Know Your Neighbour Oiche Airneal 2010

In the project of Mevagh Macra in Ireland various community groups organised a festival day to bring together older members of the community with young people. Local musicians, young and old, of all music genres just turned up and played music. Tea and home baking were provided. There was also set dancing, storytelling, guided tours and history workshops explaining Irish culture, art exhibition and demonstration of old tools and machinery that had been kept and skilfully restored. The young members of the Foroige group and Mevagh Macra acted as hosts for the night, giving name tags to all guests and spending time talking with their elderly neighbours.

Because of the project young people were able to take part in a social event that older members of the community would have participated in when they were in their 20s. This event was unique in that it was the only event held locally where young and old organised and participated in together. The atmosphere was relaxed and congenial throughout the night and there was an apparent bridge in the generational gap which is often difficult to achieve. The plan is to build on the Oiche Airneal for a 3day event in 2011 and a weeklong event in 2012.

Attachments:

Ireland - Know Your Neighbour.doc