Community groups join forces

The project offered 12 young people the opportunity to break down the barriers they felt existed between young people in Gilford and Laurencetown.

Following a fun morning spent at Lurgaboy Adventure Centre the group worked with Tides Training to explore perceptions, then on day two they physically mapped out both areas and discussed the ‘invisible’ boundaries that existed.

The week ended with a trip to Dublin to experience some of the sites visited by Queen Elizabeth on her trip to Ireland. These sites included Kilmainham Gaol, Islandbridge War Memorial Gardens and Arbor Hill and Glasnevin cemeteries with emphasis placed by tour guides on the ‘shared history’ between unionist and nationalist communities.

The project will finish in the autumn with two community projects to be designed and carried out by both groups in each other’s areas.

The project was funded by PEACE III under the Investing in our Future priority, DSD Areas at Risk programme and Laurencetown Lenaderg and Tullylish Community Association.