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Cross-Community St Patrick’s Day and Royal Wedding
21st April 2011
SLIG Support for the Suffolk community’s celebration of the Royal Wedding has given rise to what is probably the only such event with genuine cross-community input. While the organisations involvement ensured members of the Suffolk community took part in Belfast’s recent St Patricks Day celebrations.
Supported by the Suffolk Lenadoon Interface Group’s (SLIG) Intercultural staff, the Suffolk community Royal Wedding Street Party will be the main event marking the wedding in Outer West Belfast.
The active cross-community input into the Suffolk celebration will be a football match between Suffolk FC’s and St Oliver Plunkett FC’s senior teams on the Suffolk Playing Fields – 3pm – 4pm. A penalty competition will also be held for junior players from the two teams. The fun gets underway at 1pm and will start to wind down around 7pm.
Pensioner and other groups from Lenadoon are being invited, adding to the overall cross-community flavour. Cross-community input into celebrations strongly associated with one of the two main traditions follows on the heels of Suffolk participation in Belfast’s recent St Patrick’s Day parade under the SLIG banner.
SLIG is erecting marquees at Suffolk Playing Fields where “fun, games, music and laughter” will be generated by entertainment and input from Suffolk’s various community organisations. Face painting and balloon modelling and a Teenagers Disco will be held in the children’s marquee, while tea, scones, bingo and music will be available in the adult marquee. The Upper Falls Protestant Boys Flute Band will be providing musical entertainment.
The SLIG staff member whose idea the wedding celebration largely was, said: “It is important that culture and identity be equally and willingly accommodated, acknowledged and if possible, shared.”
Harry Maher, SLIG’s Strategic Development Manager added: “Forming partnerships and working closely with communities is the endless footwork needed for creating an inclusive and plural society where all identities and traditions are accepted and respected.”