The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor

• News Archives
• April 2024
• March 2024
• February 2024
• January 2024
• December 2023
• November 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023

Patrick’s Mysterious Adventure underway in Broughshane

Thursday March 15th 2018

Play It By Ear actors Chris Neilands and Ross Jonas led a team retelling the mysterious adventures of St Patrick.

Patrick’s Mysterious Adventure 2018 is underway in St Patrick’s, Broughshane, with four local schools attending on the first day, March 14.

In each session the pupils were divided into two groups, and while group one took part in two workshops, group two was led around the interactive story trail.

Visit our Patrick’s Mysterious Adventure 2018 PHOTO ALBUM.

There was a history workshop, where the pupils got to know a bit more about St Patrick’s life and character, and an art workshop, where the pupils drew Celtic crosses onto canvas.

The Rev Canon Stuart Lloyd, former rector of Ballymena Parish, led the history workshop and shared local knowledge about St Patrick and his connections to Slemish Mountain.

Through the interactive story trail, actors brought the story of Patrick to life as the audience was led around the trail, learning about Patrick’s capture by pirates, his slavery in Ireland and his consequent escape after six long years.  

The story then moved on to Patrick’s calling by God which eventually led him back to Ireland as a bishop to share the Christian faith with the Irish people.

There was fun and humour along the way as the pupils were captured alongside Patrick and put on the pirate ship to row to Ireland.

The acting cast is this year led by Ross Jonas and Chris Neilands from the Play It By Ear drama company, along with Aimee Gibson, Victoria Jackson, Andrew Neill and Stephen Whitten, members of Connor’s Children’s and Youth Councils as well as Richard Reade, Violet Lucas, Amanda Gregg and Sarah Gamble, from Broughshane Parish.

The schools took part in two competitions which they completed prior to the trip. Tuesday’s winners included Hazelbank Primary who won the ‘Design a 3D snake’ class competition for ‘Sammy,’ their amazing moveable cup snake. The pupils took away a prize of £200 for their class.

Annie from St Paul’s Primary won the ‘Design and colour a snake pattern’ competition, winning £50 for herself. There were lots runner-up prizes of Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies too!  The team welcomes four more schools on Thursday March 15.

Special visitors on the first day included Archdeacon Paul Dundas and Keith Turner from UUP leader Robin Swann’s office.

Back to latest news