European Neighbours Day was a great success
A culture and information-sharing event which took place in Tullamore as part of the annual Bealtaine Festival proved to be a great success with over 40 people from a diverse range of countries and cultures attending.
European Neighbour’s Day, which took place in the Darmagh Centre in Tullamore on Friday, May 26 last, was aimed at “turning strangers into neighbours and streets into neighbourhoods” and it proved to be just that, with a warm and inviting atmosphere for all and plenty of music, song, refreshments and chat.
Offaly Older Person’s Network members liaised and worked with Offaly Local Development Company, Offaly Age Friendly Programme, Offaly PPN, older persons groups, craft groups and of course older people throughout the county to create a very exciting programme of activities for Bealtaine in Offaly 2023, and the European Neighours Day was the final event of a very successful month of activities for older people across the county.
Among the attendees on the day were residents from Tihilly and the surrounding area, along with their European neighbours from places like Ukraine, Sweden, Romania, Zimbabwe, Colombia and Zambia. The attendees enjoyed meeting the locals, the music and singing, the information sharing and the refreshments.
Molly Buckley acted as MC for the hugely enjoyable event and Killeigh Comhaltas entertained everyone with a brilliant traditional music session that was very well received. Attendees from Ukraine sang some of their own native songs, while Rita Davis also entertained everyone with a song and a recitation.
Information was provided by Michelle Quinn and Elaine McDonnell on the current Offaly Local Development Company one to one supports and the Drop in Café, and Declan Costello also spoke about this event being part of the Bealtaine in Offaly 2023 and the need for future social opportunities.
Thanks were extended to Molly Buckley and the Offaly Older Person’s Network; Jim Quinn, Rory Hensey and Mick Dwane from Rights for the Elderly Voluntary Housing Association for all the help they provided in hosting the event; Attracta Brady and her very talented musicians and singers from Killeigh Comhaltas, Ukrainian entertainers; Offaly Local Development Company for the information sharing and SICAP for the funding to host the event