Though hosted only a few miles from where race-hate fuelled violence has raged on the streets of Belfast for days, the scenes couldn’t have been more different today as hundreds attended Feile’s international food fayre in west Belfast, which brings together more than a dozen different cultures to share and celebrate their food and music.
Following the recent rioting, Araz Osman Ahmed, who has lived in Belfast with his young family for a year, was unsure whether his family should stay in Northern Ireland.
“We are from the Middle East; it is very dangerous over there. We came over here and we felt safe but now we don’t really feel safe here,” he said.
However, after visiting Feile’s event, he said he feels more comfortable: “We were unsure if we should come here today, but now that we are here, we see how many people support us and want us to stay. We just hope the rioting ends soon, but we can see that there are a lot of people here who want us to feel safe.”
Amita Ravikirana is originally from India and has lived in west Belfast for 14 years. This is her second year attending the celebration.
“I learn, every day, new things about other communities and their cultures. It’s really important to meet each other and know each other,” she said.
Feile international day at the Conway Mill in west Belfast on on August 9th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott)
Amita is very passionate about sharing her food and culture with the local community.
“I teach in Conway Education Centre. I teach Indian cooking. I’ll get repeat students; they come every season. They are very much enthusiastic about the cuisine and the culture,” she explained.
Amita performed some traditional Indian music at the event and was eager to try some of the festival’s food.
“I work with an organisation called Beyond Skin. I perform for them and I do a lot of community work for Beyond Skin, so I was here to sing,” she said.
Hundreds attend Feile annual International Day at Conway Mill
Eoin Maguire, from west Belfast, has never attended Feile’s international food celebration but felt it was important to support the local immigrant community following the recent riots in the city.
“I think it was very important for us to come here to show solidarity and support for all the communities here, because it is the people in our community that make up west Belfast and Belfast as a whole,” he said.
Hundreds of people attended this years celebration, with many having to queue to enter the building.
Eoin Maguire (left) Feile international day at the Conway Mill in west Belfast on on August 9th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott)
Eoin said he was surprised with the turnout but is glad so many people came out to support west Belfast’s immigrant community.
“My sister has come the last couple of years and she said, from last year to this year, she has seen a massive increase in people coming here,” he said.
Ciara Collins, from west Belfast, attended the festival with her eight-year-old daughter Caoilte. The mum feels it is important to educate her children on the different cultures of immigrants living in Belfast.
“I’m actually working today, but I took time out to take her because of what’s going on. We have been talking about the riots and what people are doing here and we just wanted to support today.
“It was really important for me for her to see it so that she isn’t exposed to current things I can’t control on social media. I just wanted her to see how much immigrants enrich our community,” Ciara said.
Feile international day at the Conway Mill in west Belfast on on August 9th 2024 (Photo by Kevin Scott)
Sinn Fein MP for west Belfast Paul Maskey said he hopes the festival can show immigrants across Belfast that they are welcome here.
“This is a very important day for the community because they come together to engage and show solidarity, talk to each other and have a great day,” he said.
“This is what west Belfast is all about. This is what Feile An Phobail is all about, bringing people together for the betterment of our community.”