THE ghost of Dopey Dick will thrill the crowds on his return to the banks of the Foyle this Halloween but there is a practical element to the reappearance of the North West’s favourite Killer Whale.
Thousands of spectators will line the riverfront on Monday October 31st in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the replica whale on the water, just as they did for the genuine article almost 40 years ago.
The Orca Whale first appeared back in November 1977 after apparently being drawn into Lough Foyle in search of salmon.
He spent several days in the city centre and, after a number of failed attempts to guide him back to the Atlantic Ocean, left of his own accord on Saturday November 12th with his place in local folklore secured.
The latest incarnation is the brain child of The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design Royal College of Art in partnership with the Public Health Agency.
They have built a life size version covered by patch work quilts to help them engage with the public about how the river can be best used for recreation and promoting health and wellbeing.
The wooden structure has been positioned on the riverside on a number of occasions, most recently during this year’s Foyle Maritime Festival, where the public were encouraged, through a number of activities, to speak with researchers about the use of the river and its future.
Brendan Bonner, Head of Health Improvement in the PHA said: “The study seeks to consider how the redesign of the current river walkways can be enhanced with the use of technology and the creative arts to increase usage to help improve health and wellbeing.
“It is hoped the project will help change the perceptions of the river and change the environment to one that promotes physical activity, creativity and learning with the potential for income generation and promotion of positive health and social wellbeing messages.”
Phase one of this two year project began in early 2016 and has already involved a wide range of stakeholder events in collaboration with the local community as well as the voluntary, public and private sectors.
Dopey will be positioned in Waterloo Place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 31st October between midday and 8 pm where he will be joined by musicians, poets, writers, story tellers and all sorts of features and characters.
Among them will be local groups In Your Space, Echo Echo and local artist Kevin Cassidy as well as choirs and other surprises with the public encouraged to come along and interact.
On Halloween night Dopey will return to his spiritual home on the water from 7 pm with the helpful support of the Lough Agency, Foyle Paddlers and Foyle Search and Rescue.
For more information on events happening in Derry and Strabane over Halloween, download the programme on www.derrystrabane.com/halloween or follow us on Facebook –halloweenderrystrabane.
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