Oral history project sheds light on links between Argentina and Irish midlands

Thomas Lyons

The centuries old links between the midlands of Ireland and Argentina took centre stage in Mullingar Library at an event to mark the culmination of a unique history project.

Her Excellency Ana Laura Cachaza, Ambassador of Argentina, was on hand as Westmeath and Longford County Councils jointly celebrated the completion of an oral history project focusing on the story of emigration to Argentina.

The project saw volunteers from both counties share stories about relatives who emigrated to ‘The Argentine’. Funded by the Heritage Council and run by the Heritage Office and the Archives Service in Longford and the Heritage Office in Westmeath, this project captured powerful, personal stories from local families whose roots stretch from the heartlands of Westmeath and Longford all the way to Argentina.

Through conversations recorded by Adrian Roche of The History Trail, memories once shared only around kitchen tables are now preserved in the archives of both local authorities. Mr Roche is an experienced oral history consultant, and he carried out interviews with groups of people from the two counties.

At the Mullingar Library gathering, Ambassador Cachaza presented each participant with a copy of their interview during the evening event. For a century from the 1820s onwards, people from both counties, and other parts of Ireland, emigrated to Argentina, and many succeeded in farming or business. The Longford Westmeath Argentina Society are active in keeping alive awareness of this story.

“As chairperson of the Longford Westmeath Argentina Society, I am absolutely delighted to be here with you all today,” Una Byrne said as she welcomed guests. “These stories are the threads that connect past, present and future. Recording our stories is not simply about preserving them, it’s about understanding who we are.

“We weave together memory, identity and belonging. We are deeply grateful to the Heritage Council and both Longford and Westmeath County Councils for their support in making this project possible.”

Ms Byrne said the project is a unique resource: “The stories we celebrate today remind us that heritage is not something distant or forgotten; it’s a living memory, carried on in families, in communities and in the bonds between places. This journey did not end in the past, it continues today and will continue into the future.”

Addressing the gathering, Ms Cachaza said she was delighted to participate in an event acknowledging “the many historic bonds between the two countries”.

“The tens of thousands of Irish who emigrated to Argentina during the 19th century, and the descendants of those Irish, are now more than half a million Argentinians who can claim Irish roots.

“This Irish history project adds to this history,” Her Excellency said. “To hear these stories from the descendants of those who emigrated to Argentina, not only tells the history of these people, but how this history shaped families, and that is why this bond is so alive.”

Adrian Roche of The History Trail outlined his part in the process of recording the histories: “The aims of the project were to capture and preserve reflections and stories of 10 people, five from Westmeath and five from Longford, to gather stories from family members who had emigrated to Argentina several generations ago.

“I was able to interview a group of three and four together, so that adds a few extra stories. More than 30,000 people emigrating from this area, so this is just a part of that history. There are still many stories to be discovered here,” Mr Roche said.

In her address, the chairperson of the Longford Westmeath Argentina Society thanked many of the other people who supported the project: “I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Melanie (McQuade, heritage officer) and Martin (Fagan, archivist) from Westmeath County Council and to Martin (Morris, archivist) and Mairead (Ní Chonghaile, heritage officer) from Longford County Council. Your dedication and commitment have turned an idea into a reality.

“I would also like to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of oral historian Adrian Roche from History Trail. His expertise, his care and his professionalism have helped ensure that these stories are preserved with respect and public history.

“I would especially like to welcome your Excellency Ana Laura Cachaza, Ambassador of Argentina and Deputy Head of Mission, Minister Nicolas Vidal,” Ms Byrne concluded.

The interviews will now be deposited in the archives of the two councils and will remain an important sources for present and future research.