IFI Culture Cavan Project – Fostering Peace and Reconciliation in Cavan and Fermanagh

Organisers of the Culture Cavan Project were delighted to have local musicians from both traditions across the Cavan-Fermanagh border perform at the ‘No Musical Demarcation’ concert in Cavan’s Liberty Insurance Dome on Friday 10^th August as part of Fleadh 2012.

The audience were treated to a truly inspiring musical celebration showcasing the area’s rich and diverse musical heritage. Renowned Master Irish Traditionalist Martin Donohoe and Ulster Scots Musician Willie Drennan acted as masters of ceremony on the night, which was the culmination of months of work bringing musicians together from across both traditions to show how much music and culture are common to both sides of the historical divide.

The concert was a key highlight of the Culture Cavan Project which fosters participation and reconciliation among communities in the border regions in Cavan & Fermanagh through different strands of the arts.  The two-year project is administered by Cavan County Council and funded by the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) as part of its Community Based Economic & Social Regeneration Programme.

The project got underway earlier this year with contacts developed on both sides of the border to encourage cross-community participation in a programme of workshops covering music, drama, creative writing and the visual arts.

A high point of Friday night was the collaborative performance by the Mullaghboy Accordion Band and the Cavan Town branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann playing a selection of shared tunes from both traditions including The Rowan Tree, The Rattling Bog and Lough Lomand. The line up also featured the Moybrone Pipe Band from Fermanagh, the Baileborough School of Music, Highland Dancers, Killeshandra Set Dancers, Merilyn Morton on piano with Kavan and Keenan Donohoe, NYAH Musicians and Friends, special guest singer Tim Moon from the UK, Larry McQuaid Meath on Bohrán, All-Ireland Fleadh Drum & Side Box Champion Martin Murphy and All-Ireland Fleadh Lilting Champion Seamus Fay.

Other strands of the Culture Cavan Project that featured over the weekend included two floats which participated in a Parade of New Creations inspired by peace and reconciliation along with contemporary works of art from participants in the project workshops which are currently being exhibited as part of trans-art, the fringe festival of contemporary arts at Fleadh 2012.

Ann O’Reilly, Co-ordinator, Culture Cavan, Cavan County Council, said the project will make a significant contribution to the local community and efforts to promote cross-community engagement. She said “The start of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has given us a tremendous opportunity to showcase the great work being done to encourage communities to work together and share their diverse cultural heritage through different strands of the arts. The project has resonated strongly with participants and local communities and will go a long way to building cross-community links and showcasing the area’s immense local talent.”

“When you consider how musical instruments have symbolised division in the past, it’s great to see musical groups from both communities coming together to share and play each other’s traditional music. That is a significant achievement. And it has been made possible through our funders, so thank you International Fund for Ireland.”

Speaking after the concert, Dorothy Clarke, Board Member of the International Fund for Ireland said:

“The Fund is committed to the work of building positive relations between the two main communities on the island of Ireland. That is why we are proud to be associated with the Culture Cavan Project. We believe this project will have a very positive impact for reconciliation in Cavan-Fermanagh and what better way to showcase the great work being done by the project than by bringing artists from both communities together for a musical celebration as part of this year’s Fleadh”

Ms Clarke also expressed a collective thanks to the international donors who have supported the work of the International Fund for Ireland for more than twenty-five years: namely, the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

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