Communities Together day on Sherkin Island

Some of the group which visited Sherkin Island

A ‘COMMUNITIES Together’ day was held on Sherkin Island recently.

A girls’ basketball team that live in the Shatila Camp in Lebanon visited the island with their coach, social worker, volunteers, and project co-ordinator, Noelette Noonan. The Shatila Camp was established for Palestinian Asylum Seekers in 1949.

Palestinians living in the Lebanon cannot own property or apply for certain jobs. Many of these Palestinians are third and fourth generation to live in the camp. The youths here are vulnerable to local conflict. The basketball team was set up by social worker Manar Shamieh as a diversion project.

The team were greeted on Sherkin by residents and American singing students in the hall. Brian Clickner, a visiting singing lecturer from the USA, was holding a workshop for the week. He offered to facilitate a music session with everyone.

For the next hour the sound of Irish and Palestinian songs filled the community centre.

A brief a windy stroll to the hotel brought everyone to the art workshop facilitated by Majella O’Neill Collins.

Participants painted beautiful images of Ireland and Palestine. After all of this activity, everyone was treated to a Murphy’s Pub fish ‘n’ chips special. An afternoon filled with pool and foosball table challenges proved a big hit with the girls.

There were big goodbyes, smiles and excitement on the pier as the visitors boarded the ferry. This was a beautiful day embracing different cultures on Sherkin.

Sherkin Island Development Society and Right to Play 2015 would like to thank all the sponsors on the day, including the HSE, Carberry Isle Ferries, Murphy’s Pub, Brian Clickner, Majella O’Neill Collins and Sherkin Island Community.