Irish Culture and Heritage Day returns to Edinburgh
In September, the Consulate organised the first Irish Culture and Heritage Day since 2019, a celebration of Irish sport, music, dance and language.
On Saturday 16th September, the Consulate General of Ireland hosted the Irish Culture and Heritage Day in Edinburgh, the first time the event had taken place since 2019. The Consulate was particularly keen to re-establish the event which had, in the past, provided Irish people of all ages and generations to come together to celebrate our shared heritage.
Over the course of the day hundreds of Irish people, and those with an interest in Ireland, came together to celebrate a range of aspects of Irish culture including sport, music, dance and the Irish language. We were delighted that the event drew attendees of all ages, with our youngest guests enjoying the bouncy castles, face painting and kids céilí, and our adult participants getting involved in language and music sessions.
The event brought together a number of key Consulate partners who prepared specific elements of the programme. We are incredibly grateful to have had the support of Scotland GAA and local Edinburgh club Dunedin Connollys, Conradh na Gaeilge Glasgow, Little Ireland Arts Collective and the Edinburgh Irish Dance Academy. Other members of the Irish community showcased their skills and talents on the day through Genealogy workshops, music taster sessions and Storytelling workshops for children. Participants were able to choose from a number of activities across different spaces at the venue and we were delighted to see young and old trying their hand at tin whistle playing or practising their cúpla focail. In this way, the Culture and Heritage Day also provides a showcase for the Irish Cultural opportunities available on a year round basis through GAA clubs, Irish dance schools and Irish cultural organisations.
The Consulate was pleased that, as well as members of the Irish community, the event was attended by key contacts from the Scottish political system including Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson MSP (who is also the local MSP for the area in Edinburgh) and Deirdre Brock, the local MP for Edinburgh North and Leith. Both the Cabinet Secretary and Deidre Brock were very impressed by the day and highlighted the event in their social media on the day and afterwards. The Cabinet Secretary also wrote about the event in his weekly newspaper column in the Edinburgh Evening News the following Tuesday, noting the “tremendous contribution to Scotland’s national life” made by Irish people.
The event could not have taken place without the financial support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and its Strategic Diaspora Fund, but the Consulate is also incredibly appreciative of the financial contribution made by the GAA in Britain to the event, as well as the corporate sponsorship received from the ESB, Ireland’s foremost energy company which has significant projects here in Scotland. We were also very grateful for the funding provided Tourism Ireland in Scotland which also supported activities on the day.
As we move towards 2024, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Consulate in Scotland, the Consulate is hoping to further engage with Irish communities across Scotland to mark this significant milestone in Ireland’s engagement in Scotland.