Sand artists' love letter to NI children

By Nuala McCann
BBC News

From Rodin's Kiss to a smiling Queen Elizabeth II fashioned from ten tonnes of sand, two artists have made their mark, however ephemeral.

Paul Hoggard and Remy Geerts are sand sculptors

From a mermaid to an elephant - everything can be recreated in sand under the gifted hands of artists Paul Hoggard and Remy Geerts.

Their work is world renowned... but fame hasn't hardened their hearts.

So when Leigh McKay of Ballygally Community Development Association invited them to Northern Ireland, they agreed to waive their usual fee to give local children a day out to remember.

"They are working in Cork and agreed to come and work with children in Ballygally for free. We just paid for the flights," explained Ms McKay.

One of the sand sculptures created by the sand artists

From 1300 BST on Monday, Remy and Paul will be on Ballygally beach on the north Antrim coast working with young people to show them how to recreate masterpieces that are, in essence, transitory.

"Their work is just wonderful. If you've seen their reproduction of Rodin's The Kiss, it is amazing," said Leigh.

"We are just keeping our fingers crossed that the weather is on our side, if not, we'll just get into raincoats and wellys and get on with it."

Visitors are welcome and Remy and Paul will be showing children how to create their own masterpieces - as well as how to cope when they are washed away by time and tide.