It is with great sadness that we have to report the sad and untimely death of Joe Sheehy.
Joe was the first coordinator of the Poetry in Motion project within New Belfast Community Arts Initiative. It was through Joe’s visionary concept of producing poets, engaging with schools and communities that New Belfast was able to produce such groundbreaking work as ‘You Can’t Eat Flags For Breakfast’ and Poetry in Motion for Schools.
Joe subsequently became coordinator of the entire operation of New Belfast, engaging a new group of Trustees and new relationships across the city. However, owing to ill health, Joe had to leave the organisation in 2002. Since then Joe had struggled with very poor health.
Joe will be remembered fondly by Trustees, Staff and Project Artists as a gentleman and a true advocate for the healing and transformative power of community arts. We would like to extend our condolences to his family circle at this sad time.