Laois Africa Day celebrations to take place this week

Laois Africa Day, a celebration of the diversity of African culture, will take place in Portlaoise on Friday, May 24. 

A celebration will get underway from 11am onwards at Portlaoise Farmers Market, Lyster Square with performances by Quilombo Terra, music and dance. 

Laois Africa Support Group is also hosting a celebration at Portlaoise Leisure Centre on Friday from 12pm to 5pm with African music, hair braiding, African Cultural Performance, children's games and competitions. 

On Saturday, May 25 there will be a friendly football match between Laois Africa Support Group and local Gardaí at Portlaoise Leisure Centre with kickoff at 11am. 

Africa Day 2024's nationwide programme of events was launched by Minister Seán Fleming. This year, all 31 Local Authorities across Ireland will host various cultural, artistic, and family-friendly events. These will include contemporary African-Irish culture, as well as family fun days, fashion, art, film, music, dance, and food events, which will take place in towns and cities across the country. 
 
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Seán Fleming T.D., said: “I am delighted to launch the programme for Africa Day 2024. Ireland has growing trade, political and cultural links across the continent of Africa. Africa Day is an opportunity to promote those links and learn more about the diversity and vibrancy of African cultures.”

“The Department of Foreign Affairs is working with local authorities around Ireland on a nationwide programme of events.”
 
Minister Fleming was joined at the launch by representatives of the African diaspora community in Ireland, including dancer Lapree Lala, designer Virtue Shine, footballer Roberto Lopes, and Michael Chanda from the Discovery Gospel Choir at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) on the grounds of RHK.