Refugee week continues at UCC
UCC’s fifth annual Refugee Week is underway with many issues faced by refuses being explored through various events.
Running until Saturday, staff and students of UCC, working with members of the refugee and asylum-seeking community, are highlight issues faced by refugees, as well as the richness and diversity of modern Ireland through a variety of media, including spoken and written word, webinars, radio shows, interviews and conversations, music and film.
The opening ceremony took place on Monday when two flags were raised on the Main Quadrangle by the UCC interim-Registrar, Prof. Stephen Byrne who said: “UCC is proud to be a university of sanctuary, and to support refugees and migrants at risk. The events taking place during Refugee Week are an excellent example of collaboration between students, staff and refugee communities.”
The Refugee Week flag was joined by a flag designed by migrant youth to explore their identity and heritage through the Glucksman’s Creative Agency In Colour project.
This flag will also be raised over City Hall on tomorrow, 25 February by the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Colm Kelleher.
Fáilte Refugees will host their annual Refugee Week Conference today 24, February in the Aula Maxima, where they will explore what Irish identity means with speakers including singer/songwriter Pearl Natasha, Izzedeen Alkarajeh, the CEO of Izz Café and Deborah Oniah, lawyer, writer, and UCC Sanctuary Scholar.
Refugee Week concludes on Saturday when Sanctuary Runners will gather in front of the Honan Chapel for a run. All are welcome to join in and, while running and walking, learn more about the Sanctuary Runners.
Meanwhile, the founder of Sanctuary Runners Graham Clifford and the late Tony Power of Cork City Council, have both been awarded Cork Persons of the Month Awards for the month of February.
At the awards presentation, Graham said about Tony Power: “Tony really believed in what we were doing. He never said ‘no’ and always tried to push the boundaries of what we could achieve. Whether that was helping us acquire running tops, getting a street closed for a post-race celebration or entering us for national awards Tony was always there beside us.
“His input as a public servant was just intrinsic to our development and growth and his passion was inspiring.”
In July, 2021, Tony Power died suddenly at the age of 57. Sanctuary Runners lined the streets outside Cork City Hall to pay their respects. Paul Moynihan of Cork City Council accepted the award on Tony’s behalf.
He said: “Tony was a loyal and trusted colleague and we were all shocked and deeply saddened by his tragic passing. His complete absence of airs and graces helped him to connect with and build strong relations with all the communities he worked with.
“Tony never sought the limelight, but I know that he always took great personal satisfaction from his social inclusion work.”