Views on how the Border affected people’s lives and particularly the closure of some roads have been expressed in a new project, “Border Roads to Memories and Reconciliation” which has been funded by the EU’s Peace III Programme.

Many of those who gave interviews have been invited to one of the many launch events of the interactive map and website.

In Fermanagh, this event took place recently in the Manor House Hotel, Killadeas with others being held in places such as Strabane, Buncrana, Ballyconnell, Clones and Clogher. More events are still to be held in Castleblayney, Belfast and Dundalk.

The project launched in September 2012, set out with the aim to provide an opportunity for residents along both sides of the Border to remember and express their feelings in relation to the closure of border roads and the impact it had on their lives.

Digital recordings have been made with people expressing the “segregation and marginalisation” that resulted in some cases. These are accompanied by newspaper reports and photographs taken at the time.

A spokesman stated: “The website, which has mapped all of the border roads, will create the legacy to this unique period in our island’s history and will contribute towards building trust and sustaining a stable society through the recognition and acknowledgement of these individuals as victims.” During the launch evenings, interactive booths were made available for those attending to view the interviews and explore the website.

Among those taking part in the project was Joe O’Loughlin from Belleek, who has been involved in business in the town for decades and now takes an interest in community life.

He lives on a small farm which is bisected by the Border. His grandfather purchased the farm where two-thirds of it is in Co. Donegal and a third in Fermanagh.

He recalls that since the Border was formed, cattle were always kept on the Fermanagh side while the portion in the Republic of Ireland was kept for meadows.

“The gates between the two pieces of land would have had to be locked in case of smugglers, “ he recalled.

Joe’s memories from the Second World War when he was growing up have been important to him as he has become interested in history of the time, especially with movements of the flying boats from RAF Castle Archdale.

The Project Manager for the project is Padraic Smyth, who has been involved in the community sector for over 10 years, working as a Development Worker on a number of Peace and Reconciliation funded projects in addition to five years employed by ‘Border Action’(now Pobal), directly supporting community and statutory organisations funded under the Peace and Reconciliation Programme all along the border region.

The project can be seen on the website; www.borderroadsmemories.com