No Irish Festival in 2011

[PeckhamRose]

Peckham Rye Park Fete first Saturday in September.

All folks plus their dogs welcome.

Contact boosboss on this 'ere forum for more info.

[peterstorm1985]

I've only lived in this area for the last 25 years so I can't say what it was like 40 years ago, and I'm not quite sure what makes the Irish community 'ethnic' but I'm certain that they've never been a pre-dominant group.

Otherwise, I agree with Marmora man,

"There's "nice to have" and "must have" categories in council spending -the Irish Festival falls squarely in the former category."

[Atticus]

Ok, I agree nice to have and must have, fair enough. I do find it interesting that some are opposed merely because it's Irish.

[Ann]

No-one here has been able to verify the Irish origins of the event, I'm part Irish but would agree this is not a particularly 'Irish area' in terms of immigrant profile. I suspect most of us have simply enjoyed it as a well attended fun event.

I have no idea at all how much Southwark council stumps up for the event; I'm sure I'm not the only one to have given it too much thought but I appreciate that budget cuts must be made.

To me it's a shame it has to go and who knows if it will ever return?

[Sue]

Could the organisers not get sponsorship from some appropriate organisation/s, eg Guinness or something, rather than depending on council funding?

It's not like it is a huge festival, after all, the costs of running it can't be that enormous?

I know everyone is strapped for cash, but businesses are still sponsoring events.

That could turn the festival into a win-win situation for everybody.

ETA: As well as the festival PeckhamRose mentions above, there will be a second Aquarius Festival this year - bigger and better and on a non-clashing date this time :))

[DJKillaQueen]

I know that some of our residents are planning to look into other ways of having some kind of Irish Festival even if it's a scaled down event. I also wonder if some previous events could be combined into one event too. That surely would be a cheaper way of having something.

[Magpie]

East Dulwich was certainly an "Irish" area - we still have the Irish shop on the highstreet, and the EDT was an Irish pub when I moved into the area, not in the sense of an O'Neils but in a "Republican Times on the bar" and a "Don't wear an England Shirt" way, hence the origins of the festival

[oilworker]

I for one shan't be lamenting the loss of the Irish Festival. The thought of of sweating gingery Irish folk (and assorted wannabes) clad in bright green man-made fibres and drinking warm Guinness whilst listening to "tiddly-tee" music is more than one could bear. I come from a gingery-Scots background - we don't feel the need to have festivals celebrating our Scots heritage. What's the attraction of these things???

[Sue]

oilworker Wrote:

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> I for one shan't be lamenting the loss of the

> Irish Festival.

xxxxxxx

I guess you never actually went to it, judging by your description .....

[huncamunca]

As a festival, it was shit. As an excuse to go for a day in the park, if it was good weather, it was OK.just about.Nearly.Ish.

[oilworker]

Actually, you're right Sue. My description was wholly based on a vague generalisation and crude stereotyping of all things Irish. So there wasn't any bright green clothing, warm Guinness or "tiddly-tee" music??? If not I take it all back. (But it would seem rather pointless to hold an Irish festival without any of the foregoing??) So in your own words Sue, what WAS the attraction of this festival and why should we lament its demise??

[Sue]

oilworker Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Actually, you're right Sue. My description was

> wholly based on a vague generalisation and crude

> stereotyping of all things Irish. So there wasn't

> any bright green clothing, warm Guinness or

> "tiddly-tee" music??? If not I take it all back.

> (But it would seem rather pointless to hold an

> Irish festival without any of the foregoing??) So

> in your own words Sue, what WAS the attraction of

> this festival and why should we lament its

> demise??

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I just object to people criticising and stereotyping without any basis.

I've only been to this festival once - it was OK. I think anything which gets the community together is a good thing. Sorry if you disagree :-S

[philiphenslowe]

Although East Dulwich is not a predominantly Irish area there has always been a very strong Irish community here.

Southwark Irish Cultural Arts & Development Centre is run by a team of dedicated volunteers who seek to promote participation in Irish arts, culture and sport - http://www.southwarkirish.com/about_us.html

SICAD?s website states, ?Irish Festival part funded by Southwark Council & Emigrants Support Programme in conjunction with the Irish Government? http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=292

Dulwich is also home to the Dulwich Harps Gaelic Football team ? one of the oldest in London - http://www.dulwich-harps.com/index.php You may have seen Niall McCann from the team on BBC Breakfast recently discussing handball and the 2012 Olympics. Incidentally the goalposts on the Rye belong to the team.

The Southwark Irish Festival is not about ?sweating gingery Irish folk (and assorted wannabes) clad in bright green man-made fibres and drinking warm Guinness whilst listening to "tiddly-tee" music?. The Saturday was a celebration of Gaelic Games (football, hurling & camogie) and the Sunday always started with an open-air mass led by the Bishop of Southwark followed by dancing and music.

[*Bob*]

Now I know what the festivals I go to have been lacking.. an open air mass.

Would the Bishop of Southwark be available for the Secret Garden Party? How do I get in touch?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Bob, you're not suggesting the Bishop of Southwark goes anywhere near an Irish event are you? Talk about causing your brother to stumble.

[philiphenslowe]

*Bob* Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Now I know what the festivals I go to have been

> lacking.. an open air mass.

>

> Would the Bishop of Southwark be available for the

> Secret Garden Party? How do I get in touch?

I know you're joking, but http://www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/bishops.html

[*Bob*]

Looking at his picture.. I don't think he's be up for it.

That said - I did see quite a few people dressed very much like him at last year's Secret Garden.

[huncamunca]

I think the Irish have had to put up with enough RC oppression over the years - best keep these repugnant clerics as far away from the general public as possible

[philiphenslowe]

*really wishing I hadn't mentioned the mass now*

:o(

[*Bob*]

I knew he reminded me of something(s)

[Huguenot]

That's the problem with religion philiphenslowe, it's very divisive ;-)

I'm all for the Irish doing whatever they want to do to celebrate whatever they feel is important. Just not on the taxpayer. Can't believe they ever paid for it. They'd be within their rights to ask the Irish for their money back.

If the Brits did it it would be called 'cultural imperialism'.

Can you imagine the Irish funding an English festival?

[Sue]

FFS, what's wrong with having an Irish Festival that's open to anyone to go to and enjoy?

[Huguenot]

Nothing wrong with it at all.

It simply shouldn't be paid for by people who don't want to go. Does your neighbour pay for your dinner parties?

Besides which, the Irish government doesn't contribute because they want people in ED to have a fun afternoon, they pay for it because it's a marketing opportunity.

Why should the taxpayer be funding an Irish advertising campaign?

I'm surprised that anyone's really trying to justify this.

[oilworker]

Because it appears to be divisive Sue....

p.s. Sue - I'm sorry if you disagree...

[Sue]

Huguenot Wrote:

--

> Why should the taxpayer be funding an Irish

> advertising campaign?

>

xxxxxx

It isn't an Irish advertising campaign, FFS.

It's a community event. For people living in the area. Whether they are Irish or not.

Jesus wept.

ETA: Let's ban all forms of public enjoyment while we're at it, why don't we.

ETA: And I'm not suggesting the council should continue to subsidise this given the cuts they have to make, hence my earlier post suggesting an alternative.