THE South Lough Neagh Regeneration Association (SLNRA) have been successful in securing funding under the Peace II programme Measure 3.1 through the Craigavon Local Strategy Partnership to deliver a Loughshore Cultural Educational Programme to the children from the six south loughshore primary schools.
Schools involved are: St. Mary’s, Derrymore; St. Patrick’s, Aghagallon; St. Mary’s, Derrytrasna; St. Patrick's, Derrymacash; Birches PS and St. Mary’s, Maghery.
The objective of this programme was to identify and promote awareness of local culture
s throughout the South Lough Neagh area and to promote diversity and cultural awareness to the young people of the loughshore area.
The children were able to sample a series of interactive multicultural music workshops during the programme using instruments such as the ‘Mbira’ thumb piano, ‘Djembe’ African drum, ‘Bodhrans’, ‘Marimbas’ wood soundboards and the ‘Ipu’ percussion instrument from Hawaii. Musicians who took part were from Africa, Portugal, Poland, Mexico, Iran, Slovakia, Belfast and Ardglass under the umbrella of beyond Skin Northern Ireland Organisation. The musicians worked with the children on the delivery of this programme.
SLNRA Development Officer Mary McAlinden said: “This was a fun way to involve school children in learning about the mix of musical culture within Northern Ireland.What made the workshops more enjoyable was that all children had an opportunity to play the instruments and join in with the musicians, thus creating a greater knowledge to play the instruments and join in with musicians, thus creating a greater knowledge of our community. All the children participated willingly and with great enthusiasm and the feedback I have received from teachers, parents and pupils has all been very positive.”
For more information please contact Mary McAlinden on 3885 2550.
The full article contains 292 words and appears in Lurgan Mail newspaper.
