Write a commentAn event at the weekend that aimed to show Newry's cultural diversity has been praised by Newry and Mourne Council Mayor, Michael Ruane.
The Mayor opened the “Cultural Experience” event held in the Canal Court Hotel on Saturday. He pointed out that Newry and Mourne has become an increasingly diverse society with people from all over the world choosing to make the towns and villages in our area their home. He praised the Irish Churches Peace Project, Embrace, the Newry and District Inter-Church Forum and Newry and Mourne District Council for organising the event.
The event brought people from Western and Eastern Europe, America, Africa and Asia together with local people to explore the benefits of experiencing different cultures and the issues of cultural diversity in Northern Ireland.
After the event one person said, “I enjoyed meeting people from other countries. The short film and the panel discussion were really informative. The music was excellent.”
The Irish Churches Peace Project is supported by the European Union’s PEACE III Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. It seeks to work with churches and church related groups to promote good relations, cultural diversity and social cohesion.
Embrace is a group of Christians working together to promote a positive response to people seeking asylum, refugees, migrant workers. The Newry District Inter-church Forum is made up of people from various churches and has organised a number of events to help build good relations across the Newry and Mourne District.
At the event Vessy and Nikolay Ivanov, from Bulgaria played music from Hungary, Argentina and Israel, whilst Zac from Colorado gave a musical insight into his experience of living in Northern Ireland.
A table quiz allowed the participants to work together as they answered rounds on cultural traditions, statistics on migration and on attitudes towards migrants in Northern Ireland.
The panel discussion with people who have moved to Northern Ireland, and one person from Newry who had lived in Nepal, brought people’s personal experiences to the fore. For each person who has spent several years living in Northern Ireland the word ‘home’ has become slightly confusing. Does ‘home’ mean the place I was born and raised? Or is ‘home’ where I have made my new life?
A short series of events will continue to explore the issues of cultural diversity in more depth. Two evening events will take place on 14 and 21 May at 7:30pm in the Canal Court Hotel. The series will conclude with a residential in Derry/Londonderry. The course is open to both ‘new residents’ and ‘locals’. To register contact the Irish Churches Peace Project email: admin@icpp.info
