‘We are the stories we tell ourselves’

Storytelling is the oldest of all the arts.

We’ve been telling stories for centuries, long before we could write them down. The desire to tell and hear stories is deeply-rooted in our human nature. Stories help us make sense of the world around us; they allow us to reflect on the past, document the present and imagine the future. They bring us closer to the minds and lives of others and remind us that we are not alone.

Storytelling is at the heart of the Irish and Ulster-Scots traditions. We fondly refer to ourselves as an island of storytellers. We have filled the imaginations of the world with fairytales, tall-tales, folklore, legends and myths and our literature and song hold a special place in the hearts of people here and across the world.

This year’s programme reflects on the theme of storytelling in its broadest sense including; the literary legacy of Seamus Heaney; the stories of the Great Irish Famine which endure in folk memory; and a personal account of the Ulster-Scots language and its power to evoke a unique sense of home and place.

Derry City and Strabane District Council presents Island Voices 2021 - a series of talks exploring storytelling within the English, Irish and Ulster-Scots traditions.

Full event details at www.derrystrabane.com/islandvoices