Co Antrim storyteller Liz Weir’s big birthday celebrations go global!

Plans were in place to celebrate Liz’s 70th birthday on October 21 including a huge party and a lightning trip around the world, but it became clear that since hospitality businesses were closed, travel restrictions and quarantines had been imposed and gatherings had been prohibited, something more creative was required.

The Glens Storytelling and Cultural Heritage Group hatched a plan to make the milestone occasion a great one, and a call went out asking her admirers and colleagues around the globe to send short videos to a dedicated email address.

After a few days, 100 videos were assembled into an hour-long tribute to Liz, from Colorado, Arizona, Rhode Island, New York, Australia, Spain, Germany and from all parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland, including from her many friends in her own beloved Glens of Antrim. Donations of money flooded in too, and the group decided how best to put them to use, In recognition of the Co Antrim woman who has done so much for her community and storytellers worldwide, it was decided to commission a portrait of ‘The Story Woman from Ballyeamon’.

Flowers and champagne were scheduled for delivery. A bespoke story was written and rehearsed – and a gifted musician and songwriter composed a song to commemorate the work and life of Liz Weir. And when her big day arrived, although she could not surround herself with the people she loved, they came to her in video, in song and in the spoken word, all delivered virtually to her home.

And the day was rounded off by a visit to Waterfoot Beach at the bottom of the scenic Glenariffe Glen, where a sand sculpture had been designed for Liz with birthday greetings and the image of an open story book.

Liz commented: “It is so lovely to know that even when people cannot be together because of social distancing and restrictions, the world is still a small place, thanks to the virtual world we are all coming to terms with.

“I really appreciate what everyone has done for me: it has made my birthday very special and very memorable.”

The author of several books of stories for children and adults, Liz now teaches storytelling skills across the globe via Zoom. She holds a virtual ceilidh each Saturday night with anything up to 100 people logging on to join in the songs, recitations, music and stories being broadcast each week from Ballyeamon Barn. This is a hostel Liz runs, which in more normal times acted not only as a hostel, but also as a hub for the growing community of storytellers she has helped to create over the years.

She received national recognition in December 2018, when she was awarded the MBE for her services to education and the arts. But the realities of Covid have made her 70th birthday one she will never forget, and a day when her family, friends and colleagues made the world come to her door.

Read a previous story about Liz Weir here

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