Thriving Together Action Plan Bringing Communities Together

Work has started on a series of projects designed to make a significant and lasting contribution to peace and reconciliation across the district.

The projects that will be delivered across all Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Electoral Areas (DEAs) are part of the Council’s Local Action Plan’s Thriving Together initiative, which is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Projects in the co-designed plan enables and empowers local community partnerships to identify and deliver priority projects on a cross-community basis. 

The result will be improved, shared and inclusive local services, facilities and spaces, making a significant and lasting contribution to peace and reconciliation across the district, bringing together people from different socio-economic and community backgrounds. 

The Action Plan has been developed by the PEACEPLUS Partnership Board, with the process involving extensive engagement with local communities and key stakeholders, including statutory providers, public bodies, businesses and DEA Forums.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said, “The Thriving Together initiative, supported by PEACEPLUS and managed by the SEUPB, is bringing people across the district together.

“Residents will be making an invaluable contribution to their respective DEAs and a vibrant, exciting and wide-ranging programme has been drawn up. I am very much looking forward to seeing the outcome of the initiative,” he added.

In Crotlieve, registration has opened for a first aid training programme to equip people with practical, lifesaving skills to respond to emergencies, while an inspiring cultural programme combining workshops, guided visits and group writing sessions begins, with the ‘Voices of the Land, Poetry and Songs from Crotlieve’ initiative designed to deepen creative practice and discover the area’s rich heritage through shared learning and exploration.

Three events are planned for the Downpatrick DEA, beginning with a World Textiles Cultural Programme bringing together people from different backgrounds, with the aim of learning about textiles, fashion and costume traditions from different cultures, including local and global traditions.

The Port and Town History and Culture Programme will look at the heritage of the Quoile River and the development of Downpatrick, focusing on ‘what connects us’, dispelling myths and perceptions and providing understanding on how the past links the future, while the history of mental health care in the town focus on exploring the area’s shared mental health history, challenging stigma and uncovering overlooked narratives.

In the Newry DEA, workshops, talks and site visits will explore the history of the City’s canal and engineering, with an opportunity to learn about construction, key engineers and technical drawings through hands-on activities as part of the Newry Canal and Our Engineering Heritage initiative.

There will be a Capacity Building Events Training for Community Groups and a focus on the history of social housing in Newry and Mourne, with the Castles and Tower Houses of East Ulster and Louth project highlighting the rich network of medieval tower houses and the role they played in the history of the City.

In Rowallane, the Family History and Immigrations Project will explore the stories of families who shaped the region, tracing ancestral routes through local records, landscapes and long-standing community landmarks. Through guided research and on-site explorations and recording local stories, the project will connect personal histories with the cultural and environmental heritage of the area.

In Slieve Croob, the Martin Waddell Project will celebrate the work of the internationally acclaimed author from Newcastle whose stories have inspired generations and a man who drew much of his inspiration from the DEA. The project will use his works to engage the community, foster cross-community connections, promote literacy and encourage cultural exploration rooted in the local environment.

The Nature and Heritage in Harmony Programme aims to bring people in the Castlewellan area together through shared environmental, horticultural, biodiversity and celebrating local traditions.

In Slieve Gullion, the spotlight will be on three projects.

Together Empowering Abilities and Minds invites people to join a new capacity building programme, designed to support children with additional needs by inclusive play, sensory engagement and social interaction, while the Men’s Shed Podcasting Initiative brings shedders together to build practical, digital skills such as recording, editing and online promotion, while creating a safe space for open conversations about men’s health.

The Sacred Spaces: Chapels, Churches and Meeting Houses of Slieve Gullion project, explores the shared history and cultural significance of the area’s historic places of worship.

In The Mournes DEA, A Disability and Creativity Festival features creative workshops, accredited training and inclusive visits, culminating in a free public festival, while the History and Culture Programme, Exploring the past and future for Celtic Languages and Ulster Scots, focuses on ‘what connects us’, dispelling myths and perceptions and providing understanding on how our past links our future.

The Our Mourne Our Stories project, for those aged 50 and over, is a community story telling project celebrating shared heritage through interviews, workshops and film, with an opportunity to meet new people and build connections.

A new PEACEPLUS newsletter is published every two months, highlighting the wide range of projects being delivered throughout the district as part of the Co-Designed Action Plan,
providing residents with news on upcoming initiatives and opportunities they may wish to get involved in. To receive future newsletters email peace@nmandd.org and ask to be placed on the PEACEPLUS database, while for information on the (SEUPB) visit https://seupb.eu/PEACEPLUS