MONAGHAN WOMAN HELPS DISTRICT COUNCIL IN NORTHERN IRELAND GO OUT ON A HIGH NOTE…

Local councils across Northern Ireland are having their swansong this month, merging into larger local authorities on April 1st.

And one council in south Down has been going out on a high note thanks to a Monaghan woman.

What is being described as a groundbreaking, cross-community education project has just ended in Banbridge district after a successful five-year run.

The Cross-cultural Music and Dance Programme has seen pupils from mainly Protestant state schools and mainly Catholic maintained primary schools mixing together at interactive workshops.

The initiative was started by the Good Relations Officer at Banbridge District Council, Dolores Donnelly, who’s originally from Smithborough and now lives in Loughgall near Armagh city.

“I felt there was an opportunity for children to meet together on a cross-community basis, to learn together, to have fun …