New podcast series offers insight into lives of direct provision residents in county

'Home Stories' is a new podcast series that offers insights into the lives, hopes and childhood memories of residents of direct provision and emergency accommodation in Westmeath.

The writer and broadcaster Manchán Magan has spoken to new members of our community from Africa, Asia and South America about their favourite memories of home, their favourite foods and pastimes, and their hopes for the future.

"Ireland is fortunate to have been gifted with this precious influx of people from a range of fascinating and exotic cultures in recent years. Most of them have fled some form of trauma and are currently making their way slowly through the direct provision system," Manchán Magan says. "These new members of our communities offer us a wonderful opportunity to get to know different parts of the world and different cultural practises that are often full of wisdom and new perspectives.”

'Home Stories' is supported by Creative Ireland Westmeath as part of the Creative Ireland Programme in partnership with Westmeath County Council. The episodes will be available on all major podcast platforms, as well as at www.manchan.com and shorter 5-minute episodes will be broadcast on Midlands 103 from week of April 18.

Sinéad Hubble, Head of News, Sport and Current Affairs, Midlands 103 says,

“The station is delighted to work with Manchán to broadcast the stories of new immigrants who have come to the Midlands. The segments give us a real insight into their lives, hopes and dreams. We will be broadcasting up to three episodes each week - Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.15am and 12 noon on the Midlands Today show. All information can be found at www.midlands.com.”

The podcast series containing interviews with direct provision residents from two accommodation centres (Athlone and Horseleap) was edited by Lauren Varian, with a soundtrack by Brían MacGloinn of Ye Vagabonds and Myles O’Reilly.

This is a timely series of evocative glimpses into the lives of refugees and asylum seekers who have fled to Ireland from persecution and danger.

Each ten-minute episode consists of a short chat and amongst the myriad topics under discussion are pagan faiths, ploughing with oxen, rituals of kingship, traditional languages, polygamy, gospel singing, herbal cures, culinary delicacies and the hopes and dreams these new Irish residents have for their future in Ireland, and the part they would like to play in society.

“We are so grateful to the residents of both accommodation centre locations in Westmeath who shared their stories and memories from Home with Manchán," adds Westmeath County Council Arts Officer and Creative Ireland Coordinator Miriam Mulrennan.

"In some ways the delays caused by Covid-19 forced us to navigate more reflectively and thoughtfully with this project and the work is probably all the stronger because of this. As a nation of storytellers we now have new stories, new contexts and new storytellers that we can to weave into the tapestry of all our histories.

"The stories themselves may be different in context, but the themes and their poignancy will be very familiar to our listeners. I invite all to give this some time, it is a revelatory piece of work, and one which - as always Manchán has carried gently and with palpable empathy. The richness of what is being made available through this series is quite something, not to be missed.”

'Home Stories' is an introduction to new residents in Westmeath and will be available on all major podcast platforms, as well as at www.manchan.com, and shorter 5-minute episodes airing on Midlands 103.

The full series consists of 18 interviews from across the Midlands (Laois and Westmeath). 'Home Stories' is a podcast supported by the Creative Ireland Programme through Laois County Council Arts Office and Westmeath County Council Arts Office.