FOR many, the building of the new towns in Essex is enshrined in social and cultural history. Men from Tipperary, Clare, Kerry and all across the four provinces came to the county after the war and with the passing of the New Towns Act in 1947 came seeking work, living in camps and building the towns that you see now.
Many are now men in their seventies and eighties. Their passing is marked at funerals across the county and their roles are marked in emotional eulogies for these fathers.
So it came as something of a surprise and a little disappointing that a special display in the Thameside Theatre as part of Thurrock’s Heritage Month makes no mention of this special history.
Thurrock Council proudly boasted that this display reflected “the many diverse cultures in the county”.
The displays have separate banners for: The Polish Story, The Pakistani Story, The Gypsy-Roma Story, The Afro-Caribbean Story but no banner for The Irish Story!
A Thurrock Council Spokesperson said:
“Thurrock Museum, as part of its Heritage month booked the exhibition to support and celebrate diversity in principle.
“We are already in communication with Essex to say we can see the gaps as well and wish to work up some extra panels as the exhibition continues to tour the county.
We have flagged up Czechoslovakian / Bata for instance and something on just indigenous people’s experience. I think Irish navies at Tilbury Docks and others can and should be identified as being recognised in Thurrock.”
A member of the Irish community, Maria O’Sullivan said: “At one stage, 10% of the population of a town like Harlow was Irish. The second generation in the seventies and eighties were also the first generation to go to university.
“But people in councils in Thurrock and Essex should do well to remember that the signs: “No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs” are still seared in many people’s memories.”
YourThurrock went to visit the exhibition yesterday but it was closed.
Essex County Council did not respond to a request for a statement.
