Greater Linenhall celebrate Community Support through the Arts

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: Columba O'Hare; Category: News; Published: 06 May 2021

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The Greater Linenhall Area Community Association have officially launched their Arts and heritage project.

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Deaglan Finnegan, James Murphy, Charlie Murphy and Kayla McCabe try out the new bench for size. The bench is a tribute to all the NHS , frontline staff and Community Volunteers during Covid-19. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ieograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie — Deaglan Finnegan, James Murphy, Charlie Murphy and Kayla McCabe try out the new bench for size. The bench is the Association's tribute to all the NHS , frontline staff and Community Volunteers during Covid-19. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ieograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie

The launch took place at their community house yesterday 5 May when many of the young residents of the area dressed up for the occasion, joining Association members.

The project was funded by the Department for Communities through the Newry Neighbourhood renewal Partnership and managed by Newry Mourne and Down District council. The aim of the project was to help local communities develop art, heritage and culture activities to help engage with and reconnect their communities as we all move through the Covid-19 pandemic. Using the medium of art can help to address negative feelings and it challenges your creative side, engaging a more positive response and so help to improve your overall wellbeing.

Pictured at the launch of the Greater Linenhall Area Community Association's Arts and Heritage Project at their community house. Included are Karen Gracey, Department for Communities, Newry City Councillor, Cllr Charlie Casey; Kathleen Lowry, Chairperson of the Greater Linenhall association along with Association members and users. — Pictured at the launch of the Greater Linenhall Area Community Association's Arts and Heritage Project at their Community House. Included are Karen Gracey, Department for Communities; Newry City Councillor, Cllr Charlie Casey; Kathleen Lowry, Chairperson of the Greater Linenhall association along with Association members and users. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie

The community association working with adults and children from the community, developed a small community space by cleaning the area at the front of the Community house, adding plants and a bench with a plaque to recognise the sacrifice made by Community volunteers, frontline staff and the support from Statutory bodies that helped us all throughout the dark times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kathleen Lowry, Chairperson, Greater Linenhall Area Community Association with Karen Gracey, Department for Communities.

Local children played a key role in the project as they talked about the lockdown and missing friends and family. They also used different dress up costumes to highlight the support from our emergency services and hospital staff who made tremendous personal sacrifices at a time of great need.

Pictured at the launch of the Greater Linenhall Area Community Association's Arts and Heritage Project at their community house — Pictured at the launch of the Greater Linenhall Area Community Association's Arts and Heritage Project at their Community House

Kathleen Lowry, Chairperson of the Community association spoke of her tremendous pride in the project and in particular the local community, “We often forget the sacrifice that community volunteers make on a daily basis, but we must remember they are the driving force in local communities and they make a difference every day. We also recognise that we can’t do what we do without the funders and support agencies, so I want to thank the Department for Communites, the members of the Neighbourhood Renewal partnership, the N.I Housing Executive and Newry Mourne and Down District Council.”