On the Brink: The Politics of Conflict 1914-1916 is a vibrant heritage led project , supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, planned to start in Spring 2014. This project will explore, through heritage sites and artefacts of the period, with local communities the impact and legacy of the outbreak of the First World War, the Battle of the Somme and the Easter Rising in the Mid and East Antrim and Causeway areas. This period will also be set within a national and international context.
On the Brink is aimed at local community groups and schools from Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne, Newtownabbey, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Limavady and Moyle Council areas. Facilitated taster sessions as part of the Development Phase of the project are planned in the next few weeks for community groups at six venues across Mid and East Antrim and the Causeway areas. Local venues are :
Mid-Antrim Museum, The Braid, Ballymena on Tuesday 25 June;
Drumalis Retreat & Conference Centre, Larne, Wednesday 26 June;
The Dunanney Centre, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, Thursday 27 June;
All the taster sessions are free and will run from 7- 9pm each evening. The facilitator will be Philip Orr, who is a well known historian of the Home Rule Crisis and First World War period and its effects on local communities in the North East. The taster sessions will give an introductory insight into the fabric of everyday life in the period 1914-1916 and the main issues of the day for local people. It is also an opportunity to find out more about the project from museum staff and how community groups can get actively involved.
Any community groups who would like to attend are encouraged to do so. Although booking is not required, group representatives are asked to inform the relevant Museum Access Officer who covers their area to help with catering and to make arrangements for free community transport if required.
The contact details for the Access Officers are:
Maria Cagney
Museums Access Officer, Mid-Antrim Museums Service
T: 028 2563 5926 or email maria.cagney@ballymena.gov.uk