Two years of cross-Border and cross-community co-operation will culminate this evening in the official opening of a sculpture trail circling the shores of a lake shared by counties Fermanagh, Leitrim and Cavan.
The Lough MacNean Sculpture Trail aims to promote interaction between the peoples of all three counties. The 42-mile trail is dotted with 11 pieces of sculpture, each the result of 10 weeks' work by an artist in collaboration with local communities, youth clubs and schools. As far as possible, local materials and suppliers were used.
The inspiration for the trail came from a partnership between the Manorhamilton Arts Group in Co Leitrim, and Belcoo and District Development Group, Co Fermanagh, with a focus on the rebuilding of links between the communities around the shores of the lake.
"The years of strife have created divisions between these communities, while the closure of the Border roads and the natural barrier of the lakes created a physical division between former neighbours, friends and families. Now the ceasefire, the Good Friday agreement and the reopening of the Border roads have created a climate conducive to rebuilding the links between people," said Fred Cavanagh, the project's development officer.
The artists include Cork's Louise Walsh and Seamus Dunbar from Manorhamilton. Their work will be positioned in the shape of a figure eight around Lough MacNean, from Blacklion, Co Cavan, to Kiltyclogher in Co Leitrim, and Cashel Cross in Co Fermanagh.
The trail, which will be opened at 6 p.m. today in the Ballroom of Romance, Glenfarne, Co Leitrim, has been funded by, among others, Co-operation North, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and local county councils.