CORK LEARNING CITY
Deich bhliain ag fás – Cork Lifelong Learning Festival and Féile an Phobail Belfast Since a Co-operation Ireland programme that was held during the festival in 2008 Cork Lifelong Learning Festival has had a connection with Belfast, and has been committed to developing stronger relations between the cities in the context of the Peace Process and the Good Friday Agreement. In 2010 the partnership between the two festival s was formally announced, following initial joint events with Féile an Phobail - the Festival of the People – held in Cork and Belfast the previous year. Now 10 years later we celebrate and acknowledge the links and the friendships that have subsequently developed between the two festivals over the years. Highlights during those years since included in 2011 when President of Ireland Mary McAleese welcomed the link as she officially opened the Cork festival, in 2012 when the Lord Mayor of Belfast Niall O’Donnghaile jointly launched the festival with the Lord Mayor of Cork Terry Shannon, and in 2018 when the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival helped celebrate Féile’s
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30th birthday, at the launch by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Lord Mayor of Belfast Deirdre Hargey. Beacause of the strength of this partnership exchanges and projects happen each year, among them: mural painting by Mahon Community Development Project’s Men’s Art Group working with Belfast mural artists including Frank Quigley; building and rowing traditional currachs when young people from nationalist and unionist areas in Belfast and Lisburn visit Meitheal Mara in Cork annually; and ‘Scribes’ events, bringing writers from different parts of Ireland together to read from their work. Relationships have built up between the individuals and organisations involved, so they continue year-round, including participation by Belfast in the Cork City Marathon and vice-versa. Bringing together even a few individuals together to work on projects can forge understanding and co-operation as people learn a little about each other and recognise things we all have in common. After ‘Deich bhliain ag fás’ this work and these connections continue and grow and all involved look forward to many more years growing together as ‘Festival cousins’.
CORK LIFELONG LEARNING FESTIVAL SUNDAY 29TH MARCH – SUNDAY 5TH APRIL
