Creggan celebrated at 70th anniversary photographic exhibition

A photographic exhibition merging the old Creggan with the new has been launched to celebrate the area’s 70th anniversary.

The exhibition, which was launched last Thursday, is being showcased at the offices of Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership, known to many locals as ‘the old Corn Beef Tin’.

The exhibition is a mixture of images, pictures and moving images that celebrate both the past and present of Creggan.

Shauna Deery, Manager of Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership, told the Derry News a bit about the project.

“Today we launched, as part of Creggan’s 70th Anniversary, the Creggan Past and Present Photographic Exhibition.

“We had 10 young people and 10 adults take part in researching old pictures and taking new pictures and using digital media, they morphed them together. Theres a blend of both in the one picture and we worked with Hive Studios, based in the Rath Mór Centre, to do that.”

Debbie Lamberton took part in the project and said it has given her an interest in pursuing further digital and graphic projects and work.

“I did one of the images of where I live now, Linsfort Drive, which is an old and a new photograph embedded in one and the second one was on the New Road with a double decker, new and old, and the third one was the Creggan Shops.

“To get the chance to even learn to do this was a great opportunity; I’m looking into doing something now to do with digital and graphic work.”

Liam McMonagle said that the project had made him nostalgic about his life growing up in Creggan.

“We took the pictures of old and the pictures of new and combined them both together, capturing both the new and old,” he said.

“It was pretty surprising the finished effect when you look at the old with the new.

“I remember some of the pictures from growing up here from the old through to the new. It brought back memories.”