A celebration that united and delighted

ON SATURDAY September 27, the Consulate General of Ireland hosted the Irish Culture and Heritage Day in Edinburgh; an event that has been firmly re-established as an annual opportunity for 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. The event drew attendees of all ages, with our youngest guests enjoying the bouncy castles, face painting, clay workshops and kids céilí, and our adult participants getting involved in language, music and cultural 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 Glaschú, Little Ireland Arts Collective, Comhaltas and Siamsoir: The Irish Dance Village.

Other members of the Irish community showcased their skills and talents on the day through genealogy workshops, poetry performances, music taster sessions and clay arts and crafts workshops for children. This event was also a superb example of the many strong links that exist between Ireland and Scotland.

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 an important showcase for the Irish Cultural opportunities available on a year round basis through GAA clubs, Irish dance schools and Irish cultural organisations.

Support

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 ESB, Ireland’s semistate energy company which has significant projects here in Scotland. We were also very grateful for the funding provided Tourism Ireland in Scotland, which supported activities on the day.

We have seen a number of similar culture or family days hosted in the last year by Dunedin Connollys, Ceann Creige and Glasgow Gaels GAA clubs. Given the increasing ability of Irish community groups to host similar events to our own, we will be focusing our efforts and resources in the period ahead to grow the size and number of these events across Scotland rather than deliver a single event in Edinburgh. If you are a member of an organisation who is interested in arranging an event similar to our Culture and Heritage Day next year, please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss how we can assist. These events are a wonderful celebration of the Irish community in Scotland and we look forward to seeing these go from strength to strength in the years ahead.

Introduction

The Culture and Heritage Day also provided an opportunity for new Vice-Consul, Sarah Keating, to meet with a broad range of the Irish community early into her tenure, having taken over the post from Andrea Wickham-Moriarty in August.

As well as greeting attendees on the day, she was keen to reach an even wider audience by introducing herself to readers of The Irish Voice.

“I greatly looking forward to working with the Irish community across Scotland and continuing the great work of my predecessor Andrea Wickham-Moriarty,” she said. “I first joined the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2017 where I worked the Human Rights Unit covering Ireland’s human rights policy and representing Ireland at the EU Working Group on Human Rights. From 2019 to 2023 I was posted to our Consulate General in Chicago where I served as Vice-Consul and acting Consul General for a period.

“Immediately prior to my current posting, I was assigned to the Humanitarian Unit in Irish Aid covering Ireland’s humanitarian partnerships in the Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa. I think this varied and interesting career experience will stand to me as I take on my new role in Edinburgh.

“It has been a very busy number of weeks in the Consulate since I arrived, which has given me the opportunity to meet many members of the Irish community in person and I have enjoyed this immensely. I look forward to meeting many more people at the many events we are hosting, supporting and attending between now and the end of the year.”

Jerry O’Donovan is the Consul General of Ireland in Scotland