Hard Rock Gospel Project exhibition to promote success over sectarianism

Rathcoole in Newtonabbey is on the outskirts of North Belfast and has for a long time held a reputation as a place dominated by Loyalist paramilitaries whose feuding and violence have blighted the lives of the locals.

From 26 - 29 November an exhibition will be held at Ratchcoole Youth Centre to celebrate the achievements and success stories of people born and raised in Rathcoole.

The new exhibition is being organised by the Church of Ireland's Hard Gospel Project together with St Comgall's Parish in Rathcoole, and is meant to show the other, more positive side of Rathcoole.

The exhibition is called "Our Kind of People" and will feature the lives of 85 individuals who live in Rathcoole or attended one of the local schools.

Amongst those featured are former Northern Ireland and Manchester United footballer Jimmy Nicholl, BBC sports commentator Alan Green, playwright Gary Mitchell and George McKim, a former loyalist paramilitary who is now senior pastor of the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle.

Stephen Dallas, the Hard Gospel Project's Northern Ireland officer said, "At a time like this, when people are trying to build a new future for Northern Ireland, it is important that the churches find a role in bringing hope to people in areas like Rathcoole.

"Rathcoole has suffered from high unemployment and poor take-up of training and third-level education for a long time. St Comgall's, along with other churches in the area, are trying to highlight the difference that education and training has made in the lives of the people included in the exhibition.

"We hope to inspire others to have a bigger vision of what is possible for them."

The exhibition will be officially opened by North Belfast MP and DUP MLA Nigel Dodds at 13:30 on Monday 26 November.

The Hard Rock Gospel Project was founded by the Church of Ireland to help counter sectarianism and racism.