Father Des Wilson was living and working in West Belfast since 1966. He died on 5th November 2019 aged 94.

In 1975 he was assigned to Ballymurphy, one of the most impoverished and demonised areas of the city. For forty years he has drawn inspiration from the community around him. In turn he has inspired and supported many people to develop their own responses to the many social, economic and political crises confronting the community.

As he writes: “one way to understand what happened in the north of Ireland is to think of a constant creation of alternatives by people in crisis. They created alternative education, alternative welfare, alternative theatre, broadcasting, theological and political discussion, public inquiries and much else. They also created at various times alternative police and alternative armies. The authorities who had power over these in the past were and still are engaged in an equally constant struggle to regain total control of them. With only limited success, fortunately.”

No wonder Father Des is often referred to as ‘the people’s priest’.

In this book, Father Des tells his own story of conviction, of becoming a priest and how his training did and did not prepare him for the many battles that lay ahead – battles with the church hierarchy, with government officials, with media, with politicians and with bureaucracy. He talks about the educational and economic development projects that are so central to his beliefs about improving the human condition and to demonstrating his faith in action. He also writes about the personal struggles that he has had to face, including coping with cancer.

Father Des may have been the bane of the authorities but he was much loved by the people. Through this book, everyone can now understand why.

All proceeds to Springhill Community House.