Artistic performances by immigrant workers from Brazil and asylum-seekers from Croatia as well as an exhibition of craftwork by Travellers will be featured at an event today in Co Roscommon which acknowledges the diverse backgrounds of people living in the area.
The Roscommon County Development Board has invited a wide range of organisations to come to King House in Boyle today to discuss what culture means. The board is to begin implementing a strategy for the economic, social and cultural development of the county over the next 10 years. But the definition of culture has changed dramatically recently. "We are now more and more a multicultural society - even in Roscommon. Culture isn't just about traditional Irish music and the GAA any more," said Ms Rita McNulty, director of community and enterprise with the board.
She said people of different nationalities and cultures would have to be included in future activities. For example, when arts programmes are introduced in schools, efforts would be made to involve the Brazilian workers or asylum-seekers and refugees from various countries. There are now more than 100 Brazilians in Co Roscommon, working mainly in meat plants or in the catering sector and about 20 asylum-seekers are living in Strokestown. Ms McNulty said the aim of today's meeting was to gather ideas and to generate discussion. The County Development Board will emphasise the importance of preserving and developing cultural resources for the well-being of the population and for social and economic development. A keynote address will be given by Roscommon author Brian Leydon.
The event, which starts at 4 p.m., will include Irish music and dance and an exhibition of jewellery made by a Roscommon town-based Traveller group, KoKo.
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