TV3 FOCUSES ON THE FORGOTTEN IRISH

TV3 GROUP RELEASE
IMMEDIATE: Wednesday 30th September 2009

TV3 FOCUSES ON THE FORGOTTEN IRISH

The Forgotten Irish is a brand new two part TV3 documentary series telling the stories of the Irish men and woman who took the boat to England, in search of work in the forties and fifties.

In the decade following World War II, hundreds of thousands of Irish men and women migrated to Britain, as economic circumstances forced them to leave their families and communities. Taking the boat to England in search of work, most of them worked as casual labour on building sites. They built the motorways and the London Underground and cleared and rebuilt bomb-damaged towns. Many others worked on the land, in domestic service and in healthcare.

In spite of the enormous contribution they made to Ireland in her darkest days, many of these elderly & vulnerable Irish people are now living in poverty, and are truly The Forgotten Irish. This series will tell their story. It is an intimate and simple series that will document the lives and loneliness of some of these people.

TV3 Director of Programming, Ben Frow said: “The forgotten Irish have for too long been neglected by Irish society. It’s only right that TV3 should draw attention to the emotional and financial sacrifices that these people made and are still making on behalf of their families and their country.”

Chairman of the Ireland Funds, Hugo McNeill said: “I would like both to congratulate and to thank TV3 for producing a superb series on a subject that touches so many people both here and in Britain. In 2007 the Ireland Fund of Great Britain launched the 'Forgotten Irish' campaign to actively support many of those most in need of help. The campaign has to date given over Stg500,000 to nearly 50 organisations helping the 'Forgotten Irish' with a significant amount of the money raised here in Ireland.”

ENDS.

The Forgotten Irish – Thursday 1st October and Thursday 8th October at 9pm on TV3!

For Further Information:
Maureen Catterson
TV3 Press Office
00 353 1 419 3430 / 00 353 87 780 0737
Maureen.catterson@tv3.ie
publicity@tv3.ie
www.tv3.ie

Notes to Editor

Episode 1: Birmingham
The first programme in the series, set in Birmingham, deals with the story of the men. We meet four men who encapsulate the stories of that generation of men who immigrated to England after the war. Each of the four are very different characters who tell very honest, touching and at times harrowing stories about their way their lives unfolded. Patrick Brogan - originally from Co Tyrone - tells the story of his work on the building sites and how he fell on hard times but has rebuilt his life and now hopes to return to Ireland. Jim Shanahan from Waterford, is now off the drink and moves into new accommodation. We follow him back to Ireland as he surprises his family with a visit 20 years after his last trip. Bill McGraynor talks about his time in industrial schools and how he fled to England to escape the shame. And Mick O’Neill reveals how he left Dublin and has now carved out a successful life in the pub trade.

The Forgotten Irish in the UK- some statistics

· The Forgotten Irish Report is the first study to be conducted on a national basis, focussing on the fifty-plus age bracket

· The Irish population in Britain is an ageing one, with startlingly high numbers in the pre-retirement age group (50- 59 for women, 50-64 for men) MISI’s (Middle Aged, Inactive, Sick & Isolated)

· It is estimated that over 40 % of Survivors from Institutional Abuse emigrated to the UK.

· Rates of male suicide, attempted suicide and undetermined deaths for Irish people in the UK are around 40% higher than for the English and Welsh population Irish people are disproportionally concentrated in some of the most deprived parts of Britain; areas marked by the worst health, social and economic disadvantage and crime.

· Areas such as North Wales, Kent and Peterborough with significant Irish populations have no local Irish community organisations.

· The regional analyses show large numbers of people above pension age needing support and a significant 50 + population who could benefit from preventative services

Yorkshire and the Humber – Series did some filming in Leeds

· There are over 40,000 people born in Ireland living in the Yorkshire and Humber area, with over 18,000 of these aged over 50. At least 3,400 Irish pensioners live alone in this area with 8,000 Irish people over the age of 50 who have a limiting long term illness.

West Midlands - Series did some filming in Birmingham

· There are over 76,000 people born in Ireland living in the Wet Midlands area, with over 45,000 of these aged over 50. At least 9,000 Irish pensioners live alone in this area with 19,100 having a limiting long term illness

London - Series did some filming in London

· 195,100 people in London were born in Ireland with over 99,400 Irish people are aged over 50. 19,700 of Irish pensioners live alone in London with over 38,000 of over 50’s having a limiting long term illness