Correspondences: An Anthology to Call for an End to Direct Provision

by Stephen Rea (Editor), Jessica Traynor (Editor)

Correspondences is an anthology that pairs writers, photographers and visual artists in the direct provision system with Irish artists and writers.

107 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Stephen Rea is an Irish film and stage actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for The Crying Game (1992).

Reviews

[Niamh · Rating 4 out of 5]

"and remember that on both ends
of all this all this infrastructure there are only humans;
it is us that's doing this."
Like many people in Ireland I have been aware of the problem of direct provision and the need for radical change. But this book reminds us not only of the stories those who are asylum seekers but also remind us that we have been here before as Irish women had similar experiences in Australia and yet we have committed the same mistake again. And we can blame the system but this system isn't that old and it is not an entity in itself, we are behind it.
So I would encourage you to read this book slowly to really listen to the stories and fight to end direct provision.

[Robbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rough and ready set of heartbreaking pieces of writing from refugees who have found themselves in the Irish direct provision system, as well as critiques of Ireland as a country teetering on the line between the right side of history, and perpetuating the past onto a new group of oppressed. I think this collection achieves its purpose of platforming the unheard voices of those who are often treated like a problem to be solved, whether that is by right-wing thugs or a well-meaning civilians who may be reading this book, and the book is a great entry point for those who may not know much about the direct provision system. That being said, a weaker and somewhat egregious element of the book is the pieces provided by locals piling platitudes onto refugees who have just described a traumatising journey to be met with “you’re so brave <3”. That being said, the most striking pieces are those that are plain and honest, mostly by those who lived in provision centres, and the pieces of condensation and duality by natives.

My highlights were:
- Note to Self by Sarah Clancy
- Never Again by Donatien Francis
- Repeating the Mistakes of the Past by Emilie Pine
- Visual Arts by Hina Khan
- Songs of Innocence, Songs of Experience by Batur Nadir
- Up The Hill In Mayo by Owodunni Mustapha
- What’s in a Name & Endless Summer by Rehan Ali & Ian Maleney