Galway Intercultural Forum off to a Good Start

The inaugural meeting of the Galway City Intercultural Forum took place last Tuesday night in City Hall. Thirty people from up to 10 countries turned up to review the issues and challenges facing the relatively new non-Irish population of the city.

The event was sponsored by the Galway City Partnership, Galway City Community Forum and Galway City Council.
Oisin Kenny, who chaired the meeting, outlined the role of the Galway City Community Forum and the importance on integrating with local communities and voluntary organisations. He requested all organisations present to affiliate to the Forum as quickly as possible in order to benefit from the information resources and experience available and to get involved in the local government decision-making process. He was followed by Brendan Smith (Community Forum chairperson) who provided attendees with information on the valuable role that emigrants have done in shaping Galway as a outward-looking and vibrant city.
Other speakers included Ernest Bishop of the Galway City Anti-Racism Strategy.
During the proceedings, a series of analysis groups were set up to discuss the main areas of interest and issues facilitated by community workers such as Triona Nic Giolla Choille.
The Galway City Community Forum meets next Tuesday at 7pm in the Menlo Park Hotel. It is hoped that the Eglinton Residents Support committee will be signed up as a full member organisation by then.