From Oriel to Brexit

Delivered by Diversity Challenges

From Oriel to Brexit launched in August 2019. It was a cross-border programme using the arts (music, poetry, prose, theatre) to engage with the legacy of the past. It was made up of three main elements

1. Creative writing and photography for women only
2. Music workshops in primary schools
3. Theatre with participants from Bush post-primary school, Cooley, Co Louth.

The workshops aimed to encourage participants to express their views and feelings, via the Arts, on themes of home, place, identity, borders and boundaries - geographical, social, emotional and psychological.

Creative Writing and Photography

As part of this project, participants visited the film studios of the University of Ulster on St Brigid's Day 2021. There they read their creative pieces which was captured on film by Professor Declan Keeny.

A book of poetry, prose and photographs entitled In My Own Write was produced and published.  

Reimagining Songs and Music of the Oriel

This was a creative composition project in traditional music involving children from three primary schools located in the Cooley Peninsula and schools from Northern Ireland. 

Renowned musician Zoe Conway was the lead facilitator and coordinator of the project, working alongside guitarist John McIntyre as co-facilitator.

Theatre Element

These workshops were hosted by Kabosh Theatre company, Belfast. A play entitled Before You Go, written by Laurence McKeown was produced and performed. Due to Covid restrictions and in lieu of a live audience, the play was filmed and streamed over three nights in March 2021. It received viewership on over 1600 devices. 

A Q&A was conducted with an audience of 116 engaging.

Subsequently, Paula McFetridge (Artistic Director of Kaboosh) conducted special screenings and post-show discussions with a group of artists in Calcutta, a group of students in the University of Ulster, the Shankill Women's Centre, and with other community groups. 

The closing event was held in May 2021 where a film was shown which incorporated interviews with tutors and footage from the workshops and participants. The full video is available to view on Youtube.