A Celebration Of Irish Language, Heritage & Culture
I was thrilled to be present for a significant moment in the history of the Irish speaking culture last week, and was very happy to witness the importance of music in that moment. Belfast City Council along with several Irish culture organizations hosted a formal welcoming of the Irish speaking culture into the Belfast City Hall with the event “A Celebration of Irish Language, Heritage and Culture.” This was a massive step forward in Northern Irish political and cultural history, because very little formal recognition of the Irish speaking communities had taken place within the walls of City Hall. There are numerous representations of British and Unionist history and culture throughout the City Hall building, but representations of the Irish language have only recently begun to appear. This event marks an important step towards bringing all communities in the North of Ireland together in an effort to ensure a brighter future.
Gráinne Holland and Band. From left to right: Rohan Young on bodhran, Gráinne Holland, Feilimi O’Connor on guitar, and Brendan Mulholland on flute.
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Niall O’ Donnaghaile, opened the event with a speech on the importance of welcoming the rich culture and stated that “It is great to see City Hall open its doors to the Irish community.” Later in the evening I spoke with the Lord Mayor and asked what the motivation for hosting this event was and he said that “Irish is the indigenous language of the city and is a living and growing part of its culture.” He stated also that one of the city council’s goals is to “support cultural diversity, and enhance all cultures in the city of Belfast.” Lord Mayor O’ Donnaghaile is the youngest ever Lord Mayor, age 26, and a fluent Irish speaker. He seemed very pleased with the event and even briefly joined in the dancing at the end.
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Detour to Scotland and Rumblings of Scottish Independence
In January, the Fulbright scholars were called together to Scotland for a forum to exchange ideas and learn about Scottish culture, government, and history. It was a fantastic trip that couldn’t have come at a better time, because the topic of a referendum for Scottish Independence had recently been broached and the country was a-buzz with talk. The Fulbrighters were taken around Glasgow and Edinburgh, to universities and gatherings and we learned a great deal about the past, present, and future of this fantastic part of the world.
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Halloween in Derry City!
Hello everyone! It’s been a busy few months of research, interviews, and music hunting, but here is a gem from the past to tide you over and peak your interests about culture in Northern Ireland. As my project begins to blossom there will be much more to come so please stay tuned! Much love from the Emerald Isle,
– Kyle
Connection: Northern Ireland and the United States
The giant TV in the city center was broadcasting images from New York’s September 11 Memorial Service and it seemed to open a portal of understanding directly between Northern Ireland and the Unite States. As the images and messages passed from New York to Belfast, I couldn’t help but feel closer to my homeland and to its steadfast spirit. Throughout the Belfast September 11th Commemorative Event I was simultaneously in both of the countries that I loved, and the pain from the past reaching to the present united us all first in anguish and then in the powerful desire to look forward. This is where the people of the United States and the people of Northern Ireland are joined; they share a spirit of determined resilience despite the devastation of past events.
Up to four awards will be available to pursue projects around an aspect of international contemporary or popular music as a cultural force for expression. Preference will be given to creative projects that are conveyed in a dynamic fashion and are accompanied by a feasible plan. In addition to presenting unique projects on music as a global force for mutual understanding. Deadline to apply is March 1, 2012.