Banbridge Partnership Celebrates Culture and Creativity using animation

Pupils from both schools have taken part in a wide range of cross‑community activities including a joint tour of Belfast, where children explored some of the city’s most iconic tourist attractions before creating short animations to promote these landmarks. The project encouraged pupils not only to learn about the history and significance of each location but also to apply digital creativity in showcasing what they discovered.

As part of their exploration of culture and local heritage, pupils also visited both the Church of Ireland and the Catholic Church in Banbridge. Meeting with clergy from each denomination, pupils were given the opportunity to ask questions, explore similarities, and develop a deeper understanding of shared community values.

Their most recent session saw pupils immerse themselves in hands‑on creative learning, producing colourful tourist posters and clay models inspired by Banbridge and Belfast. Using Minecraft coding, the children also designed digital replicas of well‑known local attractions—an activity that blended creativity, teamwork, and STEAM skills.

One of the highlights of the project so far has been the Burns Day celebration, hosted at Ballydown Primary School. Bridge Integrated pupils joined in to taste traditional haggis, learn elements of Highland dancing, and explore the cultural traditions associated with Robert Burns. Another memorable moment for the pupils was signing the famous Peace Wall during their Belfast visit—an experience they described as both meaningful and exciting.

With many more activities planned for the weeks ahead, the project will culminate in a special celebration event attended by governors and parents. This final showcase will highlight the pupils’ artwork, digital creations, shared learning, and the friendships formed throughout the programme.

PEACEPLUS ASPIRE (Advancing Shared Partnerships through Inclusive Relationships in Education) is led by the Education Authority (EA), alongside Léargas, Early Years- the organisation for young children, National Childhood Network (NCN) and the Fermanagh Trust. The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It aims to provide direct and sustained contact between children and young people from all backgrounds.