By Daire Ni Chanain
A local choir held a candlelight sing-along in the city centre this week to encourage the community to come together and Sing for Peace. Ardmore Folk Group hosted One City One Voice in the hopes that singing together could build strong and lasting peace in the city.
The first Sing for Peace was held in May after the murder of journalist Lyra McKee were over 1,000 people sang in unison to show that the city is not defined by the violent acts of a small number of individuals.
Dr Nicola Herron, one of the event’s organisers, said, “No one really knew what to do after her murder so we organised a sing along and it was really beautiful and healing for a lot of people. It brought people back together again and let us get that message across that the people of Derry want peace.”
Nicola says everyone was welcome to take part in this event, regardless of singing ability, in the hopes that the singing would be heard far and wide and that it would ‘continue the peace movement’ during this festive period. She says that they sang songs that everyone knew so that as many people as possible would join the chorus.
“Every little voice makes our one big voice stronger,” was the message for the event so schools, choirs, youth groups and individuals all came along on the night to show that the city is united in wanting peace.
“Violence is a part of our past, not our present – and it certainly wont be a part of our future,” says Dr Herron, “and events like these really get that message across.”
The sing-along took place on Wednesday December 11 in the Guildhall.
