Mayor Joe Malone visits Irish Baha’i Summer School in Kilkenny

Kilkenny College was a hive of bustling activity last week as over 360 people gathered for their annual Baha’i Summer School

“It’s such a pleasure to see all these sunny, smiling faces on a rainy day,” said Mayor Joe Malone on his visit to the Baha’i Summer School in Kilkenny College last Thursday.

The Mayor toured the activities on campus accompanied by Ann O’Sullivan, Secretary of the Irish Baha’i governing body.

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“This week, in dozens of different ways, we’re exploring the idea of our common human identity,” explained Ann.

“Because if we can really see that we’re all just people, all part of one human family, then we’ll be able to find common
ground and learn to work together to make our society safe, healthy, welcoming and inclusive - more neighbourly in the best sense of the word.”

The Mayor visited the classes for teenagers and children and joined the adult session in the main hall of the College and he extended a warm welcome to Kilkenny to everyone he met during his visit.

Among the groups he dropped in on was a group of 11-15 year olds all busily playing a very active game.

Eoin Tynan-O’Mahony, one of the organisers, welcomed the Mayor into the classroom full of laughing young people.

“We’re playing a game here called the Trading Game,” explained Eoin. “As you can see, we’re having a lot of fun but in that fun we’re also learning about the great economic imbalances that exist between the rich and poor countries in the world and the injustice and suffering that can come about as a result.”

The young teenagers paused their game to listen to the Mayor and were charmed by his words as he commended them on their study and their bright, active, happy approach.

Throughout his visit the Mayor chatted with everyone he met and listened carefully to try to find out a little more about what they were doing. He was also happy to learn from Ann O’Sullivan that while there was a lot of work and study going on that wasn’t all that happens throughout the week of an Irish Baha’i Summer School.

“Irish Baha’is are like all Irish people,” Ann explained. “We love to learn but we also love to relax and socialise, to visit the beautiful town of Kilkenny and, of course, to have a craic!”

The Mayor left promising to return again - and maybe join in some of the activities at the Baha’i Summer School next year.