, the launch of Douglas Stories in Grange and Frankfield Community Centre on Tuesday was widely attended by public representatives and local people.

The documentary grew, committee member of Douglas Tidy Towns, Tara de Montfort told The Echo, from a “germ of an idea” having seen how people responded to a photo exhibition showcasing old photos of Douglas which was launched in January 2022 in Douglas Village Shopping Centre.

“We were watching grandparents talking to grandkids about their memories and so on,” Ms de Montfort said.

“It just really became incredibly obvious that there were not just stories to be told but stories to be recorded. It was about social history.

“We’ve got films about the mills, and that sort of thing, but this was just about the simple social history of people growing up — what it was like in those times and having it recorded.”

In Douglas Stories local people talk about their memories of Douglas as a village, their school days, the games they used to play, working life, Piper’s Funfair and much more.

Well-known Cork folk musician Jimmy Crowley has immortalised aspects of this in song, some of which are included in the documentary, and he is one of the contributors who shares his own memories of growing up in Douglas.

Douglas Stories explains how Douglas has developed from a rural townland in the early part of the 20th century to a busy village.

Local residents share how Douglas has changed and how they hope to see it develop into the future.

The documentary was funded by the Heritage Office of Cork City Council and by Coimisiún na Meán, through the television licence fee.

The Tanáiste said it was a “privilege” to launch the documentary, which he said featured “wonderful contributions from people who lived, worked, and played in Douglas through different generations”.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire lauded the documentary as a “terrific and facilitating film” which was “professionally put together”, adding that the personality of the people, and of the community of Douglas “really shone through”.

“These stories live by their being told and this film ensures this snapshot of a period of major change in Douglas will remain for the generations to come.

“Huge congratulations to all involved,” he added.

Meanwhile Fine Gael councillor in the city’s South Central ward Shane O’Callaghan praised the documentary as “a brilliant, entertaining and thought-provoking oral history film”.

“The story is told through contributions by local residents who tell fascinating stories about what it was like to grow up in Douglas and how the area has changed over the years.

“A must-see for anyone interested in Douglas or local history.

“Well done to Douglas Tidy Towns for making it happen,” he continued.

It will be broadcast at a later stage on Cork Community Television, which is available on Channel 803 on Virgin Media’s digital cable package and online at www.corkcommunitytv.ie.