Refugee Week 2024 began on a celebratory note in Laois with Minister Joe O'Brien's launching the ‘Our Home’ Art Exhibition at Rathdowney Library. Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
The exhibition is a part of a rich programme organised to mark Refugee Week in Laois. It showcases the artistic contributions of Rathdowney’s residents, including those with refugee backgrounds, reflecting the theme of home and belonging. This community education initiative, initiated by Laois County Council’s Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT) and delivered by the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) celebrates collective efforts in integrating and welcoming new communities into Laois. The 'Our Home' Art Exhibition features works that highlight the theme of home from diverse perspectives. It is open to the public at Rathdowney Library throughout Refugee Week until the end of June,
At the opening event, Cathaoirleach Pascal McEvoy welcomed Minister Joe O’Brien to Rathdowney to witness an exemplary case of the integration efforts in a small rural town.
Minister O’Brien said it was his “great pleasure and honour to be in Rathdowney to open this remarkable exhibition, symbolising the power of collaboration and integration within the community.” He also noted “Ireland has always been characterised by its diversity, rich cultural heritage, and welcoming spirit. Over the years, we have seen waves of newcomers arrive on our shores, seeking a place to call home. Nowadays, this sense of unity and belonging is more important than ever. Our Home is not just the theme for this event, it is a vision you are collectively bringing to life, a vision shared by many, for ‘Refugee Week’ and for every week going forward.”
He also highlighted the integration initiatives of the Laois Partnership Company SICAP Team, and the other remarkable community movement of Supervalu TidyTowns and their impact on communities throughout Ireland. Minister O’Brien was delighted to know that Rathdowney TidyTowns have embraced new arrivals into their community this same as many such groups in the country.
The launch featured speeches also from Cllr John King and Director of Services for Integration, Carmel McNicholl, as well as artistic performances from Portlaoise-based poet Dagogo Hart, and a musical performance by Rathdowney Men’s Shed, under the direction of Denise Boyle, Music Generation Laois.
Laois County Council, through their recently established Integration Team, took a lead role, partnering with Laois Libraries, LOETB and various Tidy Towns groups, to deliver several events throughout the county during Refugee Week.
