5/6/25: The month of May was an engaging time for Glencree’s Intercultural and Refugee (I&R) Programme, with participation in a range of events in Dublin and Northern Ireland that celebrated diversity, inclusion and peacebuilding.
A Peace for All – Celebrating Migrant & Ethnic Minority Peacebuilders at Stormont
Glencree Intercultural & Refugee (I&R) Programme Manager, Nadette Foley, attended the Migrant Centre Northern Ireland’s inspiring and informative 'A Peace for All: Diverse Perspectives on Northern Ireland’s Past, Present and Future' at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. The gathering marked the first anniversary of the Migrant and Ethnic Minority Peace Builders Project.
Keynote speakers who have been involved in driving progress in Northern Ireland included Rev Dr Inderjit Bhogal OBE, Alfie Wong MBE and Lata Sharma who shared their reflections on peace and diversity. Project participants who are active in building peace and inclusion in their communities, including Okanmi Abiona, Mutaraf Ahmed and Risa Basselin, also took part in a panel discussion highlighting grassroots peacebuilding. Julia Fitzpatrick, Project Officer at the Migrants Centre Northern Ireland presented an overview of the first year of the project in which several dialogue workshops on important themes were facilitated around Northern Ireland.
Glencree was delighted to support and learn from this important initiative which aligns closely with our own values of dialogue, inclusion and shared futures.
Mid month, the I&R Programme hosted a Capacitar Workshop in Dublin 7, facilitated by Dr Patricia Cane, founder of Capacitar International. The workshop brought together 27 participants, including Ukrainian psychologists and advocates, as well as individuals working closely with International Protection Applicants.
Participants took part in wellness and trauma-healing exercises based on Capacitar practices, with techniques to manage stress, build resilience and promote healing. Providing an important space for personal reflection and cross-cultural connections, the workshop also highlighted the importance of self-care and wellness in sustaining peacebuilding and support work.
African Liberation Day Lectures at the Royal Irish Academy & ‘Ammunition to Art’ at Balbriggan Library - These events to mark Africa Day 2025 were among the key events and activities supported by the Glencree Intercultural & Refugee Programme during May 2025
Mpho Mokatso of Dublin South City Partnership, Green Party Councillor Feljin Jose deputising for the Lord Mayor and Glencree's Nadette Foley at the lunch of DCC Inclusion Week 2025
On 22nd May, Glencree joined the launch of Dublin City Council’s Inclusion and Integration Week at the Atrium, Wood Quay. Green Party Councillor Feljin Jose officially launched the week's events including the powerful 'Humans of Dublin' story and photo exhibition. The exhibition showcases the personal stories and photographs of a number of DCC staff who come from minority and diverse backgrounds representing the voices of individuals from LGBTI, Diverse Ethnic, Ability/Disability, Migration, Lifelong Learning and other lived experiences.
Inspirational life stories were told and audio versions played along with traditional Irish music from current and former DCC staff members and hospitality completed the atmosphere at this enjoyable event. Nadette Foley was delighted to meet up with a longstanding colleague, Reuben Habakachere, previously with Cultúr and the Meath Partnership and recently appointed Integration Support Coordinator, leading the Local Area Integration Team of Dublin City Council.
As an active member of the Dublin City Council Public Participation Network (PPN), Glencree was pleased to support the ongoing programme of events throughout the week and to deepening our engagement with the DCC Inclusion and Integration Unit, building relationships and gaining valuable insights from a wide array of community initiatives and speakers.
Africa Day
‘Ammunition to Art’ at Balbriggan Library
As part of Africa Day celebrations, the I&R Programme was pleased to support Dr Olusegun Morakinyo, a local academic and valued member of our network, at the launch of the exhibition ‘Ammunition to Art: A History of Africa in 100 Objects in Irish Museums’ at Balbriggan Library, Fingal, Co. Dublin.
In his lecture, Dr. Morakinyo introduced the exhibition which features 15 photographic images of African heritage objects drawn from the African collections of the National Museum of Ireland and the Ulster Museum Belfast. This work aligns with Glencree’s work on the ‘De-colonialising the Archive’ project and reflects our commitment to amplifying African voices and perspectives in Ireland’s cultural and historical discourse.
Commenting on the event, Nadette Foley said: “Dr Morakinyo gave us a very detailed and challenging account of the complexity of historical relationships and interconnections between Africa and Ireland through the photos and stories of a number of key artefacts currently held in collections of the Ulster Museum in Belfast and the National Museum in Dublin. The temporary photographic exhibition is only a taster of the Africa related objects which are held in Museum collection on this island."
"Dr Morakinyo challenged us to investigate these fascinating artefacts further and to question where they may belong, in Africa, Ireland or both? He spoke about the Nkisi, a three dimensional symbolic representation of a Spirit which was acquired ethically by Roger Casement and donated to the National Museum after his return from the Congo and the submission of his seminal Congo report on human rights violations there. Casement coined the phrase ‘crime against humanity’. Dr Morakinyo quoted Roger Casement as saying 'I had come to look upon myself as an African' and concluded by saying, that just like Casement, this Nkisi artefact could be considered to be both Irish and African. The final object was a poster from the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement held by the Ulster Museum, which speaks to a form of solidarity rooted in Ireland’s own anti-colonial struggle.” Nadette added.
The exhibition is open to the public at Balbriggan Library until Friday 13th June.
African Liberation Day Lectures at the Royal Irish Academy
The team also attended Africa Day 2025 – African Liberation Day Lectures at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. Hosted by the Association of Mixed Race Irish, the afternoon included reflections on African history, spirituality and transnational solidarity.
Opening remarks were given by Mr Jude Hughes, Chairperson of the Association. Dr Olusegun Morakinyo delivered a keynote on Alice Stopford Green, highlighting her pioneering role in the founding of African Studies and her courage in establishing the African Society in London in 1901.
Nadette Foley, commented: “Dr Morakinyo gave us a fascinating account of how Alice Stopford Green, feminist and Republican revolutionary, worked courageously to found the discipline of ‘African Studies’. Ahead of her time, she ensured the inclusion of African and female voices on the Society’s General Committee. She wrote compellingly about power and the necessity of direct action to dismantle colonial systems.”
Mr Onyewuchi Obirieze followed with a deeply reflective lecture on 'The Dynamic Survival of African Spirituality from Antiquity'. As Nadette noted: “Mr Obirieze gave a thought-provoking account of the values and foundational principles of African Spirituality, including its dynamic approach to hierarchy. He reminded us that within this system, ‘no one is a foreigner to the other’, and that nation-states and passports are a modern and artificial construct.”
The event concluded with remarks by Mr Lassane Ouedraogo of the Irish Africa Solidarity Centre, further affirming the spirit of solidarity and shared learning that underpinned the gathering.
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