DRUMMING

Drumming with Benjamin resumes on Friday 16th April 2010 at the Church area.

All residents are welcome.

AFRICA DAY GALWAY EVENTS

Spirit of AFRICA DAY SCHOOLS SOCCER CUP, will be taking place at MERVUE UNITED FC pitch on FRIDAY 21 MAY FROM 10am until 2pm.

Prizes available for winners, players and schools best jersey design!

Organisers are now in the process of inviting boys and girl’s school players aged 8 -9 to take part and represent an African nation in the series of games and ultimate final.

From 10 May, participating schools will also receive Free Art workshops, Players jerseys and Educational Cultural guest visits from members of the African Community. A promotional photoshoot opportunity is also planned for Saturday 1 May in Eyre Square.
The evening Music concert event will take place at the Quays bar Galway on Africa day Tuesday 25 may featuring the launch of TOLUKINGS "Story Story" CD, from Galway's latest African calypso group, Line up to be announced also presents Young rhythm poets Lucky and friends, a Fashion Show and Cultural Dance Group.
All events are FREE admission, and aim to celebrate the cultural diversity of the African continent.
This will be the third AFRICA DAY GALWAY EVENT organized by Spirit of Voice productions. Previous live music outdoor concerts, fashion shows and talent competitions have been held in Eyre Square , NUIG Bar, Lisbrook house and on the World Volvo Ocean Race Stage Galway last year.
For further information, contact Gerry Mulkerrins
AFRICA DAY GALWAY EVENTS
Spirit of Voice Productions
Tel 086 336 7129
email : eqfx@eircom.net
www.spiritofvoice.com

WELOCME BACK

We would like to welcome back Caoimhin, our great volunteer who is back in the hotel to open up the computer room every saturday morning from 10 am,

CONGATULATIONS

Congratulations to Nnamdi, Chinenye and family who are celebrating the dedication of their daughter, Felicity on the 28th March at the TREM church on the Tuam Road from 11 am. If any residents require transport, please contact Nnamdi.

DRUMMING

Drumming classes resume in the Eglinton Hotel from 1st April 2010 from 5 pm. All residents are welcome

VOLUNTEER

There is a new volunteer, Caoimhin to open the computer room on Saturday mornings from 10am. All residents are welcome.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS

Georgeba is currently organising a group of residents to take part in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Please contact her for more information.

There was a large turnout for the AkiDwa event in The Menlo Park Hotel last week regarding FGM. For further info and to see photo's please log onto AkiDwa's faceBook Page.

CHILDREN'S & ADULT' S CHRISTMAS PARTIES

Christmas party for the children was a huge success. A big thank you to Santa and all the helpers including Suzanna, Maieve, Verenice, Zebraworld volunteers and residents

Adults Christmas party - Very good night. A big thank you to Fiona, Maanager and staff at the Bal Pub, Salthill. Also thanks to the Management and Staff of the Eglinton Hotel and the Great Western Hostels.

Committee Members: Alice, Anne, Ogechi, Santos, Ali, Ayuu, Alan, DJ Filipe.
For more pictures of the christmas party click here

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!

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.

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!!

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

Chidi Gets Residency Status!

Congrats to Chidi for recently securing residency status!
Everyone in the Eglinton is delighted as she is a very popular lady due to her voluntary activities on behalf of local asylum-seekers.
Her greatest achievement was her key role in organising last year's highly successful Fashion Show which gained very positive national exposure both locally and nationally.
We wish her and her family all the very best for the future.

Alan Gallagher - Rest In Peace

Alan Gallagher (centre) at the recent Asylum Seekers Christmas Party 2008

The Eglinton residents extend their sincere condolences to the friends, work colleagues and family of Alan Gallagher on his recent and tragic death.
Just before Christmas, Alan was commissioned by his employer, the Galway Independent, to photograph the attendees at Galway's first Christmas Party for Adult Asylum Seekers in the KCRMA (see article below).
This he did and he amicably chatted to so many of us on the night as he went about setting up and photographing smiley happy people!
A number of his photographs of the occasion subsequently appeared in the Christmas edition of the Galway Independent thus raising the morale of the residents of both the Eglinton and the Great Western Centres.

Was Santa Too Friendly with the Eglinton Staff?!!

(Click on photographs for larger version)

A number of children noticed that Santa Claus during his visit to the Eglinton seemed to be over-familiar with the some of the staff. Very Suspicious!Our Advice is that next year Santa should keep his hands off the adults!

Christmas Day 2008 in the Eglinton

Thanks to all the staff of the Eglinton for making Christmas so special to the residents. We really appreciate your efforts!

Children's Christmas Party in the Eglinton

Well done to Santa and his trusty band of helpers for giving so much enjoyment to the young residents at the Eglinton Children's Christmas Party.
Click here to enjoy loads more photographs of this wonderful occasion.