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Mother Jones International Fund for Documentary Photography Exhibit |
Andrew Moore | |
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UNCA -
Oct. 30- |
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Northern Ireland After the
Ceasefire
UK - 2000 award recipient The photographs submitted in this project, taken over a period of 13 years, portray the post-cease-fire struggles continuing around the Northern Irish "marching season," when the Protestant Orange Order parades through the community asserting its traditional dominance. This time of year is particularly volatile because of the Protestants' deeply rooted sense of their right to march which antagonizes the Catholics who have a growing sense that they no longer need to accept second-class status. In September 1994, the IRA called their groundbreaking cease-fire, marking a huge change in Nationalist (Catholic) thinking. The revelation that the IRA had been involved in serious dialogue with the U.K. government led to a feeling that real change was possible. Although very few people believed that a united Ireland was imminent, many thought that an equal society was within sight. In 1995, following a period of relatively peaceful marching seasons, the Nationalist residents of Garvaghy Road, through which the parade passes, announced that they would no longer accept a Protestant supremacist organization in their area. The police and the British Army blocked the parade, unable to guarantee a peaceful march. Eventually, following a four-day standoff, an agreement was reached that the parade would be allowed to pass in silence. Sensing victory, the Orange Order marched down the road in a boisterous and triumphant manner, enraging the Catholic residents who vowed that "Orange Feet" would never again be allowed down their road. In 1996 and 1997 the Garvaghy residents occupied the road but were brutally removed by security forces in order to allow the march to pass. In response to this and random attacks on Catholics by Protestant paramilitaries, rioting swept through Nationalist areas of Northern Ireland. By 1998, security forces banned the parade, causing a swift Loyalist reaction. There were widespread attacks on Catholic churches and homes, culminating in the fire bombing and murder of three Catholic children living with their mother on a predominantly Protestant estate in the small town of Ballymoney. As I write, in late August 1999, the Portadown Orange men are still campaigning to be allowed down the Garvaghy Road. However, there are few signs that this will be allowed without an agreement being reached with the Nationalist residents. Biographical Information: Date of Birth - July 12, 1962 Place of Birth - Gateshead, UK I began working as a photographer in the mid 1980's concentrating on social and political issues. I first visited Northern Ireland in 1986 and have covered the story consistently since then. I have worked for many international current affairs and business magazines including - Time, Newsweek, Business Week, Der Spiegel, Stern, Die Zeit, Liberation, The Independent Magazine. Captions :
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