AS MANY as 40 African countries are represented in Ennis, according to the town mayor.
Councillor Johnny Flynn was attending the Africa Day Celebrations in Ennis last week and welcomed the contribution made by all the people of the African communities in the town and throughout Clare.
Africa Day marked 52 years of the African Union and African Independence and provided an opportunity for all Africans – including those who have made Ireland their home – and non-Africans to celebrate Africa, its people and their potential at a time of both great turmoil and opportunity for the continent.
The day was marked on Wednesday afternoon last at the Civic Building in Drumbiggle, with food, music, poetry and the planting of an oak tree in the grounds at Waterpark.
The community event shared some aspects of the rich heritage of a number of African countries and created an opportunity for everyone to enjoy some time together on a special occasion.
“There was a lovely atmosphere and I particularly enjoyed sharing the different food samples and there was music and presentations. It was very good and one of the ladies read out a poem that she has written about the strife in her country,” Mayor Flynn said.
There was food sampling from Angola, Congo, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, Sudan and Togo, which gave people the opportunity to chat with the cooks about the recipes and ingredients.
“The Association of Nigerians in County Clare (ANCC); Clare Immigrant Support Centre; Clare Intercultural Network; members of the Congolese, South African, Egyptian, Moroccan, Ghanian, Somalian and Sudanese communities were delighted to have brought a taste of Africa to Ennis on Wednesday and to be joined by many people on the day in the Civic Building. The planting of the oak tree represents the deepening of the roots between Africa and Ennis,” commented the organisers.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.