The ERNE Project

Stories from the island, about the island

Short documentaries on recent stories from Ireland's contested places. Each film takes one place and one dispute, shows how it came to this, and hears from the people on both sides.

Subscribe on YouTube See the first film

Episode 1

Garvaghy
Road

Drumcree and Portadown, Co. ArmaghAbout 10 minutesComing soon to YouTube

This year, for the first time in 28 years, the Parades Commission allowed the Orange Order's Portadown District to return from Drumcree church along the Garvaghy Road, now a mainly Catholic and nationalist area. On 27 September, protesters blocked the road. After almost two weeks of stand-off, the Secretary of State banned the parade, and the dispute moved into the courts.

The film follows how this year's stand-off came about, with just enough of the 1990s to explain why one road still matters so much, and asks both the Orange Order and the residents to tell it in their own words.

Later in the series

Planned films. Titles may change.

  • Casement Park

    West Belfast

    2024

  • Lough Neagh

    Shared by five counties

    2023

  • The Soldier F trial

    Bloody Sunday, Derry

    2025

  • The sea border

    Larne, Co. Antrim

    2021

  • Irish-language street signs

    Belfast

    Ongoing

Further back

Possible history episodes for later.

  • Holy Cross 2001
  • The Battle of the Bogside 1969
  • Burntollet 1969
  • The Hunger Strikes 1981
  • The Donegal Corridor 1941
  • The Border Campaign 1956

About the project

The Erne Project was started by a second-year Politics and International Studies student at Ulster University, from a wish to hear the disputes shaping this island told by the people living through them.

Each film takes one place and one dispute, asks both sides to speak, and is short enough to start a conversation rather than end one.

It is an independent project, not affiliated with or endorsed by Ulster University.

Follow the series

Get an email when a new film is out.