A novel storytelling project will be inaugurated at the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry next Tuesday, uniting an old art form with the most modern technology. Actor and storyteller Nuala Hayes has collected stories from 23 storytellers throughout Ireland, including Eamon Kelly, Bab Feiriteir, John Campbell, Packie Manus Byrne and Liz Weir.
The stories have been recorded in English, Irish and Ulster Scots, and six of them are recorded on CD-ROM, accompanied by visuals by artist Rita Duffy.
The CD-ROM will be distributed to all schools in Ireland, and will be used to encourage young people to listen to stories and to re-create their own stories. It also includes an introduction to the art of storytelling, an interactive map of Ireland allowing faster access to the rest of the stories and storytellers, activities and support material, and links to other sites.
A series of 97 paintings relating to the stories has been assembled and can be seen in the centre.
The project is supported by the Northern Ireland Department of Education and the EU Special Support Programmes for Peace and Reconciliation. More information on it can be obtained from Ms Aideen Doherty at the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry, (028) 7126-6946.