Inventing creative places for people in the community

Ballyconnell is the place to be for creativity.

The town has recently received funding from the Arts Council for Creative Places Ballyconnell.

Both the streets and spaces behind closed doors have been bursting with innovation in recent weeks as new groups have been set up to spark the town’s imagination.

The Ballyconnell Community Choir was set up for anyone to “sing, whistle hum or wail” and has seen a huge uptake with forty members attending.

Most recently, a mural design class was set up to teach all things picturesque to liven up the blank walls that every town boasts - Ballyconnell no longer. Hosted by Rosie Cole, the class was fully booked and enjoyed by all.

Next Friday, the Solstice Shindig will come to the town, a free event starring Ballyconnell native John O’Grady and other acts.

Taragh Donohoe encouraged people to go along and enjoy the music. The event will take place in the Tomregan Hall on Friday 21 from 8-10pm.

“It’s all the same project but just different elements of it,” Taragh said of all the different events.

“We’ve loads of activities happening over the summer,” she enthused, adding that they are “all about stirring creativity in Ballyconnell”.

“Any project that brings people together is imperative, particularly in areas where there may be isolation or issues around integration.

“We’ve new communities popping up in Ballyconnell all the time and to welcome new people into our town it’s really important to have opportunities to socialise and to mingle.””

Taragh said that creativity is her own stress reliever and encouraged people to get involved in the initiative.

Catering for every element of creativity, crafters, decorators, bakers, Taragh also runs the Craft Cabin and the Hidden Treasures gift shop in the town.

“Balancing the work life with something that is exercising the other side of your brain I think is really important.

“It’s really good to get a break from the hum-drum of everyday life.”

To date, the initiative has involved the school children and is now expanding to the wider community.

“All of the initiatives have been proven really popular so there’s definitely a need for it there.

“We want to keep it going that’s the thing, the funding only lasts for so long so we want to a find that way that we can keep it going.”