Central Library celebrates Europe Day with Polish Culture event
In celebration of Europe Day and Poland’s 20 year membership of the EU, Europe Direct Letterkenny, in conjunction with Donegal County Council, hosted an exciting event to celebrate Polish culture on Tuesday 7th May at 11.00am in Central Library Letterkenny. TG4 covered the event and showed it on Nuacht and it can be viewed at the following link https://www.facebook.com/share/v/5otZ3oh3ZArh82fm/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Pianist Khrystyna Khorina KK Melorise played Chopin and Beethoven's Ode to Joy, the hymn of the EU. There were speakers from various community groups at the event, including Aneta Wozniak-Fawcett from Slavic Connect and Katarzyna Kurzeja from Donegal Youth and Information service.
Pupils from Errigal College read poems by Polish poet Wisława Szymborska. We had contributions from Teresa Buczkowska, Migrant Political Participation Coordinator with Forum Polonia, a Polish migrant rights organisation in Ireland and also from Anna Kujawa, Librarian in Bundoran Library who outlined how Ireland has become home to her family.
The Polish Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Arkady Rzegocki, joined the event remotely from the Polish Embassy in Dublin and delivered a supporting message. The Ambassador said that, “EU membership has enriched Poland in numerous ways and Ireland has benefited from the many Poles who have settled in both Ireland and in beautiful Donegal”!
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Martin Harley, commented, “I am delighted to be here with you today in for this cultural event to celebrate Poland’s 20 year membership of the EU and Europe Day on 9th May. Europe Day is this Thursday 9th May and it commemorates the anniversary of the 'Schuman declaration' in 1950, which proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community, the forerunner to the European Union. Ireland's membership of the European Union began in 1972 when 83% of Irish people voted "Yes" to joining the European Communities in a referendum. Ireland’s membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) which was to evolve into the European Union, officially began on January 1, 1973.
This event here in the Central Library is very fitting to celebrate Polish Culture and I commend the team here at Europe Direct Letterkenny and the various speakers present here this morning. I look forward to the event and getting the opportunity to hear from the various native Polish community representatives who are living here in Donegal”
The links between Ireland and Poland go back centuries. The first ever history of Poland in the English language was written by an Irishman, Bernard O’Connor, in 1698. In recent decades, the connections between our countries has really flourished. In 2004, Poland joined the European Union under Ireland’s Presidency. We have 1,600 Polish citizens living in Donegal, greatly enriching our society and building lasting bonds between our countries. Today, there are almost 100,000 Polish people in Ireland. Poland meanwhile has become a very popular destination for Irish students and tourists.
This event here in the Central Library is very fitting to celebrate Polish Culture and I look forward to the event and getting the opportunity to hear from the various native Polish community representatives present here today”.
Europe Direct Letterkenny, based in the Central Library, provides a Your Europe Advice service, computers, publications, brochures from EU institutions to promote Erasmus Plus, Discover EU, travel opportunities for young people, a freephone link to the Europe Direct help desk, events, talks, exhibitions, and competitions.
