We thank John Magee, Chaplain at Millstreet Community School for the following report:
The Celebration of Culture and Inclusion event that took place on Thursday 4th December in Millstreet Community School was a remarkable event. This is the twentieth year that the school has hosted such a gathering. It really was a wonderful opportunity for staff, students, members of the local community and guests from further afield to celebrate Irish culture along with the wonderfully mix of other languages and cultures that exist in the school and the local community at this time.
Students with an Irish background alongside their peers from countries other parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, sang, played music, danced, spoke about their own country and read self-penned poetry.
We are grateful to the guests who accepted the invitation to attend: Bishop Ray Browne (Kerry Diocese), Imam Amr Hamad (Imam at the Cork Islamic Society) and Jennifer Cooney (WorldWise Global Schools Project Officer for the Munster region). Aindrias Moynihan TD and Cllr Gobnait Moynihan also joined us for the celebration. John Paul O’Shea TD had communicated in advance that he would unfortunately not be able to attend.
We were also very pleased to welcome Sara Hakim, the Director of Schools of Sanctuary Ireland. Millstreet Community School was recognised as a Champion School of Sanctuary in November 2023 and the Celebration of Culture and Inclusion was certainly an example of this in action.
Once the entertainment was over, it was time to move into the school canteen for the chance to taste food from different countries and traditions. We are grateful to all the families who contributed to this wonderful spread. In addition, special thanks goes out to O’Leary’s Family Butchers, Tony O’Brien Master Butcher, Capabu, Aroma Café, The West End Café and Sklep Polski Iwonka for adding to the culinary delights.
So another Celebration of Culture and Inclusion has come and gone, but it is sure to live long in the memory of those who were able to attend. On a damp dark winter’s night it was truly an evening of warmth, light and life.





[read more …] “Magnificent Celebration of Culture and Inclusion at MCS”




































































































