Sam Guthrie- Northern Ireland Regional Advisor
Throughout 2023–2024, I have led and contributed to several oral history projects across Northern Ireland, focusing on community engagement, project development and delivery.
Key achievements include:
- Our Stories – Our Times: As Project Manager, I concluded the largest oral history initiative ever undertaken by the British Red Cross in mid-2024. This involved recording 70 oral testimonies and establishing a dedicated project website. This was made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
- Stories on the Estate/Scéalta ón Eastát: A project website was launched based on my oral history work with residents of Twinbrook through Ionad na Fuiseoige. This was made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
- Our Place; Our Stories with Queen’s University Belfast: I collaborated with community groups on the Shankill and Falls Roads to support the development of this significant initiative. This included oral history sessions with St John’s and St Mathew’s churches.
- Templemore Baths Oral History Project: In my role as Heritage Officer with EastSide Partnership, I developed a new oral history collection project for the Baths. I also contributed to the development of two AR projects incorporating oral histories, including Memory Fractals, which is scheduled for completion in 2025. My work was featured on BBC Radio Ulster in November, where I discussed the oral histories of Templemore Baths.
- Remember When…: I supported the establishment of this community-led oral history project in East Belfast, which involved training 15 volunteers and overseeing the collection of oral histories.
- Great Place North Belfast: I provided training and guidance to build the team’s capacity for conducting oral history work.
