Fantastic turnout for Palestinian Food Night in Kilkenny
Volunteer chefs cooked up a storm at the Butts Community Hall
Over 200 people turned out for an amazing Palestinian Food Night at St Canice’s Neighbourhood Hall earlier this month.
The event was organised by the Kilkenny Community Palestine Solidarity Group. The hall was decorated with Palestinian, Lebanese and Irish flags and colourful bunting. Four volunteer chefs worked all day to cook a superb feast of Palestinian dishes for people to sample, supplemented by a speciality cake and couscous. Contributions on the night more than covered costs allowing a donation of over €1,000 to be sent to UNWRA, the official UN relief agency for Palestine, to which a collection taken at the Kilkenny Islamic Centre contributed.
Local musician Eamonn Wallace played his own violin composition Lament for Palestine. Short addresses were given by Katharine Larkin of the KCPS group, by local Palestinian resident, Wesam Akram, by Kevin Shore and by Mary Lyng of the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign SE branch. There was loud applause for the four volunteer chefs - Baker, Reem, Bassam and Hana who had prepared a range of Palestinian delicacies.
Vigil
Kevin Shore of People Before Profit and Kilkenny Palestine Solidarity Group spoke movingly of the mounting death toll of tens of thousands of Palestinian men, women and children suffering bombardment and hunger and the struggle of tens of thousands of women who have given birth to their babies in the last year displaced from their homes by the Israeli Defence Forces and deprived of any medical help. Mary Lyng of the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign SE branch urged all to boycott Israeli goods to bring an end to apartheid, destruction and loss of life. All were invited to join in the weekly vigil for Palestine held at the Town Hall, Wednesday, from 5.30 to 6pm and to join the KCPSG.
The rest of the evening was spent mingling, in discussion and enjoying the wonderful Palestinian food.
Food and equipment were kindly provided by Crann Nua vegetables of Kilkenny Market, Stephanie McDermott, Helen Finnegan of Knockdrinna foods, and Gladys Lydon of Living and Growing Nursery is by Recharge.
KPSG has produced a small booklet of Palestinian Recipes to mark the occasion and copies can be obtained at the weekly vigil.