29-05-2025
Paws for thought: Bears bring bible to life in Ballinamallard
A cuddly teddy bear festival showcasing 28 installations representing Bible stories will take place at Magheracross Parish Church in Ballinamallard on Friday, 30 May.
There will also be an exhibit of the 'Teddy Bears' Picnic' in Ballinamallard's Archdale Hall, where refreshments will be served to accompany the three-day event.
Opening the festival is the Bishop of Clogher, Right Rev. Dr Ian Ellis, at 11am on Friday, supported by the Ballinamallard Primary School choir.
The festival will run from Friday until Sunday, closing with a performance from the Silvertones Male Voice Choir in the evening, around 5pm.
Speaking to the Impartial Reporter ahead of the festival was one of the event organisers, Valerie McMorris.
she said: 'It's just to try and portray Bible stories and bring them to life for people.
'There has been a lot of hard work gone into the festival, one exhibit, especially Noah's Ark, is all knitted.
'Each organisation has put their own take on a Bible story they were given to do,' Mrs. McMorris added.
'The Chernobyl charity shop in Irvinestown has done a display of the Christmas Story. Unfortunately, the lady's mother-in-law has passed away, but we are still doing it in her memory and in honour of the Easter story.
'It's titled 'In memory of Valda'.'
The local community has come together to create the exhibition, including members from the Magheracross Parish Sunday School, Mothers' Union, Girls' Friendly Society, and the Mallard Flyers Cycle Club, to Rev. Lorraine Capper herself. Just to name a few!
'It's just to encourage adults and children to read their Bible, because when they see the exhibits, they can relate to the stories and see how they could have possibly looked.'
When asked what she was excited about regarding the upcoming event, Mrs. McMorris said: 'I think it's exciting because it's different, and it hopefully will jog people's memories of the different stories in the Bible.
'We hope to have local councillors and politicians at the festival, Lord Tom Elliot of Ballinamallard, he's going to be there.'
A booklet will be available with details of each of the installations and the Bible story they relate to.
'The exhibits that are in at the moment, you don't even have to look at the booklet, you know exactly what it is before you read about it,' Mrs. McMorris added.
For more information on the teddy bear festival, visit the Magheracross Parish Church Facebook page:
