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

TREE PLANITING

There will be a tree planting ceremony and forest clean up in Terryland Forest Park from 12pm Sunday 28th March 2010. The park is located on the Dyke Road, by the Black Box Theatre, the entrance is at the side of Curry's. This project is being led by the forever inspirational Mr Brendan Smith and attendance will be appreciated. If residents need transport please inform Carole at reception.

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.

New Photographs from the Fashion Show 2009

The African Fashion Show took place on the 5th December 2009 at the Community Centre in Roscam. Ladies of the Eglinton Hotel showed off the expertise of Alice Fashion Designs of all colours and designs which highlighted the night.
Click here to see many photographs from this most colourful occassion

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.

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!

Galway's First Christmas Party for Adult Asylum Seekers!

It is not only the children that have fun at Christmas! For the first Christmas Party for the Galway city's Adult Asylum Seekers held in the Slavic-themed KRCMA in Salthill was an outstanding success thanks to the ever-hardworking, ever-smiling Carole Raftery & her band of trusty resident volunteers.
Special guest of honour was Frank Fahey TD (introduced by Brendan Smith), one of our local political representative in the Irish national parliament (Dáil Éireann) who really got into the spirit of the occasion as he bopped away on the dance floor!
For more photographs from this great occasion, click here!

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.

Big Intercultural Festival Barbeque competition in Spanish Arch this Saturday!

A wonderful new initiative is being organised to promote and celebrate Galway’s cultural diversity. The barbeque event will see the Spanish Arch in the city being transformed into a colourful and vibrant festival of cooking, music, entertainment and international culture. The entire event will take place this Saturday, the 28th of June 2008, from 10am till 5pm.

This is an initiative of Galway City Community Forum and Galway City Partnership, both non-profit organisations working in the local community and voluntary sector.

This is similar to an existing event which runs every April/May in Limerick, organised by the Irish BBQ Association, please see link to coverage of the Limerick World Barbeque Cook Off: http://www.riverfeast.ie/.

The barbeque will be organised into a minimum of 25 teams with each team having its own fully equipped cooking area. Teams can enter on a country basis. So far we received registration forms from such countries as: Romania, Brasil, Portugal, Poland, The United States of America, Nigeria, India, Phillipino and many more. Teams will have 2,5 hours to grill a piece of chicken and a piece of beef according to cooking traditions from their home countries. Meat will be provided by the organisers, teams have to bring over their own spices and a panel of judges will access them in at least three major categories: the most tasteful piece of meat, the best served meal and the general look of the stall, as team can decorate their stall the way they will represent their home countries. The vegeterian option will be available, too.

A music festival and bands from all over the world will accompany the barbeque competition.
The music festival is co-organised with Sean Agus Nua, the project focusing on multiculturalism in Galway.

For further details please contact Ernest Bishop on the following contact details:

Ernest Bishop Galway City Partnership 086-2440677

What A Show!

Last Thursday's Reap the Runway Fashion Show was an Outstanding Success. It achieved top marks for Stylish Clothing, Creativity, Innovative Design, Beautiful Models, Zany Presenters, Gorgeous Door staff, Cultural interchange, Popular Music and Audience participation.
Organised by the wonderful hard-working trio of Chidi, Suzanne and Carole supported by the Eglinton Residents' Support Committee, the event secured a high-level of local and national media attention in the weeks leading up to the event. Photo: Suzanne, Carole & Chidi

But the African-themed show was more than a once-off soon-to-be -forgotten activity. For it has made a lasting impression amongst asylum-seekers scattered across Galway City by generating a sense of pride and togetherness that has bonded the diverse communities living in the Eglinton, Lisbrook House and the Great Western. Not only that, but it has also helped to break down barriers and create a strong feeling of 'solidarity' between staff, management, present and former residents of these three centres.

It was a joy to behold staff and support members Anne Keady, Dr. Hans Olaf-Pieper and Noemi Farkas strutting their stuff on the catwalk and to watch the smiles of satisfaction on the faces of Patrick McGovern(Eglinton), Pat O'Connor and Caitlin Dolan(Lisbrook). Just as important was the active involvement on the night of former residents such as Natasha, Anastacia and Dmitry as well as the presence of former Eglinton committee members Helena Heagney,Adrienne Lynam and Cliona Sheehan.
Photographs of the event were taken by Dr. Hans Piper & Brendan Smith (a.k.a. 'Computer Man'). Further photographs will be posted on the website later this week.

Treasured Memories from the 'Reap the Runway'

Repertoire of presenters David & Ellen. Ellen 's wisecracks had the crowd constantly laughing in the aisles and made her into one of the stars of the event. She truely belongs on a big international stage. - Go to it Girl!!

Chidi's & Carole's amazing hairdos
Patrick McGovern's ear-to-ear smileStunning African Head Gear

Anne Keady's 'Shaking that Ass' routine
Noemi Farkas (centre) models the new uniform hopefully being considered by Patrick for Eglinton reception staff (male & female)!

Maria's Dual-Coloured Dress

Galway's Finest Door staff!
Dr. Han's impersonation of an on-stage 'Full Monty' (photo shows Hans being cheered by dozens of his adoring female fans!)
The Child Models- they stole the show and had everyone on their feet applauding
Galway's Best-Dressed Audience ever!!!
Ireland's Prettiest Mother & Daughter Duo
Pat O'Connor (left) appearing without a suit supported by his friendly doctor!

More Fashion Show Photos!
For more photographs from the Fashion Show click here

'The African Voice'

Ireland's No. 1 African newspaper

To view the newspaper website, click here