This Sunday, neighbourhoods all over Ireland will gather on streets, in parks, and front gardens to share food. The celebrations will take place as part of ‘Street Feast’, a new nationwide event to celebrate community.
“The idea is simple - on Sunday the 18th of July, we’re inviting people all over Ireland to host a local lunch with their neighbours, to celebrate their street, area or community. It’s about having more life on the streets. It’s an all-for-fun, not-for-profit, DIY celebration” Sam Bishop one of the co-founders explains.
Each feast is self-organised and will be as different as the neighbourhood that hosts it. Anyone can become an organiser. To get involved or to host a Street Feast people are encouraged to go to www.streetfeast.ie and download a how-to guide, print off invitations and posters, and stick a pin in the online map to show where and when their feast is taking place.
The initiative was founded this year by a team of young people, who felt the need for their local communities to become more connected and resilient in the face of economic changes. Through the new website ‘Streetfeast.ie’ the idea has spread from Cabra in Dublin as far as Dingle. Street Feasts are planned for Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Meath, Mayo and Kerry, with more popping up every day.
Valerie Morrissey who brought the idea to her neighbours in Lucan explains “Our cul de sac is a great place to live and we are celebrating being part of this community. Trestle tables and barbeques will be set up for all to come and enjoy – if the sun shines we could be there all evening”.
Barbara Brennan in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, said “We just moved into our first house. Street Feast has given me the boost to get my neighbourhood together. I’m hoping it will be a big success and will become a yearly event.”
