Cllr Frank McBrearty, Mayor Donegal County Council, Cllr Thomas Kerrigan, Chairman Strabane District Council with children from Castlederg, Lifford and Raphoe pictured in front of the 'Breaking down Barriers' arts sculpture which is in place at Castlederg Castle site. The educational and fun day which took place on Friday 19th October in Castlederg and was supported by the Reconciliation through the Riverine Autumn School brought together numerous visual and drama arts projects that had taken place in schools and youth organisations in the Castlederg and Donegal areas.
The Mayor of Donegal Frank McBrearty has thanked all those involved in the inaugural Riverine Autumn School, which took place from the 12th to the 19th October in the wider Lifford and Strabane area.
The Riverine Autumn School was hosted by community, voluntary and sports groups from the area and was led by Donegal County Council. The Autumn School was supported by the International Fund for Ireland.
The Autumn School involved the communities of Strabane, Lifford and the wider hinterland, coming together, and hosting events that showcased the shared history of the area through drama, sport and the arts. It is hoped that it will become an annual festival.
The showcase of the Autumn School was the Flann O’Brien Literary Festival which celebrated the life and work of Brian O’Nolan who was born on the 5th October 1911 in Strabane.
Both a novelist and satirist he is well known for his works including An Béal Bocht and his columns in the Irish Times under the name Myles na gCopaleen.
Other events included Literary and Heritage walks around Strabane and Lifford, fishing on the local river, an afternoon tea dance in Killygordon and themed workshops covering local history and the peace process both in Strabane and Lifford.
Winston Patterson, Board Member of the International Fund for Ireland, congratulated everyone involved on the success of the Autumn School. He said, “the Fund is delighted to be supporting the community involvement element of the Reconciliation through the Riverine project. It is very important that this project had the support and involvement of the two communities and the number and variety of events and groups involved in the Autumn School is evidence that this is the case.”
Mayor McBrearty said: “It was amazing that over twenty different events took place as part of the first ever Riverine Autumn School and the diversity of those events is what contributed to its overall success.
“I wish to thank all those groups who assisted both Donegal County Council and Strabane District Council in making the Autumn School a reality. I hope you will review the success of your event and look to build on it for next year to help establish the Autumn School as an annual event.
“Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the International Fund for Ireland for the continued support and commitment to this area and the Reconciliation through the Riverine project.”
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