Father Des Wilson

Father Des Wilson

Rugadh agus tógadh an tAthair Des Wilson in Ard Mhacha Theas agus bhog sé go Béal Feirste agus é go fóill ina ghasúr óg. Bhí cónaí air ar Bhóthar Ormeau i nDeisceart na cathrach. Ó oirníodh é mar shagart, tá Des ag cur faoi agus ag obair in Iarthar Bhéal Feirste ón bhliain 1996. Nuair a bhí sé i mbun oibre le muintir Bhaile Uí Mhurchú, ceann de na ceantair is boichte agus is droch-chlúití i mBéal Feirste, tháinig coimhlint idir é féin agus Údaráis na heaglaise toisc gur labhair sé amach maidir le cúrsaí bhochtannais is neamhionnanais sa cheantar. Ba dhuine de na ceannródaíthe a d’eagraigh an chéad féile de chuid phobal an Uachtair Chluanaí é agus a d’fhorbair ‘The People’s Theatre’ le deis a thabhairt do mhuintir na háite iad féin a nochtadh le linn aimsir na coimhlinte. Ar a bharr seo, bhí sé lárnach sa bhunú de Mhuillean Mhic Con Mhidhe mar fhiontar phobail agus ionad oideachais agus chomh maith leis seo bhunaigh sé Teach Springhill mar chroílár an phobail a chuireann oideachais do dhaoine fásta, seiribhísí comhairleoireachta agus leigheas malartach ar fáil.

 

Father Des Wilson was born and raised in South Armagh and moved to Belfast as a child where he lived on the Ormeau Road area of South Belfast. Having been ordained as a priest, Des has been living and working in West Belfast since 1966. When he went to work in Ballymurphy, one of the most impoverished and demonised areas in Belfast, he soon came into conflict with the Church authorities for speaking out against poverty and inequality in the area. A key organiser of the original Upper Springfield community festival in 1973, Des would later develop the People’s Theatre to give expression to local people during the military/political conflict. Having been instrumental in establishing the Conway Mill and a community enterprise and education centre, he also established Springhill House as a community hub providing adult education, counselling services and alternative therapies.