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

Multiple Nominations with asylum seekers' connections at Galway City Mayoral Awards

(L-R) Dmitry & Natasha Vershinin (Eglinton); Ted Brennan, Lorraine Tansey (organiser of 'CKI Alive!' student volunteer unit at Galway University) & Aida Chipera (former asylum seeker)
Quite a few of those who received certificates at this week's Mayoral Awards, in recognition of their unselfish and unpaid voluntary efforts on behalf of others, had connections either with the Eglinton Accommodation Centre or with asylum seeking generally.

As we know from a previous article, our very own Dmitry & Natasha were popular candidates for these prestigious honours as well as Ted Brennan, student volunteer in our Computer Room
But there were others:

• Karin Wimmer who has been the top clown and events organiser at our Christmas & Halloween parties over the last few years. Karin has also provided learning courses to our children in her Galway Circus Project which was also nominated for an award and featured recently in a major national television programme
  
• former asylum-seeker Aida Chipera who has achieved a high reputation for her work with Galway community organisations
• Brendan Smith from Galway University. Computer Room organiser & founding member of our Residents Support Committee
• Aydros Hussam from the Westside Asylum Seekers Hostel in Galway City. Aydros is one of the primary motivators in promoting sporting and social activities for his fellow residents and was one of our honoured guests at the launch of our Activity Programme 2007-2008 which was hosted by Irish government minister Eamon Ó Cuiv.
  

Photo: L-R Dmitry, Mayor of Galway City Tom Costello, Natasha & Adrienne Lynam (HSE)

Deputy City Mayor acts as Santa Claus at Eglinton Christmas Party

For the second year in succession, the children of the Eglinton enjoyed a fantastic Christmas Party topped off by an extended stay from a gift-bearing and hearty Santa Claus who meet each one individually.Yet again the efforts of the hard-working residents' support committee, supported by the Hotel management, astonished and pleased everyone. There were gift-wrapped presents for each and every young person (from the newly born to the older teenagers); a fantastic selection of food and non-alcoholic drinks served by Carole Raftery & staff; festive wall & ceiling decorations; a disco for all ages with our very own DJ (Chidi); an in-house cinema; a troupe of fun-loving fairies and elves led by a Snow Queen (Karen Winner)and her assistant Suzanne McKane; a huge Christmas Tree at reception; and a children's dance show organised by Natasha Vershinin who also painted many of the resident's faces in the multi-colours of clowns.
But what made the occasion really special was the arrival of the Deputy Mayor of Galway City in the guise of Santa Claus!! Councillor Pádraig Conneely in his fine red attire and white beard looked every inch 'Father Christmas'.
He visited the excited children in their disco room before adjorning to the purpose-built 'Santa's Grotto' where he stayed for 2 hours giving out friendly advice and toys to each and everyone of the young people.
Thanks to the efforts of Eglinton employee Michael & of Brendan, all can enjoy the photographs of this memorable festive event by clicking here

Some members of 'Team Xmas': Back Row (L-R) Maria, Mary McMahon, Isabella, Suzanne McKane,
Front Row (L-R) Adrienne Lynam, Santa Claus (aka Cllr Pádaig Conneely), Helen Ogbu, Maeve Geraghty & Brendan Smith

A Big Thank You (Go raibh míle maith agat = 'Irish') to all the volunteers who gave so much time and effort free of charge that ensured the event was such a wonderful success story...
...the organising committee who did such a brilliant job led by Maeve Geraghty, Carole Raftery, Mary McMahon & Suzanne McKane and including Adrienne Lynam, Brendan Smith, Dmitry, Natasha, Helen Ogbu & Chidi
...Karen Winner & crew, Suzanne & the Friendship Club for all her fantastic inputs (grotto, costumes, games...)
...Carole, Patrick and the staff of the Eglinton for the fine food, drink & so much more...
..Chidi for the music
...Dmitriy for the film show
...Natasha for the face painting
...Dmitriy, Carole & Eglinton staff for the wall/ceiling decorations
...Brendan, Adrienne, Mary, Helen & Maeve for acting as Santa's big helpers on the day
... Maeve, Carole, Natashta for their great work in gift wrapping & acting as Santa's trusty helpers
-Michel & Brendan for the photography
-Murdo for acting as usher
A big hug is due to Maeve Geraghty for securing the financial support from a secret university benefactor without whose funds this party would never have happened.
So we end with a big 'Thank You' to this very nice person!

Galway Intercultural Forum off to a Good Start

The inaugural meeting of the Galway City Intercultural Forum took place last Tuesday night in City Hall. Thirty people from up to 10 countries turned up to review the issues and challenges facing the relatively new non-Irish population of the city.
For further information on this important event, click here to go the Adult News section of this website.