The Freedom Café makeover celebration!
What: Launch of the new-look Amnesty Freedom Café with poetry, talks, music and, of course, great coffee
Who: Poets ; Rita Ann Higgins, Mary O Malley, Kevin Higgins and Pete Mullineaux
Musicians ; Bobo, Ivan & Anna, and Nicole Blue.
Launch by Noeleen Hartigan Programmes Director Amnesty International Ireland
Where: Amnesty International Freedom Café 2-3 Middle St. Galway
When: 12.30 - 9pm on Thursday 14 May (See below for more details)
Since it opened seven years ago the Amnesty International Freedom Café has become a vital and lively part of Galway’s community. Over that time nearly one thousand people have volunteered in the café and on the various human rights campaigns we have worked on. The café recently received a long overdue makeover and will now be open from 8am every morning. We think this calls for a celebration - we are delighted to invite the Galway public to our opening celebration on Thursday, 14 May. “Our café has long been a hub for activists and campaigners in Galway and we hope the new layout and extended opening hours will help to make this an even better location for community organising,” said Sarah Clancy , Campaigns Officer with Amnesty International Ireland. “We would like to extend an open invitation to likeminded arts and social justice organisations to make use of our café as a location for meetings, film screenings and events.”
‘Space for discussion’ is the theme of the first part of the day. Rita Ann Higgins, Mary O’ Malley and Kevin Higgins, three of Galway’s best known poets will hold a free lunchtime poetry reading from 12.30pm until 2.00pm. These three poets are well known locally for dealing with issues of social justice in their work and this will be no exception. The lunchtime poetry readings will be followed by some lively performance poetry and music by Pete Mullineaux and a reading by journalist and author Michael McCaughan from his forthcoming book about the the case of death row inmate ,writer and political activist Mumia Abu Jamal.
The events will continue with music from some of Galway’s favourite performers including Nicole Blue, BO- BO and Ivan & Anna all of whom are regulars at the long running Unchained Melodies sessions that take place every Thursday in the Freedom Café. After the music Noeleen Hartigan , Programmes Director for Amnesty International, will officially open the revamped Amnesty International Freedom Café at 5 pm with a discussion of our work in Ireland.
For further information please contact: Sarah Clancy, Campaigns Officer, Amnesty International sclancy@amnesty.ie or 086 792 4095 Justin Moran, Communications Co-ordinator, Amnesty International 01 863 8300, 085 814 8986 www.amnesty.ie
Sarah Clancy, Campaigns and Regional Development Amnesty International Irish Section2-3 Middle St Galway.sclancy@amnesty.ie0867924095
Log on to www.amnesty.ie/actioncentre and take action today.