Last September, many buildings in Armagh participated in the annual European Heritage Open Days, sponsored by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. As part of the experience, the NIEA organised a ‘Teddy’s Day Out’ Photography Competition, encouraging young visitors to bring a teddy with them and to record the bear’s visit to the buildings during the EHOD weekend.
Local girl, Emily Berry, won third prize in Northern Ireland for her photograph of teddy in Armagh Public Library. Library volunteer, Zena Dawson had encouraged Emily to take the photograph and was present when Emily and her Mother, Fiona, paid a return visit to show Emily’s certificate.
Alan Turkington and Natalie O’Rourke from NIEA joined Emily for the visit. Alan Turkington said, “European Heritage Open Days 2012 were a great success, with over 61,000 visitors of all ages to over 300 separate events. We were delighted with the high quality of entries to the Photographic and Children’s Art Competitions, in particular Emily’s photo of Armagh Public Library.”
Armagh Public Library and No 5 Vicars’ Hill will be open for this year’s EHOD days on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September 2013, when Library staff and volunteers will welcome visitors to these two eighteenth century Armagh buildings.
