World Refugee Week takes place from 15th – 21st June this year and in Clare, the Local Authority Integration Team have come together with Cuimhneamh an Chláir to present an innovative event at The Edna O’ Brien Library in Scariff on Tue 16 June 11am-1pm.
‘Migrant Voices – Every Voice Matters’ is a public conversation co-hosted by Paula Carroll and John Lillis of Cuimhneamh an Chláir with migrant community members living in the East Clare.
The interview is an exploration of the array of cultures, lifestyles, stories, folklore, music and more represented by some of the newly arrived denizens of East Clare. Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Mauritius and Ukraine are just some of the countries whose cultures we will hear about.
Carroll and Lillis have been working with groups from the new communities over the last few months, listening to stories, swapping music, recording interviews. They have been aided in this by Fiona Cahill , Integration Support Worker Clare County Council in reaching out and identifying individuals with interesting stories.
Cuimhneamh an Chláir project manager, Paula Carroll said: “It’s been amazing working with Fiona Cahill of the Local Authority Integration Team in the last few months. Through her we’ve had the opportunity to sit down and swap stories with people from all around the globe, who are living, working and adding their energy to the communities of Scariff and other East Clare villages. Cuimhneamh an Chláir is all about gathering oral histories of the people who make Co. Clare what it is. We are always thinking about what picture of Clare our archive will paint for people listening in 100 years’ time. That picture would not be complete without these minority voices being represented.
“Ireland has a long history of outward migration, so we’re really looking forward to inviting local people into the library on 16 June to listen to these stories and to share their own stories of migration too.” continued Carroll.
Integration support worker, Fiona Cahill added: “It was really interesting collaborating with Cuimhneamh an Chláir to record such diverse oral histories of these new communities, and it was particularly lovely to see people’s faces lighting up as they shared memories of their home countries. Storytelling is an incredibly powerful way to foster understanding between people, build connections, forge meaningful relations and create opportunities for greater integration within the wider community.”
‘Migrant Voices – Every Voice Matters’ is a free event and all are welcome. It takes place in the Edna O’ Brien Library, Scariff, Tue 16 June 11am – 1pm.
