‘A chance to stand united against racism’

As part of Social Inclusion Awareness Week, a thought-provoking seminar, entitled ‘Cairdeas le Chéile’, took place in the Ballina Arts Centre last Wednesday. It was organised by the Mayo Says No to Racism group and supported by Mayo County Council in partnership with Ballina 2023.

The seminar, which looked at racism, its origins and effects globally was opened by Cllr Annie May Reape, Leas Cathaoirleach of the Ballina Municipal District.

Cllr Reape said the seminar was organised to positively determine how we can together make our communities better and safer places for everyone.

“The seminar is a platform to hear and listen to people’s lived experiences and perhaps question ourselves, our thoughts, our actions, our bias, and our unconscious bias.

“Now more than ever it is important for us to recognise and embrace our similarities, our qualities and what talents and characteristics we all bring to make this county more unique, more special and a wonderful place to live in.”

Deirdre Finnerty, Head of Community Section at Mayo County Council, remarked: “This seminar is a chance for us to learn more but also stand united against racism through our membership and our support of Mayo Says No to Racism group which comprises ourselves, the local development companies, SICAP representatives and other stakeholders, agencies and organisations.”

Dr John Mulloy, a lecturer in Art History, Contemporary Art Theory and Arts-based Community Development at the Atlantic Technological University, Castlebar campus, delivered the keynote speech on racism and its origins which was entirely engaging. John has developed a module on the histories of Inequality, for a forthcoming part-time MA in Transformative Practices in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in ATU Castlebar.

Dr Mulloy said: “The main idea was to look at how racism has changed over the centuries, being based at different times on religious, pseudo-biological or cultural grounds, but always with the idea that some particular group has a perceived unchangeable difference that is regarded as incompatible with the society.”

Dr Mulloy then facilitated an interview with Kenya-based Declan Walsh, Chief Africa correspondent with The New York Times and who hails from Ballina.

Mr Walsh talked about racism in a global sense and about his experiences through his work in Sudan, Kenya, Pakistan, and other countries that he has lived and worked in. They discussed his journey from Ballina to where he is now, and his 2021 book, The Nine Lives of Pakistan: Dispatches from a Divided Nation, in particular the idea of using people’s lived experiences as the focus of the book. During the interview, Mr Walsh analysed the racial tensions in Sudan, before exploring the implications of global demographic change, with aging populations in China, Europe and Japan and the massive youth populations across Africa and the implications this might have for the future.

Next to speak was Sharon Murphy, singer/songwriter and an anti-racist activist based in the West of Ireland. As an Irish person with a Caribbean heritage, Ms Murphy has experienced the dynamics of racism in Irish society.

Much of her music addresses the exclusion and isolation she feels in her home country. She also has a unique interest in recovering the knowledge of ancient African history that is omitted from mainstream education.

Ms Murphy gave an impassioned speech and sang two of her own original songs that spoke to her own past.

A panel discussion on lived experience followed, facilitated by Dr Mulloy. Panelist speakers comprised Martin Angolo, comedian/writer; Paddy Maughan, Mayo North East SICAP; Celeste Khosa, South West Mayo Development Company SICAP and Emmanuela Ubah, student of Applied Social Care at the Atlantic Technological University, Castlebar campus.

Following the panel discussion there was a questions and answers session where attendees were given the opportunity to further engage with the speakers/panelists on the topic of racism, issues and how to combat such issues.

Three Ballina 2023 social inclusion projects were presented to the attendees to round off the morning’s event. The seminar MC was Angelina Nugent.