Ballynahinch student has a royal date with duchess

Ballynahinch student has a royal date with duchess

A BALLYNAHINCH teenager who battled mental health issues celebrated his 16th birthday with the ultimate party — a date with the Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace.

Cathal McCann, who attends St Malachy’s High School in Castlewellan, was invited to the palace after he was helped through a mental health crisis by Action for Children Northern Ireland’s Blues Programme.

His mum, Mandy, said: “He wouldn’t even be here today if it wasn’t for Action for Children so to celebrate by meeting Duchess Kate is the icing on the cake.”

“He was very low and even self-harming. When Action for Children reached out to help, it was a game changer. He’s a different person now and loving life.”

Action for Children NI delivers the Blues Programme to schools throughout the country to help young people suffering with mental health issues.

Cathal attended the special day last week as part of Action for Children and the Royal Photographic Society’s collaboration to deliver a photography workshop for children where the Duchess of Cambridge shared her love of photography. 

The Duchess is also Patron of Action for Children which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. 

She explored camera techniques during the workshop with children aged between nine and 18, supported by Action for Children, at the charity’s Warren Park residential home in Surrey. 

She spent more than an hour with 11 young people from across the UK and two distinguished photographers — RPS Honorary Fellows Jillian Edelstein and Harry Borden. 

Some of the children already have an interest in photography, whilst for many others this was a first exciting foray into photography, which is known to be a therapeutic and enabling activity for many people.