Fairhill Youth Club unveils multimedia tribute to Maghera’s history

PICTURED ABOVE: At the Fairhill Youth Club “Faces and Places” exhibition are John Donnelly, Chairperson (back row, second left) and youth club members Conor Doherty (back left), Aoife Dooey (front left) and Aoife Connell (front right) alongside Sharon Crooks, NIHE Area Manager (front centre), Anne Marie Convery, NIHE Good Relations Officer, (back right), and project facilitators Fergal Hughes (back second right) and Ciara McGeown (front right)

Notable faces and places of Maghera have been immortalised through photographs, artwork, audio and the written word, thanks to a project by Fairhill Youth Centre, supported by the Housing Executive.

14 members of the youth club took part in the four-month project to interview local well-known characters, learn about the town’s history, and visit prominent local buildings.

The young people then developed a variety of artwork which was exhibited, along with accompanying audio, at an event at Fairhill Youth Centre on Monday 16th March.

John Donnelly, Chairperson at Fairhill Youth Club, said: “This was an excellent opportunity for young people to learn about and engage with where they live, and strengthen ties with each other and with their community. The project was led by the young people who chose the places they wanted to visit and translated their experience into pencil drawings, paintings and collage.

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“Thanks to creative experts Ciara McGeown and Fergal Hughes for facilitating the project, and to the Housing Executive for the funding which made it possible. We enjoyed welcoming the whole community together to celebrate the young people’s achievements and reflect on what makes Maghera a great place to live.”

Sharon Crooks, Area Manager for Mid Ulster at the Housing Executive, said: “This project enabled young people to engage more closely with their community, build relationships and skills, and increase their sense of belonging. It was fantastic to witness the culmination of this project at the exhibition and see how young people were inspired by the local places and faces of Maghera.”

Young exhibitor Jodie Muncey (right) is pictured with project facilitators Ciara McGeown (left) and Fergal Hughes (centre)

As part of the project, members of Fairhill Youth Club visited prominent local buildings such as Old Court House Maghera, St Lurach’s Old Church and Maghera Leisure Centre. They met local parish priest Father Paddy Doherty, and enjoyed learning about Maghera’s history through a talk by local historian Joseph McCoy.