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A small group of women with tribal drums in front of them.

Culture on the Hill in Dungannon

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A vibrant evening of song, dance, and storytelling unfolded recently at The Hill of The O’Neill in Dungannon. The ‘Culture on the Hill’ event, organised by Apex Housing Association (Apex) in partnership with Choice and Radius Housing, was supported by the Department for Communities (DfC) and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme.

The Programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.

Valerie Morrison, Apex Good Relations Officer, commented:

Dungannon is one of the most multi-cultural areas in Northern Ireland, and there is a real openness to finding out about other cultures and ways of life. This is one of a number of good relations projects we have delivered since Sycamore Drive was built. We can see the positive impact on community relations this work is having due to the commitment and engagement of local groups with our advisory group and community relations events.

A potential £15.7m may be invested by the housing associations in the area through shared housing developments at Sycamore Drive, Earls Court and Fortview and their associated five-year Good Relations Plans. A joint Dungannon Advisory Group has been established to support delivery of these plans.

The event brought together pupils and staff from nine local schools in Dungannon, highlighting the importance of community engagement and cultural appreciation. Those in attendance were treated to captivating performances incorporating dance, music and storytelling, which reflected the diverse backgrounds of the students.

In addition to the performances, pupils held an inspiring art exhibition, displaying their creative works and providing a platform for young artists to share their unique perspectives and stories.

For more information about the good relations work taking place in Dungannon, please contact Apex Good Relations Officer, Valerie Morrison, on 028 7130 4800 or email valerie.morrison@apex.org.uk.

A choir of young children standing on a stage singing, with a man in front playing a guitar.
Pupils from Blessed Patrick O’Loughran, Windmill Integrated, Howard Memorial and Gael Scoil Adoha Rua singing ‘Diversity’, a song written by the pupils with Malachi Cush.
A family of four standing in front of some pieces of art.
A pupil from St Patricks College who took part in the event, with her very proud family.
Young people in school uniforms sitting in chairs on a stage playing musical instruments.
St Patricks Primary School traditional music group.
A small group of older ladies singing.
Members of the Gathered Voices Choir who performed choral pieces in both English and Tetum.
A group of young women wearing traditional Timorese outfits.
East Timorese dancers performing at the event.
A man with dark hair speaking into a microphone.
Malachi Cush was the event compere.
Rows and rows of people clapping inside a marquee venue.
More than 400 people attended the ‘Culture On The Hill’ event.
A small group of young women playing flutes on stage.
Drumglass High School flute group.
A group of young people on stage playing musical instruments including the harp, accordion, guitar and bodhrán.
St Patricks College traditional music group.
A group of young people in black and red t-shirts pose on stage with their arms in the air.
A dance group from Integrated College Dungannon.
A large group of children in school uniforms singing on stage.
Dungannon Primary School choir.

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