Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (Thursday) announced details of the largest ever Street Feast, which will take place this Sunday, 12th June. This year, as part of Ireland 2016, over 1,200 Feasts involving around 120,000 people are confirmed so far across the country as people reconnect with old friends and welcome some new ones.
In streets, parks and gardens across the country, families and friends will invite neighbours to join them at a special Centenary Street Feast, for a national day of street parties and community celebration.
Speaking ahead of this year’s Centenary Street Feast, Minister Humphreys said:
“The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme is all about community spirit, and we are delighted to be teaming up with Street Feast for a special centenary celebration. It’s expected that well in excess of 100,000 people will take part in Street Feasts in their own communities this Sunday, whether it is in their garden, their local park, or on their own street. I would like to commend the volunteers who first started Street Feast in 2010, who have helped to make it a national movement over the last six years. It is fitting that in 2016, our centenary year, Street Feast will be bigger and better than ever.”
Sam Bishop, one of the founders of Street Feast, said: “So far this year, there are over 1,200 Centenary Street Feast parties planned, involving circa 120,000 people. These numbers are a wonderful tribute to all communities and groups from around the country who are organising a Street Feast to actively try to reduce social isolation within their communities. We hope a Street Feast will act as a spark to help rejuvenate communities, across the generations - welcoming old and new faces together. As the countdown begins, thousands of people are gearing up to host a Centenary Street Feasts in their front gardens, back gardens, on their street, in parks and fields – the excitement within communities around the country is at an all time high”
Street Feast was conceived and developed by a small group of volunteers, passionate to identify ways to reduce isolation within communities. It is a not-for-profit, all-for-fun, do-it-yourself celebration. Street Feast supports individuals and community groups to host their own celebration, which is repeated on streets and in gardens all across Ireland.
Notes to Editors:
The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, led by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, T.D., is a year-long programme of activity to commemorate the events of the 1916 Rising, to reflect on our achievements over the last 100 years and to look towards Ireland’s future. Full details of the programme are available at www.ireland.ie. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @ireland2016 #ireland2016
President Michael D. Higgins was recently announced as Patron of the Centenary Street Feast. You can find out more at: www.streetfeast.ie
The website www.streetfeast.ie outlines how to go about organising your own Centenary Street Feast and provides the templates for posters, flyers to hand out and invites to drop through your neighbour’s door. This year, even more organisations have come on board to promote the community initiative – including the local authorities throughout the country, An Post, Dublin City Council, Scouting Ireland, Irish Men’s Sheds Association, Irish Countrywoman’s Association, GIY Ireland, Volunteer Ireland, Foroige, The Tidy Towns and many more.