AN EVENT bringing women from various backgrounds and ethnicity together in Carndonagh aims to ‘Inspire Inclusion’ ahead of International Women’s Day.

Taking place in Carn’s Colgan Hall on Tuesday March 6th between 10.30am and 12.30pm, the event entitled ‘Connecting Communities: A Celebration of Women Food and Culture’ aims to bring together women from all communities in Inishowen to share traditions and cultures.

Organised by Inishowen Development Partnership in collaboration with Inishowen Co-Op, the event is free to attend and open to everyone.

The event will feature food, song, dance, and stories from around the world from women living in our Inishowen community.  It will also explore the role of women in rural life and how as women, no matter where we were born, we have many common values and synergies. 

Aine McLaughlin, Community Development Officer with IDP, said the aim of the event is to be inclusive for all women – irrespective of their race, age, gender or faith and to highlight how powerful it can be when women support each other.

“The theme of International Women’s Day this year is ‘Inspire Inclusion’ – this is something we feel is very appropriate for the Inishowen of 2024,” explained Aine.

“We have so many new and emerging communities in the peninsula and we look forward to bringing together women in our community in a joyful celebration of diversity and appreciation of our cultural heritage, inspiring inclusion.  

“These local/global connections through food provide a way to connect new arrivals to Inishowen with our local community,” she added.

IDP’s new Connecting Communities Officer Maggie Toland said they are delighted to be working with women from both the local community and women from our migrant communities in preparing for this event. 

“Many celebrated International Women’s Day in their home countries so are looking forward to connecting in and meeting other women, hearing each other’s stories and getting to know more about each other,”

As part of the event we will have two photo exhibitions, one highlights and documents the important role and contribution of local women farmers in the North West from Women’s Collective Donegal and a global view of farming from some of Africa’s women smallhold farmers from Self Help Africa who are a partners to ChangeMakers Donegal.

Lizzie Kelly, of Inishowen Co-Op, said they are delighted to be collaborating with IDP for the ‘Connecting Communities: A Celebration of Women Food and Culture’ event.

“We are really looking forward to team up with IDP and getting involved in the inclusive fun and informative event that celebrates all women. We feel it a great fit to the ethos of Inishowen Co-Op in supporting local rural families,” said Evelyn.

“At Inishowen Co-Op we feel it is important to highlight the role of female farmers and have been involved in many campaigns locally to make it a more inclusive sector for women.”

Booking for the ‘Connecting Communities’ International Women’s Day event in The Colgan Hall in Carn on March 6^th is now open. While tickets are free it is necessary to book in advance either via our website www.inishowen.ie/whats-on or by calling us in Buncrana on 07493-62218.