FLAC online archive
FLAC unveiled its online archive at the Third Dave Ellis Memorial Lecture on 1 December 2009. Launched by journalist Colin Murphy, the archive will host audio and video files from across FLAC's work.
40 years of FLAC
The first project was a podcast, prepared by Colin Murphy, from interviews in April 2009 with FLAC founders, staff and volunteers throughout its history. You can also listen to some shorter clips taken from the same series of interviews.
Podcast:
FLAC at 40 - about 19.5 minutes in duration. Voiceover by Colin Murphy.
Shorter clips:
- One of FLAC's founders, Judge Vivian Lavan, speaks about the key role played by the Gay Byrne Show in FLAC's infancy.
- Another founder, DCU Chancellor David Byrne, describes FLAC's early clientele.
- Ercus Stewart SC talks about the casework he took on as a volunteer in the 1970s.
- A seasonal tale of FLAC centres work from the Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness.
- Solicitor Pol O Murchu explains how he worked as a FLAC volunteer lawyer in the 1970s.
- Former FLAC Administrator Gerry Durcan SC outlines the sheer volume of cases handled by FLAC in its first decade.
- Bill Shipsey SC, former FLAC Chairperson, talks about FLAC pickets and strikes in the early years.
- Staff member Paul Joyce explains how debt law reform became a central issue for FLAC.
- Board member Liam Thornton draws parallels between FLAC's student roots and the current crop of student activists.
- Ruth Dowling BL speaks about the important human rights work being done in FLAC centres by volunteer lawyers today.