Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Regenerating Kilkeel with A Celebration of Mourne Culture KDA is delighted to celebrate its 25th anniversary, a mile stone for any organisation, with “A Celebration of Mourne Culture”. KDA was formally established in October 1991. It recognised the need to address the physical and economic decline of the Kilkeel area, brought about by the tough economic climate that the core industries of fishing, farming and construction were facing. One thing we have learned is that history does indeed repeat itself and Kilkeel along with the wider Mourne area is again just beginning to emerge from one of the worst global downturns. The organisation was born from its sister organisation hours that have been donated over the last 25 years is the Kilkeel Chamber of Commerce. Gordon Coulter immeasurable. The volunteers work in partnership with MBE, Victor Aiken MBE and Sean Magee, originally the very dedicated and enthusiastic KDA employees who set up the cross community committee a couple of diligently and expertly develop and manage the projects years prior to 1991. The organisation met for over 200 to ensure that targets are delivered and more often than meetings with the directors financing operations out not, exceeded. These current projects, along with many of their own pockets. They received £20,000 funding previous have contributed to the culture of Mourne, towards employing a full time Chief Executive and the along with the renowned friendliness of its people. organisation has grown in success from then. The Kilkeel and Mourne area is known for its KDA has attracted approximately £11million and delivered entrepreneurial spirit and can do attitude. The beauty over 150 successful projects ranging from small grants of the Kingdom of Mourne has inspired writers and of £500 up to in excess of £1miilion. These projects poets for generations with such luminary lights as C S are aimed at regenerating Kilkeel through supporting Lewis and “The Mountains of Mourne” which have been business development, creating employment, improving immortalised in song by Percy French. There is a rich the environment, increasing tourism, and developing culture that has passed down through the generations good community relations. and this book along with the exhibition celebrates the many talented local artists, writers, poets and musicians The KDA has been cited as an example of excellence that call the Mournes home. in terms of how the organisation is run, its success in delivering projects and the value for money that it delivers. It could not achieve this without the financial support from a number of funding organisations and working in partnership with many other local people, groups and organisations. KDA’s success is down to the enormous contribution of its very committed voluntary directors and local community members who give of their voluntary time, Chairman knowledge and skills towards the betterment of the Mr Victor Aiken MBE local community. The many thousands of voluntary A CELEBRATION OF MOURNE CULTURE This project is supported by Newry, Mourne & Down The band participates in parades and cross community District Council (£2400) and is a celebration of the Mourne events throughout the year. The band has paraded in many Culture over the last 25 years. The project includes a cultural successful and prestigious events with the highlight of being exhibition looking at music, literature, poetry, art, dance & asked to take part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade Dublin food at the Nautilus Centre, the production of this Mourne 2002, Rose of Tralee Festival 2003 and they then led the Cultural Booklet and celebration event. Lord Mayor’s Parade Belfast 2011. The band members are aged from 7 to 40+ and participate in Marching Band and Music Fleadh competitions throughout Ireland. The band won 3 The Mournes area has a rich and talented heritage in Senior/Junior Ulster Fleadh Titles and won their First Senior traditional music. All Ireland Title in 2010 and successfully retained the Senior There are 21 bands including flute, drums, accordion, pipe Titles in 2011 and 2014. bands with hundreds of talented musicians from the very Pride of Ballinran young to the old. This tradition is passed down through families over the generations. Accordion Bands Silver Band Ballymageough Band Kilkeel True Blues Silver Band Brunswick Band Flute Bands Cranfield Band Ballyvea Band Holy Cross Band Banna Fluit Naoimh Phadraig Roden Accordion Band Derryogue Band Pride of Ballinran Band Pipe Bands St Joseph’s Parish Band Aughnahoory Pipe Band Glenloughan Band The award winning Pride of Ballinran was formed in 1980. The Attical Pipe Band Mourne Young Defenders Band band is currently the NIBA All Ireland Indoor Champions and Ballymartin Pipe Band Orangefield Band consists of approximately 60 members. The Pride of Ballinran Longstone Pipe Band Pride of Ballinran Band has taken part in the Belfast Tattoo in 2014 and 2015 and has Glasdrumman Pipe Band Rising Sons of the Valley Band been invited to attend the Glasgow Tattoo in 2016. They also Schomberg Fife & Drum took part in the Lord Mayor's Show, London last year. Holy Cross Accordion Band There is also a more modern and contemporary music scene with rock and country bands, such as What’s Wrong Barry, the Phillips Sisters, Silver’s Got Strings, Split Lips (previously Idle Hands), Tyrannasconic Deaf Rays, Jane & Frank Cassidy, Café 180 Band, Linda Gawley Boucher (singer) Natalie Stevenson (singer), Graham Noels (singer), John Wilson (accordion player). There is a rich choiral heritage with the Mourne Male Voice Holy Cross Accordion Band Choir, Mourne Presbyterian Choir, Kilkeel Presbyterian Choir, Holy Cross Accordion Band Attical in 2016 celebrates 42 Church of Ireland Choir, Baptist Choir, Free Presbyterian Choir, years of existence and is growing in strength and success. Massforth Choir & Grange Choir. LITERATURE & POETRY The scenic beauty of the Mourne landscapes, from the Majestic Mournes, sweeping Irish seascapes to the mystical backdrop of Carlingford Lough has inspired writers and poets for centuries. This tradition continues on from those international literary giants of C S Lewis, Percy French and Eoin McNamee. Here is a just a sample of the local literary talent: John Newell, Lexy Higgins, Catherine Hudson, J S Doran, Rosalind Davis, Hugh Irvine, W J Fitzpatrick, Gemma Jackson, Niki Hill to name but a few. Below is a selection of poems from local writers and poets Gerry Doyle, Thomas Patterson and Wendy Hanna. Gerry will be launching a book of short stories in the near future. Poem By Gerry Doyle John Thomas McDowell, a chara (a friend) We sailed together, you and I, for more than thirty years. And landed many a hard-won catch in places far and near. Through many a winter storm we wrought, and many long summer days. From the ‘Humber’ to the ‘Nor-west Bank’, ’Fladden Ground’ to ‘Sandy Bay’. Herring and haddock at ‘Flamborough Head’, and cod at ‘Stormy Bank’. We worked the ‘Minches’, the ‘Flannen Isles’, ‘The Butt’ and ‘Barra Head’. ‘Oigh-Sgeir’ and the ‘Hillys’, ‘The Passage’ and the Dutchman’s Cap’, ‘Skerry-vore’ and ‘Dubh-Artach’, ‘Klondyke’ and ‘Stanton Bank’. We played chess in Tobermory Bay, you taught me how to play. And we got the cod-end in the screw, in the lee of ‘Erriskay’. (Ref. “Working in a Hebredean Gale”) We set new records in our time, and reset some ourselves! And poked our way through blanket fog, in round ‘St David’s Head’. We fished in close at ‘Inishtrahull’, and the ‘Sandbank at Bushmills” Seine’d for plaice in ‘Coleraine Bay’ and sheltered in ‘Moville’ We fished ‘Nor-West of Tory’ and ‘West of Arranmor’ At ‘Stags’, ‘Broadhaven’, ‘The Eagle’ and all along that western shore. Good friends we made in every port, and even more at sea, For the fishing folks communion, needs-must, is strong and free. We helped many men and we were helped, by colleagues of all creeds, And no pay was asked from anyone within the Irish fleet. Do you remember, John a chara, the day at Inishtrahull (Ref “Heavy weather damage”) When you put the ‘Croidte an Duin’ about, to run into Moville. A big sea smashed the port rail down from the gallows to the winch. You jacked it back in place next day, and carried on to fish. We kept some long, long watches, John! But the worst one of them all Was the watch we kept by your death-bed, when cancer made its call. Gerry Doyle John, --I treasure still the priv’lege of your comradeship those years, And of your wife and family, with who we shared the tears. Poem By Gerry Doyle Be Still Beside The Ocean Be still beside a rock-pool and watch it come to life. Be still and watch the breakers to rid yourself of strife. Think of all the living things that dwell in that great sea. From the huge ‘blue whale’ to its ‘plankton’ food and of eternity. Throw a flat shingle ‘skimmer’ and watch it bounce along Then sink into oblivion, like the singers of the song. But the song lives on to comfort us and keep us on the path, Although our pride and reasoning tend to draw us toward the wrath. Poem by Thomas Patterson Mourne Presbyterian Church (1696 - 1996) Three hundred years long, long ago A seed was sown which began to grow, God's spirit breathed upon this place A church began through God's own grace, You sent the early and latter rain Your tenderness was not in vain, Down through the years you did us bless With showers of blessing we must confess, In times of peace in times of strife Through all the ups and downs, In faithfulness you answered prayer And our burdens Lord you did share.