Six young musicians will travel to the United States of America this week as part of a mission to promote the economic, trade and tourism potential in the Newry, Mourne and Down District.
Organised by the NMD council, its Chairperson Roisin Mulgrew and chief executive Liam Hannaway, together with council official Cristina Gaillard, will also travel to North Carolina, for the week-long event.
The young musicians will be taking part through the Sister Cities Youth Musical Exchange Programme, and are members of Rinn Mhic Giolla Rua, Warrenpoint Comhaltas.
The six – Caoimhe O’Hare, Oisín Bradley, Naomi Tully, Thomas Magee, Rachel Goan and Diarmuid O’Hare – will be accompanied by Branch Chairperson, Jimi Quinn.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Roisin Mulgrew, said: “This fantastic initiative brings together 12 young musicians to experience a sharing of the diverse culture of music from across the Atlantic.”
The group will visit Southern Pines, Raleigh, Aberdeen, and Pinehurst where, interspersed with learning about the culture, history and geography of the area, the young people will engage in a series of musical sessions with other young musicians from North Carolina, culminating in a grand concert in the Sunrise Theatre, Southern Pines, later in the week.
This is the return leg of the Sister Cities Youth Musical Exchange Programme, as the musicians from North Carolina spent a week in the Newry, Mourne and Down area in July 2017.
Needless to say the young musicians are looking forward to renewing the friendships forged during that visit.
While the council officials will be engaged in networking and promoting the Newry, Mourne and Down area, they can be assured that the young musicians, for their part, will also be hitting all the right notes.
