T24-134BUS PEACEPLUS The Exodus Project

Derry City and Strabane District Council invite suppliers to tender for a PeacePlus The Exodus project. This tender is for a project researching and sharing the recent history of the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist identities in Londonderry (from the outbreak of ‘The Troubles’ to present day with a specific focus on ‘The Exodus’ / migration of the Protestant, Unionist, Loyalist community from the west bank of the city / cityside) within context of the wider history of the era and the area and on a cross-community basis. The principles of Shared and Ethical Remembrance should be applied in this project.

It will engage 200 participants (mainly adults, from diverse community, voluntary and educational organisations) from within Derry City and Strabane District council area, border counties and other parts of Northern Ireland. There are a range of elements in the project including academic research, video production, community engagement and a publication. The more specialist areas (academic research, video production and publication) will involve small numbers of participants.

Some of these may be victims/survivors and/or sharing personal testimony/oral history. Sensitivity will therefore be required. On the broader Community Engagement element, participants will have little previous knowledge of area, so project will broaden awareness, challenge perceptions and expand sense of shared space.

Arising from the Co-design process in the Moor District Electoral Area (DEA), this project should strive to bring key benefit to that area as well as engaging more widely with relevant audiences. Through the Co-Design process it was highlighted that the Protestant or Unionist community feel that their story’/ perspective from Troubles era is under-represented and relatively unknown. The ‘Exodus’ of Protestants from the Cityside of Derry~Londonderry is sometimes contested.

Prof. N. Gilmartin (Trinity College) estimated ‘up to 10,000 Protestants’ (90 percent of PUL population) left due to fear and/or intimidation over approximately 4 years in 1970’s.

Conflicting views cite 400 – 14000. Causes were various and cumulative. The results are physically noted in empty/re-purposed Protestant Church buildings in Moor and Foyleside DEA’s.

Trauma and inter-generational trauma is evident speaking with those most directly impacted so sensitivity will be required. Please refer to the CfT documents for further detail.