Chance to tell family stories

Chance to tell family stories

16 September 2020

RESIDENTS in Killyleagh and Shrigley are being offered a unique opportunity to tell their family stories as part of an exciting new community project.

The ‘People, Potential, Prosperity Project’ is to designed to allow residents in both areas to share their family history to create a fuller picture of their shared heritage and those who have helped make Killyleagh and Shrigley what they are today.

People are being asked to complete surveys which are available from a number of locations, including the Sir Hans Sloane Centre, library and shops.

Those driving the new initiative say that by contributing to the survey, participants can help piece together the jigsaw of people from different backgrounds and cultures that contribute to the community.

Once the surveys have been completed, the interesting and unique stories will form an exhibition in the Sir Hans Sloane Centre which is scheduled to take place in the autumn.

Those behind the initiative say the project’s key aim is to provide an opportunity for people to learn about the area’s rich past and enterprising people to whom they owe great recognition.

Shirley Lennon, from Kenera Consulting, is encouraging residents to take part in the “exciting project” which will allow people to tell their family story, how their relatives arrived in the area and the contributions they have made to the local community.

A special -in session was held yesterday at the Sir Hans Sloane Centre where people can also call between 10am and 5pm to complete a survey and learn more about the project. They can also see the progress being made at the new centre.

Centre director Elizabeth Crilly said that when people move from place to place, they bring with them their culture, trades, crafts or workmanship and so the potential to create a new life for themselves and contribute to the prosperity of the community.  

‘Killyleagh and Shrigley have been areas of great prosperity,” she said. “This new project will allow more of our community to learn about this rich past and some enterprising people to whom we owe greater recognition and celebration.”

Elizabeth said that as for Shrigley and Killyleagh’s newest inhabitants, it is important to “welcome them and explore and support the positivity they bring to the community.”

The aim of the project is to enable people to share their origins and family history and create a fuller picture of the shared heritage and of the people and places that have made Killyleagh and Shrigley. 

The new project is part of a Newry Mourne and Down Council animation programme supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme with the Killyleagh centre working with Kenera Consulting to deliver this innovative project.