€180,000 funding for Narrative 4 as part of Shared Island Initiative

Narrative 4 will lead the “Living Legend” storytelling project with the Creative Ireland Shared Island Initiative funding. Picture: Deirdre Power

Narrative 4 set to expand the scope of its youth work with major funding award from Creative Ireland’s Shared Island Initiative

Narrative 4, an award-winning national youth organisation based in Limerick, is set to expand the scope of its youth work thanks to a major new funding award from Creative Ireland’s Shared Island Initiative.

As part of a broader funding allocation across six national projects, Narrative 4 will lead the “Living Legend” storytelling project. This cross-border initiative will bring together young people from both sides of the border to explore the mythical landscapes of the Aran Islands and the Giant’s Causeway.

The “Living Legend” project, spearheaded by Narrative 4, aims to foster empathy and understanding among young people from Northern Ireland and the Republic. Participants will retell and reinterpret ancient myths using the organisation’s unique Story Exchange methodology, breaking down stereotypes and building bridges between participants.

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“The cross-border nature of this project is crucial” according to Dr. James Lawlor, Director of Narrative 4 Ireland. “By bringing together young people from different backgrounds and communities on both sides of the border, we are creating a space where they can share their stories, learn from one another, and build a shared future based on mutual respect and understanding.”

The focus on the mythical landscapes of the Aran Islands and the Giant’s Causeway not only taps into rich cultural heritage but also uses these legends as a vehicle to explore contemporary issues. “These stories are our shared heritage. They have been passed down through generations, and by reimagining them together, young people can find new meanings and connections that resonate with their own lives today,” Dr. Lawlor adds.

The project will be delivered in partnership with Festival in a Van and Northern Ireland Youth Forum in 2025. This is part of the Shared Island dimension of the Creative Ireland programme, which seeks to increase opportunities for cross-community cultural and creative initiatives between children and young people across the island.

Taoiseach Simon Harris TDs said the projects receiving funding will “generate new connections” between the youth in Ireland, helping “create a shared future on this island”.

An Taoiseach said, “I am pleased to announce major funding for six projects under the Creative Youth on a Shared Island scheme,” said Taoiseach Simon Harris TD during the funding announcement.

“These projects span a wide range of art forms and demographics, reflecting the diversity, creativity, and potential of young people across the island of Ireland. Each of the six projects funded will generate new connections between our young people and help create a shared future on this island.”

Narrative 4’s work is deeply informed by the lessons of Ireland’s peace-building, demonstrating the power of dialogue, understanding, and empathy in overcoming division.

“The peace process in Ireland has taught us that real and lasting peace requires more than just political agreements. It requires a commitment to understanding and valuing our differences. We see why this work is so important amid so much division in our world today.” says Dr. Lawlor. “Through our cross-border storytelling projects, we are helping to build a shared future where inclusion and diversity are not just tolerated but celebrated.”