Border Talk- Keeping storytelling alive

The oral tradition of storytelling is alive and kicking in the Ring of Gullion, but a new project, “Border talk”, aims to add an infusion of new blood into the community of storytellers in the whole of Counties Armagh and Monaghan.

Storytellers of Ireland, in association with the Armstrong Storytelling Trust, held the official launch of their joint project ‘Border Talk’ in the beautiful surrounds of the Market House in Monaghan town on Tuesday, 27^th June.

Funded by the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), the project promises to deliver cross-border, cross-community storytelling events and training programmes. These programmes will promote the tradition of oral storytelling and, in turn, develop a network of storytellers who can deliver cross-border events. The storytellers will improve cross-border activities and reconciliation amongst border communities. Under the Communities and Partnership Programme, the IFI awarded the project almost €90,000.  Phase 1 of the project will see training events take place in County Armagh and County Monaghan in the early autumn, while Phase 2 will incorporate County Fermanagh, Cavan and Tyrone.

“Storytellers of Ireland / Aos Scéal Éireann has always been an all-island organisation. Storytelling connects people, and stories transcend borders. The support of the International Fund for Ireland is a significant acknowledgement of, and investment in, Ireland’s ongoing story, for which we are tremendously grateful. This funding will allow, for the first time, a comprehensive series of events and training courses organised by a professional administrator and artist in this very important area of the island”, said Aoife Demel, Chairperson, Storytellers of Ireland.

Invited guests heard about the project from international storyteller and author Liz Weir of the Armstrong Storytelling Trust, and the audience was then treated to an array of stories from seasoned storytellers and members of the Drumlin Yarnspinners.

“The Armstrong Storytelling Trust is delighted to partner with Storytellers of Ireland on this exciting cross-border project. Our core aim is to take storytelling into communities, and this project will promote the art form by initiating new public storytelling events and by training more people to tell stories”, Liz Weir, Armstrong Storytelling Trust.

For further enquiries regarding Border Talk, contact Colleen Savage, Border Talk Project Coordinator, at [email protected]

or complete an expression of interest form by clicking here