Bellaghy Bawn is set to become a premier destination for writers
following a £3.8million (€4.6million) investment agreement
between the Department for Communities and the Department of
Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Ireland)
through the Shared Island initiative.
This partnership marks a significant milestone in the
preservation and celebration of literary culture in Northern
Ireland, which will see Bellaghy Bawn transformed into a creative
writing hub.
Communities Minister hopes the completed hub will
inspire new and established writers, saying: “Northern
Ireland has an immense literary history, producing world renowned
authors, playwrights and poets. The development of the writers'
residence at Bellaghy Bawn will not only optimise the use of this
historic space, it will also nurture the creativity of a new
generation of local and international writers. These
collaborative spaces in a unique setting will no doubt inspire
new literary works, while contributing to the village's community
and the wider economy.”
Speaking about the project, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts,
Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin, T.D. said: “I
am honoured to be involved in the funding of a New Writers'
Residence at Bellaghy Bawn through the Shared Island initiative,
located in the area where one of Ireland's greatest poets was
born and grew up. Seamus Heaney embodies the closeness of the
people of this island. I believe his poetry is loved equally
by all Irish people all across the island. I look forward to
seeing the new facility progress to become a place of inspiration
and collaboration for future generations of writers.”
The project will offer a unique space for writers to immerse
themselves in their craft, inspired by the rich literary history
of the region, including its association with Nobel Laureate
Seamus Heaney.
The residency will include communal spaces for collaboration and
accommodations to support writers' residencies. The facility will
provide a tranquil environment for creative work while also
fostering a vibrant literary community in the heart of Northern
Ireland.
The project was developed by Mid-Ulster District Council in
association/partnership with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
and the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon. The Arts Councils
have a long history of collaboration on areas of mutual strategic
interest and regularly fund organisations that operate on an
all-island basis. The Shared Island Fund allocation will
complement and support this cooperation.
Notes to Editor:
- The Bellaghy Bawn residency project was proposed by the Arts
Council of Northern Ireland jointly with the the Arts Council/An
Chomhairle Ealaíon as one of a number of Shared Island Arts
investment projects that were confirmed in September 2023.
- The two Arts Councils frequently work together to co-fund
Arts programming on the island. The Shared Island Fund allocation
complements and supports this cooperation with capital funding
for delivery of the Bellaghy Bawn writers' residency project.
- The support through the Irish Government's Shared Island Fund
is provided by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts,
Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Ireland) through agreement with the
Department for Communities (Northern Ireland). Bellaghy Bawn is a
Monument in State Care in the ownership of the Department for
Communities.
