Mrs Lisa Holmes Shirley's Visit to North Wales - 21st - 30th April 2026
The North Wales Jamaica Society is set to welcome Jamaican, Mrs Lisa Holmes Shirley, as part of the international partnership that is reconnecting Wales and Jamaica through education, heritage and culture, with a programme of visits to schools, community groups, and cultural organisations.
Mrs Lisa Holmes Shirley, Principal of Effortville Primary School in Clarendon, Jamaica, welcomed the first group to visit Jamaica in 2024, with her pupils taking part in an Eisteddfod put on specially as part of the wider “Building Bridges of Friendship” initiative.
This project is led by the North Wales Jamaica Society and Bangor based, Learning Links International, to develop strong links between North Wales and communities in Clarendon, Jamaica, and this final visit is part of the Welsh Government-funded Taith programme, which gives opportunites to young people and adults to learn through international exchange visits.
A key focus of the visit will be for Mrs Holmes – Shirley, will be exploring the shared cultural tradition of the Eisteddfod, Wales’ historic festival of music, poetry, and performance—which has surprising and little-known links to Jamaica.
In 1897, to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, Eisteddfod-style events were part of celebrations around the world. In Jamaica an Eisteddfod was held in Kingston at the Institute of Jamaica. This moment marked the beginning of a cultural connection that would later influence Jamaica’s own Festival traditions post-Independence cultural activities in schools and communities. This is now managed by the Jamaican Commission for Cultural Development JCDC.
Today, that connection is being rediscovered and reimagined. Schools involved in the ‘Building Bridges of Friendship’ project in Jamaica, including Effortville Primary, are exploring how their Eisteddfod-style activities are a way of celebrating their culture, creativity, and community, which is now seen as creating a modern bridge between the two nations.
During her two week stay in Bangor, Mrs Lisa Holmes Shirley will:
- Visit local schools to explore Welsh heritage and bilingual teaching
- Develop future partnerships between schools in Wales and Jamaica
- Contribute to ongoing discussions about shared histories and cultural exchange
- Also to share Jamaican culture and educational approaches
Liz Millman of Learning Links International said:
“Lisa’s visit represents something very special. It brings together history, education, and culture in a way that allows both Wales and Jamaica to learn from each other. The Eisteddfod is a powerful example of how traditions can travel—and how they can be reimagined in new and meaningful ways.”
Lisa Holmes Shirley said:
“It is a privilege to visit Wales and to experience the culture and traditions that have shaped the Eisteddfod. To see how this connects with our work in Jamaica is both inspiring and exciting, especially for our young people. I am looking forward to visiting as many schools as I can and the North Wales Jamaica Society will be putting on events and activities with local communities, cultural groups, and heritage organisations, to strengthen the links between Bangor and Clarendon."
The “Building Bridges of Friendship” programme continues to highlight how international learning exchange can deepen understanding, build lasting relationships, and create opportunities for future generations.
For more information about the visit - contact NWJS Chair Garrick Prayogg vis this contact page.