Fitzgerald Park awash with colour at Cork Mela Festival

Crowds thronged Fitzgerald Park last weekend, transforming the space into a massive global party, as the first ever Cork Mela Festival attracted huge crowds for an afternoon of non-stop music, dance, food, wellbeing, fashion and art from around the world.

Mela is a Sanskrit term used throughout the Indian subcontinent and South Asia to refer to an important meeting or fair.

The World and Folk Stages featured the Ukrainian Community Choir, the Voices of Young People Intercultural Choir, Mark Outsider & Kesting, Kabin Crew, AMDIE Mexican Dance, South Asian Dance Academy.

There were also performances from Citadel, MTU Samba, Marathi Mandai, Cork Capoeira, Aatma Dance, Mexicans in Cork, the Bangladeshi Association Cork, Lithuanian House Cork, and Trio Terra Nova.

The festival also hosted a World of Wellness which featured the Alchemy School of Yoga, SkySound Mindful Way Academy and Karen Olivia Astrology.

Culture Land & Workshop sessions were hosted by the Cork Puppetry Company, Dohman Green Society, Cork Circus Factory, Saoirse Ethnic Hands on Deck, Cork Capoeira, Flying Lion, and the Nepalese, Bolivian, and Ukrainian communities in Cork.

The Mela Food Village saw flavours from around the world come together in the heart of Fitzgerald Park.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Fergal Dennehy said it was an “immense pleasure to welcome the inaugural Cork Mela to our city”.

“This wonderful festival celebrates the cultural diversity that makes Cork such a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work, and visit. The Cork Mela is a powerful reminder of the richness we gain when we embrace the traditions, talents, and stories of communities from around the world,” he said.

The Cork Mela marks the first time that ArtsEkta has organised an event in the Republic of Ireland, and it is supported by Rethink Ireland.

ArtsEkta was founded in Belfast in 2006, and has become a leading voice for intercultural arts and community engagement across the island of Ireland.

Nisha Tandon, founder and CEO of ArtsEkta, said that the group was “absolutely delighted with the amazing turnout for our first ever Cork Mela festival”.

“It was wonderful to see so many people discover the magic of Mela, experiencing the sounds, tastes, and stories of cultures from around the world,” she said.

The festival was also supported by Cork City Council and 96FM.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.