Republican News · Thursday 24 January 2002

Shelter from the storm: the AFRI event

Saturday January 26 & Sunday 27 January, St. Joseph's Academy, Kildare town

This year's Afri conference, which forms part of the week long Féile Bríde in Kildare, explores the dual themes of immigration and militarisation through a unique combination of discussion, theatre, poetry and music. Entitled "Shelter from the Storm", the conference focuses in particular on Ireland's treatment of asylum seekers, both now and in the past.

The existence of an asylum seekers' 'dispersal centre' in the grounds of the Kildare Barracks gives a local focus to the national and global challenge to ensure dignified and permanent shelter from the storm for those who need it.

Actor Donal O'Kelly performs the first public reading of "Direct Provision", his poem about life as an asylum seeker in Ireland today, with musical accompaniment by Cormac Breathnach and Brian Fleming.

This is followed by a rehearsed reading of "The Cambria", a play about American anti-slavery leader Frederick Douglass' voyage to Ireland as a refugee in 1845. Written specially for the event by Donal O'Kelly, it is performed by the writer himself, Ken Sika Monshengwo and Deirdre Molloy, with music by Eala.

The focus on attitudes to immigrants moves once again to the contemporary with excerpts from Roddy Doyle's hit play - "Guess Who's Coming for the Dinner" - about the day Larry's daughter brought a Nigerian asylum seeker home for dinner. The cast includes Barbra Bergin and Janet Morgan.

Musicians Deirdre Ní Chinnéide and Fionnuala Gill, who together create Eala, then take us on a journey of sound, for which they have drawn on their Celtic rootedness, their interest in other cultures and their hope of offering solace and healing through sound.

Poetry readings are by Susan Connolly, who was recently awarded the Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship. Her poems include "Brigit", which is particularly appropriate for this event as Kildare is the place in Ireland most identified with Brigid.

Speakers at Féile Bríde include Andy Storey, John Maguire and Brendan Forde. Andy Storey is Afri's chairperson and was a leading spokesperson in the 2001 campaign against the Nice Treaty. John Maguire is former UCC Professor of Sociology and author of "Defending Peace", a book which argues for a less aggressive approach to security. Brendan Forde is a Fransican priest who, in 2000, chose to stay with the community where he worked in Colombia despite murderous attacks by right-wing paramilitaries.

Admission: Saturday and Sunday €30, Saturday only €25, Sunday only €20 (concessions €25, €17 and €12).

To book, please call 01-8827581 or e-mail afri@iol.ie

PROGRAMME

Saturday, January 26th

9.00 Súiloid na fáilte - gathering at 'welcoming-hands-of-Brigid' door

10.00 Lighting of the Brigid Flame in the town square

10.30 Coffee and registration

11.00 Opening of conference

11.15 Afri - looking back on 2001 - Joe Murray, Afri Co-ordinator

11.30 Reflections on war and peace - John Maguire

12.30 Making the links - Andy Storey

12.45 Lunch

2.15 Reading of the poem "Direct Provision" by Donal O'Kelly

2.45 Rehearsed reading of the play "The Cambria"

3.20 Sos Beag

3.30 Excerpts from Roddy Doyle's play "Guess Who's Coming for the Dinner"

4.35 Eala - a journey of sound

Sunday, January 27th

11.00 Opening

11.15 Croi na failte don domhan: a welcoming heart to the world - Brendan

Forde ofm.

12.00 Poetry readings by Susan Connolly

12.25 Stepping stones to the future

1.30 Shelter from the Storm - Musicians' farewell.