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Enda Dolan guitar workshop returns for third year

The Red Balloon workshop will be held at South West College in Omagh
The Red Balloon workshop will be held at South West College in Omagh The Red Balloon workshop will be held at South West College in Omagh

A GUITAR workshop for young people set up in memory of a Co Tyrone teenager is returning for its third year.

Around 60 youngsters aged between eight and 18 are to take part in next week's Red Balloon Guitar Workshop in Omagh.

The five-day event is organised by the Enda Dolan Foundation, created in honour of the 18-year-old following his tragic death in 2014.

Enda, from Killyclogher, died after being knocked down by a drunk driver while walking to his student accommodation in south Belfast.

His family have campaigned for tougher court sentences for killer drivers.

The Red Balloon workshop, named after a song Enda had written and performed, will be held at South West College.

It will involve tutors passing on their skills and local musicians dropping by to speak about their careers and inspirations.

Enda's father Peter Dolan, one of the event's co-ordinators, said his son was a "talented guitarist" and they wanted to "encourage young people to use the instrument".

"Enda was a student of architecture at Queen's University, but I think really that was only a front – he really wanted to be a rock star," he said.

"The idea of having a guitar workshop and getting young people in, encouraging them to play the guitar and enhancing their existing guitar skills, is a great concept.

"It's just great to hear the sound of the guitar, and over the week you can hear the students evolving and getting better and growing in confidence."

The workshop takes place from Monday July 31 to Friday August 4 at South West College, Omagh, from 10am to 3pm each day. Phone Niamh on 07754538291 for further details.