This year marks the 75th Year since the first homes were built in Creggan. To celebrate this milestone a range of local organisations from across all sectors, have come together to design, plan, coordinate and produce a series of programmes, activities and events that celebrate everything positive about the area.
As part of this programme of activity, the Old Library Trust in partnership with the Gasyard Wall Feile and funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council delivered a ‘Community Street Art’ piece designed by the children and young people from St. Marys Youth Club, St. Cecelia’s College, St. Josephs Boys school, Holy Child PS and St. Johns PS that celebrates what Creggan means to them.
The ‘Street Art’ piece was then produced by well-known local Artist Donal Doherty and the team from Peaball with the theme of ‘Proud Creggan’ to the fore.
George McGowan, Project Director at the Old Library Trust described how the process evolved: ‘Quite simply when the children and young people were asked what they think of when they think about Creggan, what you see on the wall is what jumped out at them!
‘All of which captures everything great about Creggan! Just look at some of the slogans – ‘My Ma & Da’, ‘My Granny’s’, ‘family’, ‘Good Neighbours’, ‘Community’, ‘Friends’, ‘Home’ as well as people and places across the area.’
Holy Child PS Principal Nicola Cullen shared her school’s experience of the project, and explained how they really bought into the project and stressed the importance of celebrating Creggan’s 75th for the whole community.
“The children really enjoyed working on the project. There voices were heard and all the energy and effort they put into it has come to fruition in an amazing display thanks to the guys at Peaball. The children now want to fill the full wall, so we need to get our heads together again. It’s important to celebrate Creggan at every opportunity we get and this year there will be many”
The Artwork has captured the imagination and hearts of local people with many more requests coming via social media and on street conversations as to what else needs to go on the wall. The Old Library Trust is looking into this and hope to add even more life to the wall over the weeks and months ahead.
Have you a suggestion for something that needs to be on the wall? Why not get in touch via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok @OLTHLC or email reception@olt.ie
Have you an idea to celebrate 75 years of Creggan? Are you running an event?
Use #ProundCreggan75 and tag away
‘CREGGAN 75th MURAL LAUNCH’ – Group pictured at the launch of the ‘Proud Creggan’ mural launch on Monday afternoon last. As part of this programme of activity, the Old Library Trust in partnership with the Gasyard Wall Feile and funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council delivered a ‘Community Street Art’ piece designed by the children and young people from St. Marys Youth Club, St. Cecelia’s College, St. Josephs Boys school, Holy Child PS and St. Johns PS that celebrates what Creggan means to them. Included in photo are pupils from St. John’s PS, Holy Child PS and St. Cecilia’s College. Centre at back from left is ???????, Donal Doherty, George McGowan, managing director, OLT, Martin Gallagher, Good Relations Department, DCSDC, Peter Nixon, St. Mary’s Youth Club, ??????????????????, Bogside, Brandywell Health Forum and Spasie McGilloway. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)Students from St. Cecilia’s College find their school name on the new mural on Monday afternoon.Spasie finds his name on the new mural on Monday.I’M ON IT!. . . . .St. Mary’s Youth Club’s Peter Nixon finds his name on the mural.WE’RE ON IT!. . . .Children from Holy Child PS and St. John’s PS identify their names on the new mural on Monday.
Audience hears ‘heartfelt stories’ from recovering addict sports stars
The Old Library Trust, as part of the Community in Transition Project hosted an event at St. Cecilia’s College on Wednesday night that brought the conversation of addiction to the forefront with three established past and recent sportspeople who will share their experience of addiction.
A capacity audience listened intently as chair Raymond McCartney questioned the three panellists on how addiction, through drugs, alcohol and gambling affected their lives and the lives of those around them. All agreed that they had come through a ‘dark period’ and were in ‘different transitions’ in terms of getting over their addictions.
The three – Oisin McConville, former Armagh County Captain and current TV pundit, public speaker and Gaelic coach, Sean Friars Ex-Liverpool academy player who shared a pitch with Micheal Owen and Steven Gerrard, and played for Ipswich town, Derry City, Dungannon swifts and Institute FC and current Cliftonville FC Derry native Connor McDermott – all related their experiences with the hope of helping others within the local community.
The project, was part of a health and wellbeing initiative led by the Old Library Trust’s Healthy Living Centre in Creggan, partnered, and supported by the Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum and funded by the Executive Office’s ‘Communities in Transition’ project.
Communities in Transition is part of the Executive’s Action plan on tackling paramilitary activity, criminality, and organised crime. It aims to support communities where there has been a significant history of paramilitary activity and coercive control, to become more resilient.
The initiative aims to support communities to become more resilient by addressing a key issue associated with poor physical and mental health – Addiction – an issue that has been highlighted within the local area with negative impacts on individuals and families.
The event offered a unique insight into addiction with an open and honest conversation by respected individuals in the sporting world sharing their story and advice on how people within the local area can make some positive steps in the right direction with their own addiction challenge.
Speaking on the night Oisin McConville explained how gambling stripped him of his emotions and that ‘I would have sold my mother to get a bet on!’ spoke emotionally on being a slave to a gambling addiction for sixteen years wreaked havoc in his life and that sport was the only thing that kept him alive. He spoke proudly of the fact that ‘My last bet was on 12th October, 2005’. He added that now he was in a happier place and stressed how important his wife and family were in his life now. Oisin now gives something back as he works as an addiction counsellor and stressed that he is still ‘a work in progress.’
Local Galliagh man and ex-footballer Sean Friars said we all need to ‘learn the importance of self-care and find that balance in life. He also said family played a large part in him getting through addiction. He relived his experiences of leaving Derry and going to a big club like Liverpool as a youngster. Loneliness played a major part in his downfall. He recounted of numerous phone calls home when he went to a call box and was always telling his parents things were great and he was getting on well in life. Then ‘On the way back to the digs, the tears were tripping me! I would’ve spent time standing outside the digs settling myself down before going into the landlady, so embarrassed as I was. His advice to the audience was ‘drugs and drink stripped me of everything – find help, don’t let it happen to you!’
The youngest of the three, Cliftonville footballer and Culmore native, Connor McDermott described how at a young age and while still at college he got an adrenaline rush from putting on his first bet. The promising young footballer went into detail how gambling took over his teen years and affected his life in many ways – his sport, his friendships and family. He poignantly recollected on how his mother forgave him, even after he stole a large sum of money from her.
‘I got lost in the darkness of addiction, I couldn’t find a way out! It’s imperative you talk and find a way out, be it through family, friends or professional counselling.’
He added that in three weeks time he will have achieved a calendar year without placing a bet and hoped his family were as proud of him as he was of himself.
Project Director of the Old Library Trust summed the evening up by saying…..
ADDICTION – AN HONEST CONVERSATION. . . . . . .Group pictured at St. Cecilia’s College on Wednesday evening for the ‘Addiction – An Honest Conversation’ event, held as part of the CIT Project and hosted by the Old Library Trust and Bogside Brandywell Health Forum. Seated centre are the speakers who shared their experiences, Sean Friars, ex-Liverpool FC Academy, Ipswich Town, Derry City, Dungannon Swifts and Institute FC, Oisin McConville, former Armagh County Captain and TV pundit and Connor McDermott, Cliftonville FC. At back from left are Julie White, Joint Project Co-Ordinator, OLT, Raymond McCartney, chair, George McGowan, manager, OLT, Graham Warke, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council and Aisling Hutton, Joint Project Co-Ordinator, Bogside Brandywell Health Forum. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)George McGowan, manager, Old Library Trust, addressing the audience at the start of Wednesday’s ‘Addiction – An Honest Conversation’ event held in St. Cecilia’s College, Creggan, Derry.George McGowan, manager, Old Library Trust, addressing the audience at the start of Wednesday’s ‘Addiction – An Honest Conversation’ event held in St. Cecilia’s College, Creggan, Derry.Graham Warke, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council,addressing the audience at the start of Wednesday’s ‘Addiction – An Honest Conversation’ event held in St. Cecilia’s College, Creggan.A section of the audience at Wednesday evening’s ‘Addiction – An Honest Conversation’ at St. Cecilia’s College.Oisin McConville, former GAA County Armagh captain and one of the main speakers.Chair Raymond McCartney pictured on stage with the speakers at Wednesday’s event in St. Cecilia’s College.The speakers on stage at St. Cecilia’s College on Wednesday evening for the ‘Addiction – An Honest Conversation’ event, held as part of the CIT Project and hosted by the Old Library Trust and Bogside Brandywell Health Forum. From left, Sean Friars, ex-Liverpool FC Academy, Ipswich Town, Derry City, Dungannon Swifts and Institute FC, Oisin McConville, former Armagh County Captain and TV pundit and Connor McDermott, Cliftonville FC.Sean Friars telling his ‘addiction’ story on Wednesday evening.Oisin McConville pictured during a lighter moment of Wednesday’s event at St. Cecilia’s College.Former Armagh captain Oisin McConville listens to a question from an audience member at Wednesday’s event at St. Cecilia’s College.Sean Friars answers an audience question on Wednesday evening.Young Connor McDermott pictured tells his story.Former Armagh captain Oisin McConville telling his story during Wednesday’s ‘Addiction – An Honest Conversation’ event at St. Cecilia’s College.Former Armagh captain Oisin McConville taking a question from an audience member.A member of the audience puts a question to Oisin McConville on Wednesday evening.A member of the audience puts a question of the panel.
