Voices of yesteryear echoed through the Falls Library last week as Sevastopol Street native Marcas Ó Murchú gave a talk and presentation on the street's rich and colourful history, from 1850 to 1985.
It was standing room only in the library's upstairs space — looking out on Sevastopol Street, now best-known for its Bobby Sands' mural. Indeed, the talk was so popular that organisers had to repeat the lecture immediately after the first. Some attendees travelled from as far afield as Canada and Australia to hear memories of their childhood growing up on the street.
Marcas said the street had a rich history.
"My family were associated with the street for a long time," said the famed fluter and Irish language champion.
Tracy McCloskey, librarian and branch manager at Falls Road Library, said the event was a year in the planning.
"Local history goes very well here and this community is very important to us."
Marcas had been working on the project for a number of years, and collated thousands of old photographs, recordings and archive material, much of which drew an emotive response from his audience.
Marcas Ó Murchú delivering his talk
Rosaleen Finucane came from Australia to hear the talk, and met with some former neighbours whom she had not seen in over 50 years.
"I left Belfast and went to live in England for two years," she recalled. "I decided to go to Australia in 1974 and have been there ever since. But nothing is like coming home.
"It's fantastic seeing all these people again. You sort of think, we've got the white hair now, but we've still got that recognition. It's like reliving your childhood."
Eileen Wilson and her two sisters, Geraldine and Anne, grew up on the street off the Falls Road.
"I haven't seen Rosaleen in so many years. There are other people here I haven't seen in so long, I can't even remember."
Rosaleen talked about her memories of knocks on the door with children asking you to come out and play.
"Somebody would come knocking on the door to play all sorts of games. It was just brilliant."
Pat McKee's grandparents lived on the street, and she reconnected with Rosaleen at the talk.
"My mummy always told me that when my granny passed away, the Finucanes moved into number 27.
"My grandfather was a boot-maker but died a good few years before her. But doctors and priests and all came to the house and he used to make boots for them.."
Added Eileen Wilson: "We had the best of neighbours."
