Documentary series on ‘Memories of the Big Houses’ in Westmeath released
A three-part documentary about life in and around the ‘Big Houses’ of Westmeath has recently been released on Westmeath County Council social media channels.
“Big Houses were the homes of local landlords and were often part of large estates”, says county Heritage Officer, Melanie McQuade.
“The owners of these houses and adjoining lands employed many people and the documentary explores life in and around these houses from the perspective of both the resident families and those who worked there, with a focus on the years 1916-1923”.
Last summer, film makers Bailey and Blake Productions invited people to share family memories and stories about life in the Big Houses of Westmeath.
“Responses trickled in and many other people were contacted, but unfortunately the age of those who would have had first hand stories given to them by parents who worked from 1913-1923 is quite advanced and sadly many people who would have had such stories had passed,” says Oliver Fallen of Blake and Bailey Productions.
“However, we recorded over 21 interviews with people who had memories from different houses and we filmed on location at some of these Big Houses. Archived interviews and newspaper articles were also valuable sources of information.”
The three-part documentaries were released weekly on Westmeath County Council YouTube from December 28. Part one – ‘A last Taste of Luxury’ – explores life inside the Big House, particularly under the stairs and looking at those who worked there. It features Tullynally Castle, Belvedere House, Daramona House and others. Part two – ‘The World Changes’ – looks at the beginning of the end of the dominance of the Big House and growth of new jobs and opportunities outside domestic service.
Part three, ‘A Different Country’, is being released on Monday next, January 10. This episode looks at the end of the Big House and covers agitation and incidents of the IRA in the various houses – there are stories from Tullynally Castle, Moydrum and Torr or Tore House.
“We really enjoyed meeting people and filming around Westmeath and would like to thank all those who took part in the process,” says Oliver Fallon.
The documentaries were funded by the Decade of Centenaries Programme of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, in partnership with Westmeath County Council. The project has also created an archive, which will be given to Westmeath Libraries for future reference and research.