Council Area: Fermanagh & Omagh

Omagh Churches Forum Workshop

As part of Good Relations Week 2024 and its theme of ‘OpportUNITY,’ the Omagh Churches Forum will host a workshop featuring Rev. Karen Campbell, Good Relations Officer with the Irish Council of Churches (ICC). The session will focus on the recent ICC publication, “From Every Nation? A Handbook for a Congregation’s Journey from Welcome to Belonging.” This resource aims to equip churches with insights into diversity and inclusion, supporting local congregations in enhancing inclusion and advancing racial justice through faith.

The handbook aligns with the week’s emphasis on fostering unity and understanding across different communities. Join us to engage in meaningful discussions and actions that contribute to a more inclusive and just society.

The handbook is available to download for free at irishchurches.org/belonging.

 

 

International Cultural Cinema Night

The two films to be shown on the evening are:
A letter to Lia
A creative rumination on the identity of children growing up in a changing Northern Ireland from the starting point of the filmmaker’s own daughter. The focus is on a young girl, Lia, born long after the Good Friday Agreement, who questions what does the conflict mean to immigrants who have chosen to live in Northern Ireland the Good Friday.
 
The Breadwinner
In the 1990s, author and activist Deborah Ellis travelled to Pakistan to help people in Afghan refugee camps. During that time, she began to interview and record the stories of women in the camps. These stories became the basis and inspiration for the 2017 animated film The Breadwinner.
Both films shown in Omagh Strule Arts Centre on the evening of the 18th September 2024.

Sounds Sacred

This event will explore the world of sacred music through repertoire which will include well loved hymns reflective of all traditions and sacred music by the great masters featuring two professional singers from Omagh, Gerarda McCann and Calvin Davison along with Omagh Academy School choir led by Mrs Rachel Bingham. An instrumental accompaniment will be provided by Strabane Brass Band.
Please note this event is free admission.

Fermanagh Churches Forum Annual Good Relations Week Conference

Building CommUNITY  – An intergenerational exploration on working  together towards an inclusive community which respects difference

Speaker: Rev. Greg Alexander,  Darling Street Methodist Church.

Date:    Thursday, 19th September.

Time:     12 noon – 3 pm

Venue:    Bridge Centre, Presbyterian Church, East Bridge Street, Enniskillen

The speaker’s address will be followed by interactive discussion groups, action points, feedback, responses, and a final plenary discussion.

Talk and Workshop on Second World War in Enniskillen Library by Michael Fryer

Michael Fryer from the Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum in Belfast will be bringing along objects and photographs from the museum relating to the Second World War to Enniskillen Library.

Topics covered include the Belfast Blitz, the American presence, gas masks and rationing and participants will be encouraged to share their wartime memories and stories. Everyone welcome.

Please note, this is also a dementia friendly event.

Talk and workshop on Second World War by Michael Fryer in Irvinestown Library

Michael Fryer from the Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum in Belfast will be bringing along objects and photographs from the museum relating to the Second World War.

Topics covered include the Belfast Blitz, the American presence, gas masks and rationing and participants will be encouraged to share their wartime memories and stories. Everyone welcome!

Please note, this is also a dementia friendly event.

Coming Together for a Media Initiative for Children Respecting Difference Workshop (Parents/Carers and Management-Invite only)

With this year’s Good Relations theme in mind, we will join ‘together’ with early years practitioners, parents/carers and members of management teams from early years settings to facilitate discussion and thinking around the Media Initiative for Children Respecting Difference Programme.

We aim to give our children and young people the best start in life and work towards a shared society that respects diversity. Our early years programme influences good relations, sustainability and resilience of communities, promotes inclusion, respect for difference and shared learning. The Media Initiative for Children (MIFC) Respecting Difference Programme is an intervention programme aimed at improving long term outcomes so that children, practitioners/teachers, parents and communities become more aware of diversity and difference issues and positively change attitudes and behaviours to those who are different.

This workshop will provide parents and others involved from the local community with an opportunity to reflect on their own values, attitudes and prejudices and will highlight the importance of local settings working collaboratively and collectively to drive meaningful progress towards building a shared future for everyone. Working with members of management and committees of early years settings in this way is designed to help put in place the principles of community development and develop inclusive practice and policies for children, parents and families throughout the community. This we hope, will help committees reflect on practice, by identifying need, supporting inclusion, encouraging participation and collaborative working.

The workshop will be an excellent opportunity to reinforce this year’s good relations theme around the importance of individuals and organisations working together and sharing ideas and experiences in tackling everything from sectarianism and racism to gender inequality, shared spaces, peace-building, and cultural diversity.

Please note-this event will be invite only for funded settings within the Fermanagh and Omagh area who have recently completed MIFC training.

Futsal Indoor Football

Radius is working with Omagh Futsal Club and 6 Schools on a cross community basis to take part in indoor football and good relations exercises. Good Relations workshops will be delivered by the IFA. There will be a celebration event on the last day for all schools taking part.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council lights up buildings for Good Relations Week

Monday 18 September marks the start of Good Relations Week 2023.  Good Relations Week 2023, coordinated by the Community Relations Council, aims to deliver a positive message of togetherness as it celebrates peace-building and cultural diversity in an effort to eradicate sectarianism, racism and inequality across Northern Ireland.

Both Enniskillen Castle and Strule Arts Centre will be illuminated yellow on 18 September to mark the start of Good Relations Week