Belfast: 19 April 2024
The Phoenix family has been “overwhelmed” after appealing for material ahead of the launch of a new Foundation in memory of their father.
Mary-Alice Phoenix, Éamon’s daughter, said she has been inundated with people getting in touch with material and memories of their experiences meeting her the renowned historian and writer.
After registering the Dr Éamon Phoenix Foundation as a charity – with the aim of “promoting the study of history as a way of fostering a deeper understanding of the past” – the Phoenix family appealed on social media for relevant material relating to her father that people could send for use by the foundation, including articles, videos, photos, or stories.
“We have been overwhelmed with the response so far, and it has been really moving hearing people’s stories relating to him,” Mary-Alice told The Irish News.
“Many people have been in touch with material relating to his fantastic work during the Decade of Centenaries. Others sent photos from when they met him, or attended an event at which he was speaking, or told us how he inspired them.
“One of our aims is to have a digital library with much of dad’s work in it. We are still in the early stages, but plan to launch the website in the autumn.
She added: “Dad was known to many as the People’s Historian, and we want to pay tribute to that, by keeping his work alive for others to access.”
“He never lost his interest in people, whether he was speaking in a parish hall or an Orange hall, he always maintained that respect for them, and one of the things he was very passionate about was people celebrating their own history,” Mary-Alice said.
“He wanted people to have a sense of pride in their surroundings, and to learn about where they were from, and to see how such understanding can help people overcome barriers and promote reconciliation between communities. We hope to be able to continue that work in his memory as best we can in the years ahead.”
The renowned academic and author had a long association with The Irish News including writing its popular On This Day column for many decades.