Africa Day, designated by the African Union as an annual celebration of the continent’s unity, falls on 25th May each year. Celebrations to mark the day occur across the globe: in some African states, it is a designated national holiday, while in diverse cities – such as New York, London and Washington – academic gatherings and cultural showcases mark the day. Africa Day Celebrations in Ireland
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rish Aid at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been the driving force behind Africa Day celebrations in Ireland since 2006. Initially, it worked to fund and promote a small number of events centring around culture and policy. In 2008, it expanded the profile of activities by hosting a significant family day event in Dublin. This was followed by the roll-out of flagship celebratory events – in Dublin and Limerick – during the subsequent two years. In addition to these flagship events, Irish Aid supported a programme of community-based and policy-focused initiatives around the country. Over the past nine years, the national programme of events and the profile of Africa Day in the media has grown consistently. The key event last year was held at Farmleigh Estate in Dublin’s Phoenix Park and attracted over 27,000 visitors. 2016 was one of our biggest years yet with 33,000 people attending Africa Day Dublin. This flagship event was flanked by successful regional events in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. However, please note that:
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