The outcome of the Government's recent citizenship referendum has caused widespread fear and uncertainty among asylum-seekers in the west of Ireland, according to a group of seven Galway-based African pastors, writes Lorna Siggins, Western Correspondent.
This fear has, in many cases, replaced a fear of persecution which drove people here in the first place, the pastors said yesterday when announcing details of an "all-nations celebration" in Galway city next weekend.
The former archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, has been invited as guest speaker to the multidenominational celebration in St Nicholas's Collegiate Church, Galway.
The event is being co-ordinated by the African pastors with Galway's Church of Ireland rector, Rev Patrick Towers, and Roman Catholic representative, Father Frankie Lee.
Five of the pastors are Nigerian, representing separate religious communities ranging from the World Alive Ministry to the Methodist Presbyterian Church, while two are from Sierra Leone and the Congo respectively.
Pastor Gaby Tshimanga of the Bethel Assembly suffered imprisonment and torture before making it to Ireland with his wife and part of his family. All of his family have now been re-united and given refugee status here.
Pastor Tim Adebowale, a Nigerian representing the Christ Apostolic Church, said many people had experienced genuine warmth and kindness from Irish people and from the State.
However, voters' support for the Government's citizenship referendum in June had engendered serious concern about deportation among those still seeking asylum, and also among those who had already been given refugee status but were being encouraged to take out Irish citizenship.
The pastors said they were aware of recent research showing a rise in racism in Ireland.
"Irish people are traditionally very accommodating and open, but maybe there is a knee-jerk reaction in some situations," Pastor Tim Adebowale said.
The Rev Patrick Towers said there was a mixture of bewilderment and dismay among African church leaders after the vote.
The Hear Our Cry celebration takes place at 11 a.m. on Sunday in St Nicholas's Collegiate Church.