Memory man Joe Graham

Belfast born, bred and buttered memory man BY CAROLINE SMITH

Belfast has always been a city that was easily misunderstood. Not least during the difficult years of the Troubles, the richness of its language and stories – in addition to the beauty of its surrounding landscape – was obscured by the decades-long news reports of violent struggle and death. Since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, there has been greater opportunity for people outside the city (and Northern Ireland generally) to discover its unique culture, with Belfast growing as a tourist spot and a site for creative endeavours, not least the filmmaking associated with projects such as The Game of Thrones. However, even before this political change was in the wind, there were some who were already working to collate and promote Belfast history and stories, not only for local people, but those further afield. One such figure was Joe Graham, whose death in December 2021 brought the end of an illustrious career at the helm of historical magazine Rushlight: The Belfast Magazine. Inspired by the stories told by his own father about local history – in addition to his own research – Joe founded the publication in 1972, during the heart of the Troubles. Speaking with his grandson (also named Joe) allowed for some reflections on how the magazine developed, including a childhood trip which had inspired its name. “My grandfather developed an interest in history at a young age. As a child, his father would take him on bicycle rides all over County Antrim teaching him of the local history,’’ Mr Graham said. “It was on one of these excursions when he was just twelve years old, that he and his father visited the grave of James Hope from the Society of United Irishmen, who was buried right beside his son Luke Hope. “One word from Luke Hope’s grave caught my grandfather’s eye and that was ‘Rushlight’... Luke St Hope had published a paper called the Rushlight in the 1820s, though it only lasted 41 editions with Luke dying a young man. In 1972, when my grandfather founded Rushlight, he named it so in memory of James Hope and his son Luke.’’ Another figure of importance was local writer Michael McLaverty – author of Call My Brother Back - who taught Joe Graham during his school years at St John’s Public Elementary School and later at St Thomas’ Secondary Intermediate School. “My grandfather would always speak with great fondness and pride of his time being taught by Michael McLaverty,” Mr Graham said. “Mickey’ as he and the other children would call him, encouraged him to express himself in the written word.” But at the very heart of the Rushlight project was a desire to record and retell the working-class history of Belfast and its people. “Sharing Our-story instead of His-story,” said Mr Graham. “From its birth, Rushlight aimed to present history in a truthful, warts and all way; protecting its integrity by being kept free of grants and funding.” These stories then, included recollections about the lives of Belfast hard men such as Stormy Weather and Silver McKee – who came from either side of the political spectrum but carried respect for one another, as well as journalist Barney Maglone (editor of the Morning News and then Irish News), and characters from the boxing world such as Terry Milligan and trainer George Scott. The magazine also carried columns about the history of different Belfast districts, replete

with photographs of key figures and events. And although the key focus was on Belfast itself, Joe Graham often journeyed to towns and sites across the province, writing about the hidden histories of each – particularly in relation to rebellions and repressions of local people. He endeavoured throughout to view these events from the perspective of people on either side of the political divide, often highlighting the religious persecution suffered by Protestant groups outside of Northern Ireland, as well as the experiences of his own Catholic community. The importance of ordinary – often working class – people was highlighted through Rushlight’s mention of local families in each area, and the contribution of ordinary people to the province’s (and city’s) main economic activities. Equally, readers were encouraged to participate by sending in their own photographs and information, making it a publication not only ‘for’ but also in part ‘by’ the people. Evidenced throughout Rushlight was Joe Graham’s own love for Belfast – including the Ballymurphy housing estate where he was born, and which he referred to as ‘God’s Little Acre’. Often, according to his grandson, this had led to his involvement in political developments, including the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. “He was present at Duke Street, Derry, on 5th October 1968 and at the Burntollet Ambush, on 4th January 1969,” said Mr Graham. “He was also a founding member of the Belfast & District Civil Rights Group, the Ardoyne Citizen’s Action Committee and the Belfast Housing Action Committee. “These groups were founded to address the need for the provision and improvement of housing in Catholic areas.” And although the histories recorded in Rushlight were definitively about Belfast and Northern Ireland, the magazine – which is now online – was sent all over the world, from Australia to the United States and Canada, according to Mr Graham. Reflecting on this, he also noted his grandfather’s receiving of the ‘Irish Hand’ award in 2002 for ‘continued and appreciated contribution of Rushlight Magazine to the

Irish communities in Belfast, Brompton, Canada, and around the world’. “People also contacted my grandfather throughout the years to find long lost family and friends, many of whom were successfully reunited thanks to the Rushlight,’’ he added. “Since he passed we have received hundreds of messages from people all around the world, from friends sharing their grief and condolences to readers sharing their memories and writers citing his influence...for many his legacy is the gift of his life’s work and research, the history that he preserved with truth and integrity.” Join Oliver McNerney Saturdays 3-5pm An eclectic mix of some of the all time great singers, past and present. Featuring Irish & Australian artists, country music, ANYTHING GOES VCA 88.5fm songs from stage & Hollywood musicals, and great Irish Showbands from years gone by Call Oliver on 9297 1088 or text requests to 0450 459 217 885fm.com.au Radio VCA is a not for profit local community station, and is run entirely by volunteers aged 18-80+