Schools create cross community mosaic in Ballycastle

by Gráinne Connolly

Pupils from two secondary schools in Ballycastle have come together for a cross community project to create a new mosaic artwork. 

The coastal themed piece was created by professional artists Hélène Byrne and Louie Winward of Dunseverick Art, who worked with pupils from both schools to deign the mosaic. 

Pupils contributed ideas and made individual tiles to insert into the overall art work. 

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council (CCGBC), Councillor Brenda Chivers who attended the launch said, “This project has allowed local pupils to work together on a cross-community and cross-cultural basis to create a beautiful mosaic for their town.

"This artistic project demonstrates the dynamic nature of the Peace IV funding programme and how it actively encourages development and transformation within our communities, especially within the lives of our young people.

"I would like to commend the pupils involved and I hope that they, along with the artists, are very proud of this stunning piece which will be admired by many who visit Ballycastle seafront.”

The mosaic was created in workshops delivered as part of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s €4.3m funding award from the European Union’s PEACE IV programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

This is part of a Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council/PEACE IV partnership Arts Programme (GR Out of School).

Match-funding for this project was provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.