From Heaney to Appalachia: The Old Courthouse launches ‘Journeys’ heritage programme

Audiences are being invited to step into the past and explore shared cultural journeys through a new heritage programme at The Old Courthouse Theatre, presented by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

Titled Journeys, the series brings together live performance, music and storytelling to reflect on culture, place and movement through time, offering a varied programme designed to resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick, said the initiative provides a powerful way to connect with history through the arts.

She said:

“The Journeys series at The Old Courthouse Theatre offers people the chance to explore our shared history through words, music and performance.”

Running from Saturday 21 February to Wednesday 13 May 2026, the programme features four distinctive productions, each exploring a different aspect of heritage, migration and identity.

The series opens with Words on the Wind on Saturday 21 February (7.30pm–9.30pm), a spoken-word and poetry performance inspired by the landscapes that shaped one of Ireland’s most loved poets, Seamus Heaney.

The evening promises an evocative reflection on place, memory and the natural world through carefully crafted verse.

On Saturday 28 February (7.30pm–9.30pm), Echo’s of the Land tells a music-led story of two remarkable women — Jenny O’Doherty in 1848 and Isabel Louden in 1909 — as they leave Ireland behind to forge new lives in America.

The production brings a strong human interest focus, exploring courage, loss and hope through narrative and song.

Music takes centre stage again on Saturday 7 March (7.30pm–9.20pm) with From Ireland to Appalachia, tracing the journey of traditional Irish music across the Atlantic, where it evolved into Appalachian folk and bluegrass.

Live performances showcase the shared roots of these musical traditions, highlighting how culture travels and transforms over time.

The series concludes on Wednesday 13 May (7.30pm–9.30pm) with Return to The Native, Hotbuckle Theatre’s inventive adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native.

Following the passionate and restless Eustacia Vye, the production blends live music, humour and multi-role performance to bring the classic story of longing and tragedy vividly to life.

Organisers say each event has been created to provide a reflective and engaging experience, encouraging audiences not only to enjoy the performances but also to consider how stories, music and people shape collective history.

Tickets for all performances are available via https://theoldcourthousetheatre.com.