€100k IFI Funding for Omeath and Lislea Community Project

Funding of over €100,000 has been granted to a cross-border community initiative working to revive the language, culture and customs specific to the Oriel, an area within the South Armagh and North Louth border region.

The initiative is a partnership between Omeath District Development and Lislea Community Association and is supported by the International Fund for Ireland.

'Oriel Connects Us' is focused on building greater connections to support the language, song, dance, history and customs associated with this unique geographic region, through an immersive programme of cross-border activities.

The initiatives is part of an overall 18-month long project with funding of over €100,000 provided by the IFI under its Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP). The overall project is working with women from the South Armagh and North Louth border communities, bringing both together to explore commonalities and provide opportunities for collaboration and shared learning.

A key focus of the partnership is the revival of the language and culture, unique to the cross-border areas of Omeath, Lislea and further afield. Efforts are now underway to reawaken the cross-border connections through a bespoke programme looking at the survival of Irish into the 20th century; the song tradition of Oirialla; the study of placenames; story-telling tradition; in addition to the emergence of key enterprises focused on subsistence living. The impact of the Border on both communities will also be explored. 

The initiative was launched at the Dolmen Centre, Omeath with special guest Séamus Mac Dhaibhéid from Newry, a well-known local historian and advocate for the unique ties between both communities within this area. 

Speaking at the event Katy Hayward, Board Member of the International Fund for Ireland, said the project is an important milestone on the journey to reawaken the strong connections between both communities. "By looking into our past, we can reawaken and re-thread the commonalities that bring us together and which can help us to forge an even better future. Projects like these make such a significant contribution at grass-roots level to the connection between communities, helping to harness the creative strengths and talents and providing an opportunity to come together with a shared sense of purpose. I commend the work that has taken place to date and acknowledge the tremendous contribution of all project partners.”

Liam Hannaway, of Lislea Community Association, said: “We are delighted to rekindle a relationship with Omeath which was there 60 years ago. The programme will enable residents of our community of all ages to share our unique cultural connectiveness.”

Helen Thompson, of Omeath District Development CLG, said: “This programme is driven by two separate communities each with their own individual history who are enthusiastic about their shared heritage, place, language, poetry, music and song of the Oriel and this is timely as there is now a widespread reawakening of the Irish language.  

"Our heritage defines who we are, it is our unique identity, and this program allows us to preserve the Oriel heritage in all its forms and creative expressions to keep it alive for future generations, as once it is forgotten it is lost forever…..”