00:00 James, tell us a wee bit about what we're doing today.
00:04 Well Michael, this is a follow up to the award of the blue plaque to Sean Hollywood in St.
00:11 Colmans College on the 12th of December last year.
00:15 And a very successful day, over 300 invited guests.
00:20 So we thought we'd just have a follow up today for about 40 people invited who were closely
00:29 involved with the project and that they would have time to have a chat, a cup of tea, because
00:36 really there were so many people there that day, a lot of people didn't get the opportunity
00:41 to network and have the conversations that they would have liked.
00:45 So Sean's family will be here obviously today and many of the people who were involved in
00:50 the project.
00:54 The Ulster History Circle were delighted that they accepted our nomination and you know
01:00 Sean is a very, very worthy recipient of his blue plaque.
01:05 Well you're a very important person in the recent history of Newry, why did you think
01:10 it was important to honour Sean in this way?
01:14 Well you know, as you say, the thing that struck me afterwards was that even 25 years
01:23 after his passing, the ambience that he generated in the college that day and the respect and
01:31 integrity in which he's held is absolutely fantastic.
01:38 I mean you've got to remember that this man was voted man of the century in Newry and
01:44 Moran back in 2000 with 46% of the vote and he's sort of all things to all people.
01:56 This is the fifth blue plaque that we brought to Newry and the four previous recipients,
02:02 while you know very, very worthy awardees of the honour, but they all received it for
02:11 a particular reason.
02:13 With the George Cross holders, it was their bravery, with the Towns of Ayr, Charles Blaney,
02:22 it was the legacy he has left in Newry, infrastructure, social housing etc.
02:27 Well Sean Hollywood is a different man altogether.
02:31 He was a, professionally he was a teacher, he was a civil rights leader, he was a politician,
02:40 founding member of the SDLP and then he was an actor, producer, sportsman and he excelled
02:49 in everything and really he would be, I would say he would be the most popular choice by
02:58 far so far.
03:00 As I say, all things to all men, a real all rounder.
