Cycling Through the Rural Landscapes of Galway City

As part of Galway city's contribution to Ireland's Heritage Week, 'Friend of the Eglinton' Brendan Smith organised on Sunday last an educational cycle journey through some of the most interesting historical and scenic localities on the east side of the city.In spite of the atrocious stormy weather, participating cyclists enjoyed a trip through an alternative Galway city, one that moved over small country roads, past ruined castles, rocky landscapes, abandoned farms, bogs, hills, lakes, dykes, turloughs, woodlands, picturesque villages, meadows and idyllic botharins.
Three of the younger residents of the Eglinton took part.

Great Crowds & Tasty Foods at Intercultural Barbeque!

Patrick Prepares a Congolese Barbecue

Saturday's Intercultural Barbecue at the Spanish Arch was an outstanding success.

This Food Stand served barbecued meats that was both Hot & Chile!

For a few hours, the August rains stopped and sunshine warmed the big crowds that turned up to enjoy along the banks of the river mouth-watering charcoal meat dishes from Ireland, Africa and South America.

An Ethiopian & Sierra Leonese Friendship

Irish Government Minister, Eamon Ó Cuiv and Mayor of Galway, Councillor Declan McDonnell paid tribute to the way local people have warmly welcomed its new non-nationals residents to the city.Truly a City of the Tribes!

Fun & Food Intercultural Festival in Galway - August 29!

Eglinton Ladies Play Their Part in Making the Volvo Boat Race A Success for Galway!

Female residents of the Eglinton played their part in laying the groundwork for the success of the round-the-world Volvo Boat Race's stay in Galway. This is the first time that this famous race came to Ireland and most of the people in Galway seemed to be involved in some way in supporting this event .
The Eglinton ladies helped clear refuse from the beaches of Salthill on the Sunday before the yachts arrival from Boston as part of a major clean-up of 7 local beaches coordinated by Atlantaquaria, Ireland's National Aquarium of Ireland.
Over 80 volunteers from all walks of life turned up to pick up debris.

Day Trip to The Turoe Pet Farm

the children from the Eglinton Preschool will be going on a daytrip to The Turoe Pet Farm on 8th April 2009. Wishing them all and their brilliant teachers and wonderful volunteers a fun day !!!

Thanks to Judith, Christiana and Ogechi for attending the recent Intercultural Forum in City Hall.

The next committee meeting is on Monday, 30th March 2009 at 11am. A silk scarf painting workshop is currently being organised.

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY TO EVERYONE

The St. Patrick's Day Parade in the city centre will begin at 12.30pm on Tuesday, 17th March 2009.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy 1st birthday to Bisola whose first birthday party was held in the Eglionton on 14th March 2009.

WELCOME TO OUR MANY NEW RESIDENTS.

Congratulations to Njllah

Congratulations to Njllah who got her papers to remain in Ireland.

Well Done David

Well Done to David Givich whose rugby team recently won the golden Plate, each team member received a medal.

At the moment Brendan Smith and a working group from the Eglinton Hotel are working alongside with Aidan Gray from An Taisce to organise some coastal-based activities including a day trip and exhibition, further information will be posted as soon as possible.

A big well done to Nnamdi Ukah who organised a forum on Friday, 13th March 2009 in the Menlo Park Hotel for residents of the three direct provision hostels (The Eglinton Hotel, The Great Western Hostel and Lisbrook House) in Galway to register them to vote in their local elections. The forum was hugely successful and well attended. A big thank you to Triona and Suzanne from the GRSG for helping and attending, also much thanks and gratitude to TD Frank Fahey and local councillors Mary Leahy, Billy Cameron, Tom Costello and representatives from The Igbo Community, the Edo Community and the Africa Centre for attending and for supporting all the residents. A special thanks also to Garda Ronan McNulty for providing the transport for the residents from the Eglinton Hotel.

Lorraine from AIDS WEST is holding Health Information Sessions in the Eglinton on Tuesdays. Currently there are two classes in progress, 11am-12pm on Tuesday mornings and 3-4pm on Tuesday afternoons

High Turnout for Voter Registration

With local government elections only a few months (June) away, there was a very positive response by Eglinton residents towards the recent voter registration event held in the Menlo Park Hotel. People were delighted that a number of national and local politicians turned up to talk to asylum seekers and others about the issues that effects their daily lives.

Frank Fahey TD dancing with residents at the Eglinton Adult Christmas Party Dec 2008

Following on from this registration event, Frank Fahey- member of the national parliament (Daíl Éireann)- visited the Eglinton on Friday last to converse further with residents and inform them that he is having an Information event for Eglinton residents within the next weeks. This event will be held in the nearby KCRMA bar where we held our Christmas Adult Party.

Computer Courses Coming to an End

Participants on the recent DERI Internet Awareness Course- (L-R) Lucky, Shpresa & Vivian

The Fetac Computer Course organised by the Galway City VEC (Vocational Education Committee) and the Internet Awareness Course provided by the DERI Institute at Galway University (NUIG) will be ending soon.
Whilst the VEC may not be providing any similar programme again in the Eglinton due to recent state cutbacks, nevertheless it is hoped that DERI can still continue to do so. However this possibility depends primarily on the commitment of Eglinton residents according to DERI's course tutor and Outreach Officer Brendan Smith.
According to Brendan, "It is essential that Eglinton residents that sign up for learning programmes provided by outside voluntary individuals and groups actually attend all sessions. Otherwise it undermines future opportunities for the Eglinton residents as the resources and committments available to many of these volunary support organisations and individuals are becoming increasingly limited. In the future, they will probably go to work where both the demand and class participation is shown to be high."

Increase in the Amounts of Opening Hours of Computer Room?

Finally there are negotiations presently taking place with mangement to try and ensure that the Eglinton Computer Room is opened every weekday morning and evening for a minimum amount of hours.
Unfortunately, reliance of student volunteer supervisors alone has been problematic over the last year due to a combination of exams, holidays and lectures.
We hope to have news on this issue within the next two weeks.
So Watch this Space!!

Asylum Seekers are Urged to Attend Health Information Day at Galway University

Galway Refugee Support Group (GRSG) National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG)

present
Health Services Information Open Day
March 25th 2009
11am – 4pm
Orbsen Building, NUIG

Information stalls from 50 different health-related organisations and service providers including those concerning cancer, citizen’s information, complementary health, depression, drugs awareness, mental health, nutrition, organic food, sexual health, etc… as well as fitness, health checks and health screening

This is a FREE event, and is open to EVERYBODY
New residents of Galway, refugees and asylum seekers are particularly welcome.
This is an opportunity to find out about all the health services that are available in Galway.
The event is in the Orbsen building and will be signposted from all entrances to the University
For full details contact helengrsg@eircom.net or GRSG on 091 779083

Eglinton Residents All at Sea!

There are plans to set up a new group in the Eglinton whose aim is to promote an awareness of the importance of keeping Ireland's seashores clean as well as to increase knowledge of the country's marine wildlife.

Last Tuesday, 10 residents met with Aidan Gray from Coastwatch Ireland and Sandra Flavin from An Taisce (Ireland's Heritage Watch group) as well as Brendan Smith from Galway University who organised the meeting in Atlantaquaria.

The idea was to set up an Eglinton branch of Coastwatch Ireland. It was agreed that efforts would be made to organise a bus trip to a beach in Connemara that would combine an enjoyable day trip with an environmental learning experience for the adult residents of our asylum seekers' accommodation.

For this trip, Aidan will act as ecological guide and educate participants on the species that inhabit the rock pools and shoreline. He intends to give a talk in the Eglinton next month before the trip takes places which is expected to be in late April.

In May, it is planned that the residents will participate as a distinct group in the largest one-day clean up ever of Irish coastal areas. It is being coordinated by Collete Lavin of the nearby Atlantaquaria (Ireland's national aquarium centre) and will take place all along the Salthill waterfront which as we know is literally outside the doors of the Eglinton. This event will form part of the lead-up to the arrival of the round-the-world Volvo Boat Race to Galway in May.

Residents hope that involvement in such pro-active volunteer schemes such as Coastwatch Ireland will help in the integration of asylum seekers into Irish society.

For further information, contact any member of the Eglinton Residents Committee or Carole Raftery at reception