Seamus Heaney Home

Festive fun with Bellaghy Primary Schools

Bellaghy Primary Schools join forces for a festive celebration at HomePlace.

Seamus Heaney HomePlace welcomed three local schools to the renowned Helicon theatre on Wednesday 18th December to spread some Christmas cheer to the local area.

Children from Bellaghy Primary, St. Mary’s Primary School and St. John Bosco Primary, Ballynease came together for this special Christmas event, organised by Seamus Heaney HomePlace. The event was led by local poet Maura Johnston who opened the show and led the nativity story while children from each school took their turn to sing some festive favourites including Come And Join. The Celebration, Little Donkey, Away In A Manger, Silent Night, O Little Town Of Bethlehem and O Come All Ye Faithful.

Róisín Convery, Education Officer at Seamus Heaney HomePlace said “HomePlace was thrilled to be a part of this collaborative event and help facilitate a Christmas show for the village of Bellaghy. All the schools worked extremely hard to prepare their parts which was evident in the delightful concert they delivered.”

The carol service was attended by local groups including Bellaghy Women’s Group and Seamus Heaney HomePlace Book Club and more. The groups were welcomed to the event by the newly appointed HomePlace café franchiser, Finch Catering, who donated tea, coffee and festive mince pies to add a little sugar and spice to the show.

Adrian Dallas, Business Development Manager at Finch Catering commented, “Our staff, all of whom were kept on from the previous franchiser, were delighted to welcome the local groups and school children to this wonderful event. As the newly appointed café franchiser we were more than happy to provide some festive treats and for the attendees to experience the new offerings of The HomePlace Café.”

Closing the event all three schools took to the stage together to sing Hear The Bells in a heart-warming performance that the audience couldn’t help but sing along to – the schools worked hard to learn this unfamiliar Christmas carol.