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Blackstaff Community Week

RUBY MURRAY

TRIBUTE CONCERT

REPORT ON THE RUBY MURRAY TRIBUTE CONCERT BY TIM MURRAY (Son of Ruby Murray).

On Friday 11th of May 2012 my dad Bernie, my sister Julie and I sang together on stage for the first time ever at a gig in Belfast. A personal achievement and special moment that we will cherish and are very grateful for. The show was put on at the Fane Street Primary School where my mum went as a little girl. Along with ourselves some of the talented local people performed various things associated with Ruby Murray and everyone seemed to love it. One of the highlights was three actors who very kindly came along and performed an excerpt from the play "Ruby". They were fantastic and to top it off it turned out that one of them was the son of the plays author Marie Jones..

Everyone did a great job, the local performers, the guys who gave their time to provide and monitor the sound system and musical accompaniment and in particular the organizers who not only pieced the whole thing together financially but did everything from publicity, ticket sales, banners, seating arrangements, manning the doors, teas and biscuits, filming the show, looking after a very nervous Murray family, schedule fag breaks, provide a taxi service, to singing on stage themselves and even comparing the whole show. Nice one Eleanor! I have to say though the local kids and teenagers singing and dancing to mums songs was really moving. not only because of their ability and the synchronicity of the occasion, but the realization of what Ruby Murray had really achieved and how the beauty of music can and will transcend life's hardships. In that moment there were no politics, no boundaries and not even a generational divide. Don't you love music?!

The show was to help raise awareness of a project run by one of a handful of women's groups in what's known as "The Village" which is where my mum was born and grew up. "The Village" is one of the areas in Belfast that has experienced more than its fair share of trauma and heartache through and since "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland. Added to that is a harsh economic environment which continues to have a devastating impact and leave good people and a proud community in need of support. As part of a rejuvenation plan a lot of the old terrace streets, including Moltke Street where mum grew up, are being replaced by new housing and facilities. Some of the residents would like to rename a street or name the new park in honor of Ruby Murray as a dedication to one of a number of famous or successful people from the area. We were welcomed by the women's group and shown round the building they use to offer support to the community, particularly the women. Out of nothing they had built a center that provides educational opportunities, vocational courses, a meeting place, a crèche, a tiny library with books donated by local people and even a massage therapy room. On top of that they had just completed plans for a new building as part of the redevelopment. Most importantly however it was clear to me that they offered a safe space of compassion and understanding to people trying to survive in a world that has very little of it. It was amazing to see what had been achieved with virtually no financial support or political will and it was only when I met the women involved that I was reminded how it's possible that a handful of dedicated people can make such a difference against all the odds, it's because they care. I am humbled and to a large degree my faith in humanity is restored. Thank you for that ladies!

Progress on the project as a whole is very gradual which is understandable as along with the hope of rejuvenation comes the difficulties of change. But on behalf of my dad, my sister and myself we would be thrilled to know that in some small way mum's achievements could help restore a sense of dignity and pride in the city she was born in and the people she loved very much.

With love
Tim Murray