The friendship of two girls at UCD has resulted in the creation of a cross-border orchestra. As teachers they linked their schools and now, with funding from the Peace and Reconciliation Fund, they have been joined by a third school.

St Louis Secondary School, Dundalk, Co Louth, and Abbey Grammar School, Newry, Co Down, were linked four years ago under the batons of their teachers, Sharon Treacy-Dunne and Sinead McDonnell. Then, last June students from the co-educational Bainbridge Academy, Co Down, joined the orchestra with the co-operation of their music teacher, Diane French.

The orchestra is made up of 140 students aged between 11 and 18.