Mayo set to celebrate Refugee Week
Refugee Week brings people from different backgrounds together to foster a deeper understanding of why people are displaced and the challenges they face when seeking safety and celebrate communities who welcome them.
Mayo is celebrating Refugee Week (June 15-21) with several events open to all people living in Mayo, or to visitors to the county. The national theme of the Week is 'Courage'.
2026 also marks 75 years since the adoption of the Refugee Convention, the International agreement affirming that people forced to flee have the right to protection, dignity, and hope. Refugee week is a festival where compassion and connection are celebrated while everyone is welcome.
Through a collective programme of community events and culture, sports and educational activities alongside awareness raising, Refugee Week brings people from different backgrounds together to foster a deeper understanding of why people are displaced and the challenges they face when seeking safety and celebrate communities who welcome them.
A number of events, aimed at children and adults, are taking place in the public libraries in Ballina and Castlebar. These include Children's Short Movies: in Castlebar library on Monday June 15 at 3pm and in Ballina library on Tuesday June 16 at 3.30pm.
Ballina Cricket Crease at the Athletic Track in Belleek is the location for a 'Come and Try Cricket' event on Thursday June 18 at 6.30pm, while Ballina Sports Centre hosts a 'Games Fest' for young and old on Saturday June 20 from 10am to 1pm.
Knock Community Centre is the venue for a Refugee Week celebration on Saturday June 20 from 12 to 3pm, with lots of traditional food and music, and games and activities for all the family.
Somalia: A Nation of Poets will take place in the Linenhall Theatre, Castlebar on Saturday June 20, 3 to 5pm - all welcome to this free event.
Refugee Week celebrates everyday acts of courage by individuals, families and groups across Mayo. Courage brings people together, bridging divisions. It shows local pride and makes Mayo a welcoming and safe place for everyone. See www.refugeeweek.ie