Forum tackles anti-Traveller racism
By Eoin O Broin
In keeping with this year's Féile an Phobail theme of
anti-racism, the West Belfast Economic Forum was once again at
the forefront with its 5th Frank Cahill Memorial Lecture.
Entitled Confronting Racism in Ireland, the discussion was a
fitting tribute to a man whose life epitomised the struggle for
community equality.
A crowd of over 200 people in the Conway Mill listened to
community worker Catherine Joyce, from the Blanchardstown Area
Partnership and Brid O'Brien of Pavee Point's Travellers' Economy
Programme, both from Dublin. The evening opened with a video
presentation detailing the life and experiences of Irish
Travellers.
Not only were problems of accommodation, racism, education and
health discussed, but a strong emphasis was placed on action
taken by the Travelling community and their allies in resolving
all the above problems.
The two workers called for the ``development of social and
economic policies and initiatives which support
Traveller-specific measures''.
As always, the Frank Cahill Memorial Lecture was a challenging
and innovative event, bringing the debate about economic
regeneration to the community in an open and accessible forum.
Let's hope that as with previous years the Economic Forum publish
the lecture, thus getting the message out to as many people as
possible.
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