05/11/2009 -

Peace Building Through Arts

Two new projects that will address the heritage, history, culture, and the art of Sligo were launched by Tommy Gorman, RTE, NI Correspondent at a public event recently.

These two exciting projects are The Yeatsian Legacy which will explore cultural identity and The Legacy of Belief which looks at the history of Sligo as a garrison town. These projects will offer people of all ages and from all walks of life, the opportunity to participate in groups to discuss, learn and discover about our vibrant history in a way that is relevant to the present. Both projects involve talks, readings and community dialogue, cross-border exchanges, workshops with artists and a host of other activities between now and May 2010 and promise to be fascinating. Facilitors, well versed in their own fields will lead the groups in interactive workshops with everyone gaining knowledge.

The partners were privileged that special guest Tommie Gorman, RTE, NI Correspondent officially launched the projects. Mr. Gorman said this week that both initiatives seemed to be very worthy projects and something that he was delighted to be involved in. Mr. Gorman has always been enthusiastic about the benefits to community groups and individuals that such projects can make in reconnecting people with their local heritage and that both these projects will celebrate the cultural, political and historical heritage of our county. Mindful of our cultural heritage Gorman stated that “each one of us has a responsibility to ensure that change in our county is for the better and that as individuals can stand over “what happens on our watch” (Launch of Sligo County Council Heritage Plan).

The Project Launch was also attended by the Mayor of Sligo Cllr Jim McGarry and Cathaoirleach Cllr Gerry Murray.  The launch event gave people more information about the two projects and a sense of the planned programme of activities. Sligo County Council Arts Service is committed with Sligo Peace & Reconciliation Partnership Committee in promoting a new era of peace through bringing a diverse gathering of community groups, cultural organisations and individuals together.

Both projects are supported by EU PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Sligo County Council on behalf of Sligo Peace & Reconciliation Partnership Committee.

Further information on The Yeatsian Legacy and The Legacy of Belief can be accessed on the Sligo County Council website www.sligococo.ie.

For further information contact Helen O’Hara, EU Peace III Programme on 071 911 1827, hohara@sligococo.ie. 

Further Information

Participants involved in the Yeatsian Legacy project will explore cultural identity, and will share experiences and expressions of issues related to sectarianism and racism in Sligo, Omagh and Portadown and explore how this impacts on the identity of the county and region. Sligo County Council Arts Service, together with the programme partners including the Model, the Institute of Technology Sligo and the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh wish to examine our historic inheritance in the context of the development of the Gateway City and the broader cultural brand and identity within the county and region.

The Legacy of Belief project seeks to explore the impact of Anglo Irish Heritage in Sligo, the effects of Partition on Sligo and the Northern Ireland conflict in Sligo. This will be achieved through working interactively with groups looking at historical events of Sligo as a Garrison Town, working with historical and artistic groups in both Sligo and Derry. The project will promote an appreciation and acceptance of diversity and strive to achieve unity and an understanding of the shared experiences of citizenship. The first workshop in this project (evening meeting) is on the ‘History of Sligo and The Hill’ and is scheduled to take place on 2nd December in Sligo.