Multicultural festival dishes up feast of food and fun fit for a Kingdom
The Killarney Le Chéile multicultural festival, which included indoor concerts and outdoor events, offered people who have arrived in the town an opportunity to mingle with local people in a relaxed atmosphere.
Marilyn Catapat-Counihan, coordinator of the Killarney Asylum Seekers Initiative (KASI), yesterday described the festival was very successful.
“There was a lot of goodwill and support from the local community, and many people were willing to help,” she added.
Sixteen acts took part in a concert, which featured music and dance from many parts of the world, including one group of foreign nationals dancing an Irish polka set.
The three-day festival, held in conjunction with Killarney Summerfest, also included a multi-cultural family picnic with 25 different dishes in the St Brendan’s College playing field.
Killarney has had a drop-in centre for asylum seekers and refugees since 2000 and this was extended in 2005 to support migrant workers.
The centre’s services include advocacy work, English language support and referral to other agencies.
“As well as providing essential services, our main aims are to facilitate integration and to develop links with the community,” Ms Catapat-Counihan explained.
The centre has between 3,000 and 4,000 visits per year
Ms Counihan said language support and funding were key issues, while parents needed to be better informed about the education system.
’Integration is all about hard work and is something that will not happen overnight. The children are doing very well in schools in Killarney, but it’s harder for parents and people working in the area,’ she said.
The festival was funded by the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice.
Speaking at the festival, former Killarney mayor Sheila Casey said the role of the local community was crucial in welcoming and integrating newcomers. “Many face the isolation of barriers of language, religion, colour, ignorance and bigotry,” she said.
