Answering the culture call in Magheracloone

Culture Night in Magheracloone was a celebration of creativity, bringing music, dance, storytelling, poetry and sign language together under one roof before Carrickmacross World Choir brought the evening to a memorable close.

More than 150 people attended the event at Magheracloone Community Centre last Friday, September 18. There was food from all over the world and the programme moved easily from spoken word to performance, with storytelling and poetry recitals followed by dances from around the world.

Scoil Rince Clann McCaul from Magheracloone added a strong local highlight, showcasing its world class Irish dancers: U-18 World Champion Blathín Mohan, Beibhinn Muldoon, sisters Niamh and Eimear Cullen and Rachel Sweeney from Magheracloone. The dance school brought its awards along, adding to the sense of occasion.

Sorcha McCaul, a founder member of the school, former world champion and Riverdance performer, said: “We really wanted to come and see the new community centre, because we used to teach in the old one.”

Sisters Sorcha, Maria and Bláthnaid McCaul are originally from Magheracloone.

Another inclusive moment came with a Lámh sign language demonstration. Afterwards, everyone present signed the chorus of Ireland’s Call together. Lámh is a key word sign system used by children and adults in Ireland with an intellectual disability and communication needs.

By the time Carrickmacross World Choir closed the night with a lively set that included Imagine, Something Inside So Strong and Hallelujah, the evening had become a warm review of community talent, shared culture and the renewed life of the centre itself.