The grants which were announced today were awarded in support of five new heritage projects to help communities better understand the First World War period and other events that impacted on both local life and the world stage.

Thanks to this funding of almost £100,000 communities in Newry and Mourne will be able to explore the impact of the war on their area through a series of educational activities and community events; the heritage of soldiers from Ballymoney who fought in the war will be researched and recorded; the history of those named on the Tandragee War Memorial will be interpreted and shared; the events of the years 1913-14 will be explored from a unionist, nationalist, female and trade unionist perspective and the story of the SS Clyde Valley and her links to the Larne gun running event of 1913 will be brought to a wider audience.

Paul Mullan, Head of HLF Northern Ireland said: “All communities living in the UK and Ireland have been affected by the First World War in some way, either by the events that took place, or by the changes it brought about. In Northern Ireland, the First World War is one of many key events within the wider Decade of Anniversaries that influenced our society and lives in ways we still feel today.

“Projects like the ones to receive funding today are great examples of how we can support communities to get involved in learning about this period. We have a special programme that provides grants for First World War projects to enable people to mark the upcoming centenary and create a deeper understanding of how the war changed the course of history, not only here in Northern Ireland but throughout the world. We have a range of grant programmes for projects, both large and small, that look at events within the Decade of Anniversaries too, and I would encourage anyone interested in running a heritage project to get in touch with us to discuss their idea.”

Projects to receive funding include:

Impact of World War One on the Newry and Mourne Area in Context of Changing Political Landscape – Newry and Mourne District Council (grant of £39,200)
The impact of the First World War on the Newry and Mourne area will be explored through the creation of a photographic archive, travelling exhibition, lecture series and educational events.

Generations – Factory Community Forum, Larne (grant of £9,600)
The story of the SS Clyde Valley and the vessel’s links to the Larne gun running event of 1913 will be recorded and shared with new and wider audiences.

Tandragree Remembers – The British Legion Tandragee (grant £10,000)
The heritage of the soldiers named on the War Memorial in Tandragee will be explored and their legacy shared with the wider community.

Remember Local Fallen Heroes – Friends of the 36th Ulster Division North Antrim (grant of
£21,600)
A database will be created of soldiers from Ballymoney who fought in the First World War for use as an educational and research tool for further investigation. A programme of workshops and outreach events will help to share this heritage and grow the database.

Understanding the Legacy of Carson’s Army – Unionist Centenary Committee (grant £15,500)
A programme of exhibitions, trails and events will enable communities across Northern Ireland to explore the key events of the period 1913-14 from a series of differing perspectives including unionist, nationalist, female and trade unionist.

Notes to editors

Decade of Anniversaries - The period 2012 -2022 marks a number of significant political events, from the Ulster Covenant demonstrations against Irish Home Rule to the Easter Rising, which have shaped the sense of British and Irish identity in the 20th century. Since late 2010 HLF, working in partnership with the Community Relations Council and others, has developed a set of principles to help us think about how we work through the complexities and sensitivities of remembering this Decade of Anniversaries.

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) aims to make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities across the UK and help build a resilient heritage economy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported 35,000 projects with £5.6bn across the UK.

Newry's Roll of Honour
The list of names was compiled in 1915 by the Clerk of Newry Urban District Council, William Cronin, with the help of local members of the Royal Irish Constabulary. Beautifully decorated with an illuminated cover featuring the Allied Flags and Newry’s Coat of Arms, this document is one of the artefacts that will be used to interpret the impact of World War One on the Newry area, and will be conserved and displayed as part of a new project which received HLF support.

Further information

For further information, please contact Julie Halliday at HLF Northern Ireland on 07733 100674 or email: julieh@hlf.org.uk.