Celebration of Culture Day in Dundalk Grammar School
The 4th Annual Celebration of Culture Day took place on 15th March in Dundalk Grammar School turning the school into a sea of colour and creating an atmospheric vibe and buzz making it not like any other day. Verity Swan, IJA Council member, was among invited guests attending this event on behalf of the IJA.
‘Many of the students ditched their uniforms to come in wearing their own cultural attire. Whether their own culture or their adopted culture for the day, the colour of the attire made for fascinating imagery and brought the spirit of the day to life. This was a day to celebrate culture, and with over 50 cultures in the school, students were determined that their culture was going to get highlighted. While having pride in their school uniform, this was their opportunity to show their diversity and to demonstrate their pride in their culture, in a sense to celebrate their difference. In highlighting difference, it was also to raise awareness of the richness of the different cultures, thus, to encourage greater understanding and mutual respect, and to show how much each person and culture, although different, actually had in common. Hence the theme of Culture Day, United in Diversity,’ explained Paul Brady, Dundalk Grammar School.
As part of the day long celebrations, the students put on a celebratory concert in the afternoon to celebrate culture through song, dance, poetry and music. ‘What came through clearly throughout was the ownership that the student body had of the whole Event. The Day was organised meticulously by a diligent and hard-working team of 6th year students, ably assisted by other teams of students, each team performing their own particular function to bring the whole concept together. Stalls, foods, cafe, musicians, flags, posters, decorations. It was all there. It was a celebration. It was a festival of culture,’ said Paul Brady.
The concept of Culture Day started in 2018, and continued in 2019, taking a break during Covid restrictions in 2020 and 2021. Festival returned again to school grounds in 2022, continuing tradition also in 2023.
From left: Verity Swan, Ireland Japan Association and Rotarian, Margaret Morley, Rotary Club District Governor and Rotarian with students of Dundalk Grammar School
The student organisers were delighted to welcome H.E. Mr. Akhilesh Mishra, Indian Ambassador to Ireland, and his wife, Mrs. Reeti Mishra. Other guests on the day included: Ana Alonso, Education Advisor, the Spanish Embassy, Valerie Swan, the Swiss Embassy, Verity Swan, Ireland Japan Association and Rotarian, Margaret Morley, Rotary Club District Governor and Rotarian, and Ulrike Schoeller, Vice President, Irish Austrian Association.
Photos from the event available on Dundalk Democrat here!
