The Bessbrook Model Village Living History Archive

In April 2016 Newry, Mourne and Down District Council secured £55,000 to deliver the Bessbrook Model Village Living History Archive project, through the Ring of Gullion Landscape Partnership.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, this project aimed to empower the people of Bessbrook to learn about the unique and rich history of their village, and to share the heritage of the village in a new and innovative way.

This project developed local skills by using creative interpretation to tell the story of Bessbrook, and sought to engage the local community in an entertaining way through the use of intergenerational and cross-community workshops.

The project outcomes include:

- A fun and interactive website with a searchable database of artefacts.
- Six historical docu-dramas, with a mix of interviews and scripted historical scenes to interpret the most fascinating historical events of Bessbrook’s history.
- Training the local community in media, community engagement and artefact and historical interpretation.
- Building a strong community network that bridges the political, religious and generational divide.