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Northern Ireland Conflict: Memorial/UnMemorial

Every day of the year marks the anniversary of someone’s death as a result of conflict in Northern Ireland.

About the Project

This year is the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement, officially ending the Northern Ireland conflict on 10 April 1998, underpinning Northern Ireland’s peace, constitutional settlement and institutions. Also, this year UK government’s are attempting to “draw a line” under Northern Ireland. “The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill” was passed in Westminster in September 2023, despite being opposed by victims groups, all Northern Ireland political parties and the Irish Government. It proposes an effective amnesty for crimes in exchange for information. It would also prevent future civil cases and inquests into Troubles offences.

In response,  I am marking the anniversaries of all deaths, fatal injuries or disappearances by creating a durational performance, as part of my artistic practice,  to cross the Irish Border while reciting the names of those whose anniversaries of their death,  fatal injuries or disappearances, fall on that date. I post a daily one minute video reel to my artist social media channel documenting the process.  This daily post has become part of a ritual of remembering for an ever growing group of followers, including family and friends of those lost.

The work is also being shown in exhibitions north and south of the Irish Border.

It was shown as part of the Shore Collective’s ‘Vestiges’ group exhibition in Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre in Armagh, Northern Ireland as a 10 Min Looped Video shown at Gallery One from 10 March to 6 May 2023.

It is currently showing in the ‘Domhain Éile: Other Worlds’ exhibition in the Íontas Art Centre in Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, Ireland.

By highlighting the loss of life and loved ones, this work aims to promote dialogue and healing within and beyond Northern Ireland and a deeper understanding of the ongoing legacy of the troubles.

project images
PARTICIPANT quotes
This work really resonates with me. It reminds me how relentless these deaths were and how desensitised we became until it impacted on us more directly. Well done Gwen for creating such a thoughtful piece.
Sandy
Sandy8/11/23
This is an incredible series you’ve been making and sharing. It’s so rare to see a practise like this that highlights in a such an immediate and accessible way the depth of the trauma and tragedy that’s occurred from this kind of conflict. Powerful work.
Elena
Elena15/6/23
You have such a grasp of the history here and a great way of understanding it and the impact it had on its people
Paul
Paul1/10/23
This is so important to keep remembering. Thank you for these posts.
Sheila
Sheila15/10/23
This is so powerful Gwen. When you read the names and age of each soul it makes such an impact. Grateful to you for the daily remembrance of loved ones who have gone before us
Patricia
Patricia6/10/23
Thank you for this @gwenstevensonartist, this work matters. May they rest in peace.
Nikki
Nikki11/10/23
I love what you are doing on here I think it is so important to remember the victims so that these things don't happen again, you have my support 👏 It is a beautiful idea and as one of the family members of the victims my gratitude for your thoughts remembrance
Paul
Paul9/7/23
So powerful Gwen, I didn't appreciate just how young a lot of these people were. A lot of them. All those heartbroken families.
Jenni
Jenni2/10/23
Wow. Thank you for doing this, for making the reels, for reminding us of times we should never forget. @gwenstevensonartist from a border girl.
Nikki
Nikki1/10/23
Heartbreaking, someone’s son someone’s daughter
Jim
Jim11/10/23
When will all the people in our world learn that fighting and killing and hate do nothing to make it a better place! 😢😢😢.
Gail
Gail25/6/23
You are a great artist , brilliant visual social commentary. Those everyday commemorative posts are so poignant. I do my best to acknowledge each one.
Jim
Jim6/7/23
Eerily powerful, and not for the faint of heart. This forces me to revisit the concept of ‘death’ that so many human beings are afraid of. What exactly is this? And how do we face what we’ve been groomed as the inevitable? Perhaps, ‘death’ is a mere transition that we find grueling and inconceivable at times. Yet it may usher in a new beginning of reincarnation — not in this world, but another…
Al
Al16/6/23
Names and ages make it so more personal than just cold statistics that are churned out. Living in England the population have never really been aware of the consequences and suffering of ‘the troubles!
Mark
Mark28/8/23
How sad that a day in a month when nature is fulfilling its potential should mark so much ending of life. This is such a powerful project Gwen.
Alex
Alex17/5/23
Truly shocking.  Thanks for sharing this.. although widely reported at the time of these horrific events, it almost seems like the victims are of a hidden war.
Mark
Mark15/7/23
I wasnt aware of the significance of 17 May. May they and all the others rest in peace.😢.
Bernie
Bernie17/5/23
Such a poignant project Gwen. Very moving to attune to each day.
Cheryl
Cheryl30/3/23
The enormity is starting to register seeing these posts as they evolve.
Helen
Helen21/2/23
We lived through the troubles at a distance here in the UK - nevertheless we were acutely aware of the pain and suffering but felt helpless - my Ma prayed in the kitchen every night for those on both sides , sometimes I’d hear her trying to stifle her crying ., sad , sad days .Thank you again for these posts.
Jim
Jim10/8/23
Thankfully we don't have those numbers today. The names of all those that died during the conflict should be recorded and put on a Peace monument in the centre of Belfast and Derry/Londonderry 🙏.
Huggy
Huggy7/4/23
Gosh they are all so young Gwen. It is just heartbreaking. I often wonder how their families have survived with such horrendous loss in their lives.
Jackie
Jackie19/4/23
Keeping the memory alive- thank you so much 👏🔥
Jacqueline
Jacqueline31/10/23
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December 2023

Northern Ireland Conflict: Memorial/UnMemorial

6 Videos

Today, 6th December marks 25 anniversaries of loved ones killed or fatally injured during the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Mary Thompson (61)

Samuel White (32)

James Davidson (64) 

James Lochrie (19)

Sean Campbell (20) 

Terence Adams (20)

Alan Callaghan (17) 

Valerie McIntyre (21)

Patricia Cooke (21) 

Angela Hoole (19) 

Carol Watts (25) 

Ruth Dixon (17)

David Salthouse (23)

Paul Delaney (18) 

Neil Williams (18) 

Shaw Williamson (20)

David Stitt (27)

David Murray (18)

Clinton Collins (20)

Steven Bagshaw (21)

Philip McDonough (26)

Stephen Smith (24)

William Fleming (19) 

Daniel Doherty (23) 

Gary Moore (30) 

November 2023

Northern Ireland Conflict: Memorial/UnMemorial

31 Videos

Every day of the year marks the anniversary of someone’s death as a result of conflict in Northern Ireland. As I cross the Irish border, today 30th November, I remember 6 loved ones killed

on this date.

Gerard Gearon (22)

Noel Shaw (19)

Elizabeth Luney (36) 

Edward Taggart (19)

Sean Hagan (47) 

Mark Apsley (38)

October 2023

Northern Ireland Conflict: Memorial/UnMemorial

30 Videos

Every day of the year marks the anniversary of someone’s death as a result of conflict in Northern Ireland. Today, 30th October, I remember 16 loved ones killed  or fatally abducted on this date during the Troubles.

Norman Booth (22) 

Gordon Catherwood (44) 

Michael Meenan (16)

Eileen Kelly (6)

Stephen McCann (20)

Charles Corbett (22) 

John Maguire (56) 

Steven Mullan (20) 

Karen Thompson (19)

James Moore (81) 

Joseph McDermott (60) 

Moira Duddy (59) 

John Moyne (50) 

John Burns (54) 

Victor Montgomery (76) 

Charles Folliard (30) 

September 2023

Northern Ireland Conflict: Memorial/UnMemorial

30 Videos

Every day of the year marks the anniversary of someone’s death as a result of conflict in Northern Ireland. As I cross the Irish border, today, 30th September, I remember 16 loved ones killed or who disappeared on this date during the Troubles.

David Murray (49)

Patricia McKay (20) 

Francis Lane (23) 

John Kelly (43) 

Thomas Rudman (20) 

Patrick McKee (25)

James Gillen (21)

Joseph Lynskey (45) 

Ralph Laverty, (55) 

John Cameron (57) 

James Taylor (23)

Robert Shields (44)

Gerard O’Neill (28) 

Martin Peake (17) 

Karen Reilly (18)

Harry Black (27) 

August 2023

Northern Ireland Conflict: Memorial/UnMemorial

34 Videos

Every day of the year marks the anniversary of someone’s death as a result of conflict in Northern Ireland. As I cross the Irish border, today, 31st August, I remember 14 loved ones killed or fatally injured on this date during the Troubles.

Clifford Loring (18)

Patrick Devenney (27) 

Eamon McMahon (19)

Patrick Mulvenna (19) 

James Bryson (25) 

Joseph Reid (46)

William Smith (28)

Wallace Allen (49) 

Martin Vance (33)

Sean Dalton (54) 

Sheila Lewis (60)

Gerard Curran (57)

Francis Crawford (57)

Sean McDermott (37)

July 2023

Northern Ireland Conflict: Memorial/UnMemorial

31 Videos

The 31st July, marks 24 anniversaries of loved ones killed or fatally injured as a result of the conflict in Northern Ireland.

Daniel O’Hagan (19)

Daniel Hegarty (15) 

Seamus Bradley (19)

Kathryn Eakin (8) 

James McClelland (65)

David Miller (60)

Elizabeth McElhinney (59)

Joseph McCloskey (38) 

William Temple (16) 

Rose McLaughlin (52)

Joseph Connolly (15)

Arthur Hone (38) 

Fran O’Toole (27) 

Wesley Somerville (34) 

Harris Boyle (22)

Tony Geraghty (23)

Brian McCoy (33) 

Thomas Cush (52) 

George Walsh (51)

Thomas Harpur (30)

Peter Doherty (36) 

John Judge (34)

Joe Bratty (33) 

Raymond Elder (32)

Music Credit: @myuusic

June 2023

Northern Ireland Conflict: Memorial/UnMemorial

30 Videos

Every day of the year marks the anniversary of someone’s death as a result of conflict in Northern Ireland. As I cross the Irish border, today, 30th June, I mark the anniversaries of 5 loved ones killed on this date as a result of the Troubles.

Oliver Eaton (42)
Bernard Coyle (17)
James Keelan (34)
John Beckett (47) 
Gary Meyer (36) 

Music Credit: @myuusic

May 2023