Young Irish speakers in the Maghera area had the chance to learn about the advantages of digital photography, do woodcarving and go on a trip to Donegal last week. The activities were all part of Mid-Summer Cultural Week organized by Club Eachtra, Carntogher Community Association’s club for young Irish speakers.

The activities kicked off on Thursday 22nd June with the introductory digital photogaraphy course. Course tutor Padrig Lynch showed the kids how to make the most of a digital camera by using programmes like Photoshop to improve imperfections in the photos they took. They then went on to look at some special effects which clearly demonstarted that photos can lie. Padraig made the whole thing look so easy but it was clear to everyone that they’ ve got a lot to learn yet. Luckily Padraig will be giving classes next year at An Carn so everyone can get the chance again to make the most of their cameras.

On Saturday 24th June a group of kids set off on a day trip to Donegal where they visted the Famine House in Dunfanaghy and met up with Tony MacAoidh and a small group of teenagers from Gweedore. Tony has been working with young people and the Irish language for a number of years and hopes to develop links with the young people from Club Eachtra.

After the visit the group enjoyed a barbecue on the shores of a lough before heading off to the Dun Lewey Centre where the kids spent an enjoyable couple of hours before going back to Maghera. Club Eachtra would like to give special thanks to Liam Ó Flannagáin who came along to accompany the kids and lead them in a cheery sing-song on the way home.

The final event on Tuesday 27th June and Wednesday 28th June was a woodcarving course by the young Irish sculptor Seighan Ó Draoi who travelled up from Bray to deliver the course. Everyone who took part in the course thoroughly enjoyed it and produced some excellent pieces of art! Most of the themes chosen by the kids were animal ones but there were some lovely designs as well. Many thanks to Seighan for helping the kids out and to the many parents who turned up to help and ended up producing their own pieces of art. We all hope that it won’ t be too long before Seighan is up at An Carn to deliver another course. Seighan also really enjoyed delivering the course and was delighted with the enthusiasm and friendliness shown by everyone he met.

Finally, Club Eachtra would like to thank their main sponsors, Foras na Gaeilge and Magherafelt Arts Council, for making the week’s activities possible and to everyone who helped, took part and made the cultural week such a success.