The booklet is a product of the innovative Sporting Heroes project, which was developed by the Museum to complement the popular Sporting Heroes exhibition. Earlier this year, pupils from Downpatrick Primary School, St Brigid’s Primary School, Down High’s Prep department, the Convent of Mercy Primary School, St Colmcille’s Primary School and St Patrick’s Boys’ Primary School, worked with one of the UK’s best known children’s authors, Helena Pielichaty, to create pieces of writing about sport and sporting figures.

Helena, the author of many titles including Girls’ FC, a series of 12 books about a girl’s football team, and There’s Only One Danny Ogle, spent time in each of the participating classes talking about the inspiration for her work and helping the pupils to produce their own narrative. The result is a colourful, well written and fascinating glimpse into pupils’ feelings about sporting personalities and their love for sport of all kinds.Producing the booklet, which was sponsored by the Friends of Down County Museum and Flixx Graphics, also helped pupils to greatly enhance their literacy skills and all of the participating pupils were delighted to work with a real life author!

There are plans to run a similar project with local schools next year, to mark Down County Museum’s 30 year anniversary, which will provide pupils with the opportunity to work with an artist and create pieces inspired by the diverse collections on display in the Museum’s permanent exhibitions.

For further details, please contact Linda McKenna at Down County Museum on 028 4461 5218.