- Production on the road across the North West  Over 120 guests attended the Performing Arts showcase production of ‘Far Off Fields’ which took place yesterday at the Ship Gallery, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh.  Having already performed to audiences at the Alley and Balor Arts Centres, the ’Far Off Fields’ production is currently in the midst  of a comprehensive roadshow, touring schools and community groups across the North West region over the coming weeks.    The production forms part of the cross border, cross community ‘Shared Past-Shared Future’ arts project, a joint initiative between the Balor Development Community Arts (“Balor DCA), Ballybofey and the Alley Arts Centre in Strabane.  The International Fund for Ireland (IFI), under its Community Based Economic and Social Regeneration (CBESR) Programme, is providing funding across the three years of the project.This week’s showcase event tells the story of our shared heritage in the times of the Hiring Fair in Strabane and forms part of the Project Group’s efforts to focus and highlight our shared heritage through the arts, introducing these shared cultural references and legends to new audiences.Written by Jonathan Burgess and directed by Kieran Quinn, ‘Far Off Fields’ is an intimate play which tells the story of a young girl, hired by a Castlefin farmer for a term.  Unfortunately however, all does not go according to plan.  Commenting on the play, Michaela Boyle, Chairperson of Strabane District Council, said: “This drama, ‘Far Off Fields’, represents an opportunity for us to explore, understand and debate the role of the Hiring Fair in Strabane and other market towns throughout the North West.“The impact of the Hiring Fairs were significant at many levels.  They played a key role in driving the economies of their time and in shaping the individual life experiences of the many people who presented themselves for hiring in Strabane, Letterkenny and Omagh.“These first hand experiences of the Hiring Fairs are now passing from living memory.  For many, the memories were painful.  For some, these experiences were liberating.  To this day, the role of the Hiring Fair remains contentious.  This production is a chance for us to engage with this part of our shared history and to begin to comprehend its legacy.”Providing his insight into the play, Kieran Quinn, Chair of Balor DCA, said: “This show deals with the exploitation of children in early to mid 20th century and how this exploitation was tolerated by society.  Hopefully, we have learned from this piece of history and the like of this will never happen again to our children.”Also attending this week’s showcase production of ‘Far Off Fields’ was special guest, Mr Peter Hogan, Deputy Joint Director General of the International Fund for Ireland, who remarked: “I greatly enjoyed this wonderful drama by Jonathon Burgess whose writing reflects our past, but we see how these events have shaped our present. And indeed it presents lessons for our shared future. The IFI is delighted to be supporting Balor Developmental Community Arts and the Alley Arts Centre of Strabane in the production and tour of this play.”   Mr Hogan also expressed a collective thanks to the international donors who have supported the work of the International Fund for Ireland for almost twenty-five years: namely, the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

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