Diverse local line-up opens up about new beginnings

A diverse line-up of local people shared personal tales of transformation and new beginnings recently when the highly-reputed Tenx9 storytelling event came to Omagh.

Making themselves vulnerable and exposing true – and, often, testing – chapters from their own lives, nine contributors got in front of the microphone in Bogan’s Bar last on February 29 .

Some of those who laid themselves bare before the well-attended audience were Margaret Geelin, Mandy Chism, Paddy McGrath and Charlotte Turnball.

The event was run in partnership with the Integrated Education Fund, a group that champion inclusive schooling in the North.

Present on the night was Gareth Mackey McElduff, an Omagh man and fundraising campaign officer for the Integrated Education Fund.

“The event is run kind of like a TedTalk, with nine people getting up and telling ten-minute stories,” began Gareth.

However, you do not have to be a silver-tongued raconteur to talk at Tenx9, as Gareth explained.

“Is it all about normal people telling true stories from their own lives,” he said.

“The theme varies from night to night, but last week in Omagh it was all about new beginnings.”

Given the nature of the subject, many of those who spoke revealed some of the most intimate and painful parts of their lives.

“It was really special to be a part of, to be honest,” reflected Gareth.

“We (Integrated Education Fund) were there for outreach purposes, to hand out literature about how schools can make the move towards becoming integrated and talk about the integrated ethos generally.

“But some of the stories were heard really knocked us off our feet.

“Margaret Geeling spoke about working to establish integrated education in the town before the peace process had begun. Paddy McGrath told us about losing his brother, finding himself falling down a slippery slope, but somehow managing to turn his life around. Mandy Chism shared her incredibly difficult story about losing her daughter and how her life completely changed afterwards. And then you had the likes of Charoltte Turnball speaking too, and she brought her own unique different personality and perspective. Honestly, though, everybody was brilliant.”

Tenx9 was a format invented and established in Belfast in 2011 by Paul Doran and Pádraig Ó Tuama.

It is now a touring event that often works along with the Integrated Education Fund to help inform people about the far-reaching social and personal benefits of shared
schooling.