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SLNRA Projects 2002 - 2003
SLNRA has over the past year sought to identify,
secure financial assistance and bring the following
projects to fruition for the benefit of the Loughshore
communities. Below is a brief description of projects
that SLNRA have been involved. Click on any of the
links below for more information.
Townlands Consultation
In March and April 2003 SLNRA hosted four consultation
workshops throughout the southern shores – Derryinver
& Derrytrasna, Maghery, Derrymacash and Aghagallon
to establish how rural communities would like to see
their local townlands promoted.
SLNRA were successful in our application to Craigavon
Borough Council’s Arts Development Grant Aid
2002-3 to carry out the consultation and funding was
utilized by involving the Armagh Rhymers , a renowned
mumming group who developed specially adopted entertaining
sketches relating to specific townlands of each of
the four areas.
Workshops included a slide presentation by Sustrans
(National Cycle Network) illustrating pieces of public
art and how they have been used to enhance the landscape
of other rural areas.
Participants at workshops were invited to complete
questionnaires compiled by SLNRA to record pertinent
information with regard to local townlands and local
perception of public art pieces being developed throughout
the Wetlands area. This project was extremely well
received by all individuals participating in the workshops
and has established the need for more similar events
to be organised by SLNRA as well as merit and support
for the Association in perusing a public art initiative
throughout the area, namely The Wetlands Sculpture
Trail .
SLNRA developed this project alongside affiliated
community groups to encourage greater participation
and local community ownership if we are to be successful
in establishing a Wetlands Sculpture Trail.
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Christmas Art Programme
SLNRA in partnership with Sarsfield’s Junior
Youth Club ran a 2 workshop outreach arts class involving
22 children. The children were given a task of decorating
Sarsfield’s community hall for the annual senior
citizens Christmas dinner with the assistance of a
local professional artist.
All decorations created highlighted the importance
of wildlife and mythology in the Lough Neagh Wetlands
around the festive season. Children were able to express
their creativity, learn about their local area help
contribute in a meaningful way to an event benefiting
the older members of their community.
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Summer Outreach Activities
Summer 2002 and 2003 SLNRA have been the main driving
force in developing and delivering week long programmes
for the youth of the area.
38 children participated in the ‘Stories &
Shadows’ event in 2002. Kaleidoscope provided
three artists who concentrated on shadow puppetry,
drumming and drama to interpret the myths and legends
of Coney Island.
‘Summer Arts in the Wetlands’ 2003 was
supported by Craigavon Borough Council and Millennium
Court Arts Centre. The second year of the outreach
programme saw an increase in participants to 47. Drama,
model making, photography, sound & film recording
were activities on offer for children to learn in
a fun way about the environment of the Wetlands.
Both events gave children the unique opportunity to
work alongside professional artists in their own environment
and have a chance to engage in activities they normally
would not have the opportunity to do.
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Non – Vocational Classes
SLNRA in partnership with Upper Bann Institute have
continued to run seasonal non-vocational classes :
Family Cookery and Keepfit.
SLNRA acknowledge that such outreach classes are run
for the benefit of the rural community who may experience
difficulties in assessing such services in urban areas.
SLNRA encourage individuals to participate in such
activities otherwise they will not continue to run
which will be to the detriment of our local communities.
12 community representatives from various local community
based groups availed of ‘Financial Training
for Community Groups’ organised by SLNRA and
delivered by Community Change. Training touched on
Charitable Status, Legal Responsibilities, Limited
Liability and Constitutional Business. Such training
not only benefited SLNRA staff and committee but helped
smaller community based groups to come to terms with
their responsibilities and provided assistance for
them to develop new skills and carry out work more
effectively.
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Community Fundays
SLNRA sought financial assistance from Craigavon Borough
Council and provided assistance to Derrytrasna Community
Group & Derrytrasna Inter Community Initiative
to run their 2nd Cross Community Funday and Derrymacash
Community Group & Clanbrassil Cultural Society
to establish the Derrymacash Community Cultural Festival
Day.
Both events were organised to promote and improve
relationships between both communities living in the
area as well as giving smaller groups experience in
project management and fundraising.
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Ramsar World conference
in Valencia
WETLANDS: Water, Life and Culture
Seán Convery attended the above conference
on the dates of November 21st and 22nd, 2002. This
visit followed correspondence between S. Convery and
the Ramsar bureau over the previous month.
S Convery met Mr. Tobias Salathe to discuss what
South Lough Neagh Regeneration Association and other
organisations were doing in relation to the Lough
Neagh Ramsar. This discussion raised many issues particularly
in relation to the recent attempt to reduce / alter
the Ramsar boundary as it applies to the south Lough
Neagh Wetlands. Further, Ramsar were of the opinion
that information on this Ramsar site was lacking somewhat
and that greater effort could be made towards protecting
the site. T Salathe welcomed our interest in promoting
and recognizing the Lough Neagh Ramsar. A document
on the south Lough Neagh Ramsar from the community
perspective was presented to Mr Salathe.
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