Lessons To Be Learned From Feile: Billy Joe

Anyone who can claim to be reader of the Irish News and in particular the Thursday edition each week will be aware that Jimmy Gibney is a regular columnist.  Jimmy is an old Provisional IRA man and currently spouts the Sinn Fein party line–when required.  The Irish News with it’s predominately Nationalist readership is the perfect forum, therefore for The History of The Troubles According to Jimmy.
On many previous occasions I have taken exception to his articles and on more than one occasion have actually penned letters to the paper in reponse–but have yet to have any printed.  But, as they say–everyone is entitled to their opinion and this includes Mr. Gibney.  It isnt very often I have to proclaim that I would concur with Jimmy on his musings but I have to hold my hands up and admit that I have at last found a reason to do so!
In yesterday column Gibney was enthusing about the West Belfast Festival–Feile An Phobail which is celebrating it’s 25th birthday.  This wonderful festival can arguably lay claim to be being the biggest of it’s kind in Western Europe and you only have to look at the line up each year to understand how it is held in such high esteem.  At the etecetra theatre launch in the Linen Hall library last week Danny Morrison told the audience of the reasons for starting the festival in the first place and of the difficulties in trying to establish it.  He said that one of the main reasons was to give West Belfast a voice and to counter the widely held claims that that community were 100% terrorists.  It wasnt always easy according to Morrison but with detrmination and perserverence they are now reaping the rewards.  Jimmy Gibney echoes these sentiments.  He says-“It was about providing a platform for the marginalised and powerless within and beyond West Belfast”.  He goes onn to say that the Feile ” was rooted deeo in it’s comunity. It’s organisers had a keen understanding of the community’s needs: it’s hopes and dreams”.
There is a very simple message here.  If a community feel marginalised–alienated–disenfranchised–powerless-then it must strive to combat these negatives.  If we feel “someone” isnt “doing” it for us then we must endeavour to do it ourselves.  Whatever “it” is.  The recent launch of etcetera is only a small cog in a huge PUL community based wheel.  This community has so much more to offer–so much more to give.  We need to stop relying on others to sort our own mess out.  We need to regain that power–to overturn those feelings of powerlessness or alienation–we need to take control of our own destiny.  In two weeks time the East Belfast Arts Festival takes place for only the second time.  It is in it’s infancy compared to Feile An Phobail but is heading in the right direction.  It is incumbent of those who feel marginalised within Protestant working class communities to throw their collective weight behind such innovative and worthwhile ventures.  Within that context there will be many ways to get the stories told–and listened to.  It is here we can express our feelings as individuals and as a community.  By song-dance-lectures-exhibitions-debates-forums-cultural expressions. If we feel our culture is being eroded or that history is being written FOR us then what better way to respond. And as Jimmy Gibney might say–Is e todchai linne.