Cecil Frances Alexander Celebrated
Funded by PEACEPLUS and DCSDC
My name is Sinéad Smyth – artist, educator, counsellor, and mother of three. I run the Inishowen Artists’ Retreat & Studio in Donegal and am passionate about sparking creativity. Having worked with the Churches Trust on several arts engagement projects, I was honoured to be selected as Project Coordinator for Cecil Frances Alexander Celebrated. The Trust is an organisation I have long admired.
My journey has been shaped by education and chance encounters. I studied Geography and later completed a Postgraduate in Education in Coleraine. By accident, I found my first arts job in Belfast’s Crescent Arts Centre, followed by a role with Belfast City Council in 1995, where I was encouraged back towards creativity. After a Certificate in Community Work at Queen’s University and working in environmental education, I traveled across Europe in a camper van, living in Germany with my three-year-old son before returning to live in Donegal. I worked teaching in local schools and returned to creating my own paintings. Art became a lifeline for healing and reflection. This experience, together with an MSc in Counselling and Therapeutic Communication, strengthened my belief in the powerful connection between creativity and wellbeing.
My artwork has since been exhibited with the Royal Ulster Academy, the Boyle Arts Festival, and internationally in Cyprus and Mumbai. I have collaborated with the Turner Prize education team and created cover art for Oisín Leech’s acclaimed album Cold Sea. These experiences inspire my creative approach to co-designing events for the Cecil Frances Alexander (CFA) Celebrated project.
With the guidance of a dedicated Steering Group, we are shaping a diverse programme of cultural and community events across Strabane, Derry, Fahan, Co. Donegal and Killeter, Co. Tyrone.
In Strabane, Each Bird Sings writing workshops exploring the humanitarian and environmental messaging in CFA’s Hymns with journalist and author Kathy Donaghy are available on Eventbrite. An interfaith All Souls Lantern Walking Tour will take place on November 1st, highlighting Cecil Frances Alexander’s legacy. Lantern-making workshops are scheduled at Christchurch (Oct 9th 7-9pm), the Methodist Church (Oct 8th 2-4pm), and Strabane Community Project (date tbc), with further sessions in Killeter.
A Celebration Concert in April 2026 will feature St. Columb’s Cathedral Choir, the Inishowen Gospel Choir, and Strabane’s Chamber and community choirs, culminating in the premiere of a specially commissioned hymn. Educational resources around Alexander’s humanitarian legacy are also being developed for Key Stage 3 schools.
In Derry, a mural project with St. Columb’s Cathedral will invite local schools to take part in creative workshops, supported by Friends of the Cathedral and designed by artist Domnall Starkie.
In Fahan, An Evening by Candlelight at the Old Rectory (Nov 15th) will combine poetry recitals, crochet workshops, harmonies with The Henry Girls, motion theatre, garden sculptures by the Inishowen Carnival Group, and a panel discussion around CFA and connections to nursing among other things, which will be documented by film.
Meanwhile, Killeter will host lantern-making workshops, join us in Strabane for our Lantern Walk, assist in the development of a tourist bus trail around CFA and host film documentation taken from our November 15th panel discussion in Fahan.
There is much to coordinate, but I am grateful for the support of several experienced, knowledgeable people and am enjoying every moment.
The Churches Trust
