Rathcoole residents share memories and stories

Nigel Dodds MP, Jim Holmes, Community Worker with Belfast City Mission, Finola Hunt and Karen McCartney from Education Matters and Pat Hutchinson, Chair of Rathcoole Churches Community Group at the Our Journeys exhibition. INNT 14-404-RM

The ‘Our Journeys’ exhibition was the culmination of several months of work coordinated by the Dunanney Centre and training consultancy Education Matters.

The programme brought together residents from Rathcoole and surrounding areas and included an accredited training programme in community relations and history workshops.

It also brought together local people, gathering their stories of how their families came to live in the area, their families’ journeys to the present day and their memories of Newtownabbey, North Belfast and beyond.

Manager of the Dunanney Centre, Vicky Moore, commented: “This has been a really successful and valuable programme for us.

“We have learned so much about local people, what matters to them and what has shaped the area.

“The area has experienced a lot of uncertainty over the years but the overall message is very positive and the outlook is bright.

“I think those taking part have really enjoyed it too; often memories are lost or changed with time if they aren’t recorded.”

The programme was funded by OFMDFM’s North Belfast Strategic Good Relations Unit.

• See more pictures from the exhibition in this week’s Times...