Southern Education & Library Board
Title: Sounds from Lough Neagh
Artform: Music
Organisation: Ceara School - Craigavon, Sperrinview School - Dungannon, Donard School - Banbridge, Edenderry Primary School - Banbridge
Creative Partners: The Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Craigavon Borough Council Arts Development , Open Arts
Participants: 55 young people 7 - 11 yrs

Synopsis: This project engaged four Special Needs schools in the SELB area, working in partnership with Open Arts and the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Craigavon in using the gamelan to recreate sounds from the Lough Neagh environment over a 6 week period.

The groups initially had introductory sessions with the Lough Neagh Education team in exploring aspects of the Lough Neagh environment including;

1. Bird life (including bird movement, migration)
2. Mammals (fox, stoat, badger, predators & prey, camouflage)
3. Insect life (millipedes, centipedes, dragonfly etc...)
4. Pond life (Frogs, frog spawn, life cycles)
5. Plant life (Reed beds)
6. Lough Neagh water (seasons, changes in the Lough)

The groups then worked with musicians Beverly White, Una McCann and Aine Flynn in capturing the sounds and movements, stories and science of the environment using the gamelan as a tool for creative expression.

The project cumulated in a celebratory event at the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre for parents and friends in March 2006.