A celebration of all cultures and colours took place last night as friends and members of Ireland's intercultural community gathered in Dublin for the Media and Multicultural (Mama) Awards.
The Mama awards were established in 2002 by Chinedu Onyejelem, editor of multicultural newspaper Metro Éireann, to celebrate people, events and institutions in Ireland that have embraced diversity and interculturalism.
Minister for Integration Policy Conor Lenihan said these were "exciting times" in Ireland and the Mama Awards reflected how Ireland had "changed immeasurably" in the past 10 years.
"From being a largely homogenous country with high emigration, we have reached full employment and have begun to welcome immigrants to our shores. I feel no other country is in a better position to complete the integration process," he said.
Two winners last night were Det Insp Mary Gormley and Sr Breege Keenan, who were presented with the National Action Plan Against Racism and the Judges' Special Award respectively.
Det Insp Gormley received the award for her initiatives of inclusion. She was complimented for the significant efforts she made to reach out to all communities in Dublin's north inner city.
Sr Breege was presented with the Judges' Special Award for her efforts in encouraging integration among refugees residing in Ireland. She helped to establish the Vincentian Refugee Centre in Phibsboro, Dublin, which provides advice to immigrants and is visited by 500 people each month.
Seven awards were presented in multicultural and media categories.
Among the winners in these categories were the Irish Football Association, Northern Ireland for its "Football Without Frontiers" initiative and Anne Sheridan for her weekly "Ethnic Limerick" page in the Limerick Leader. Foras Na Gaeilge presented a special award to the Ionad Buail Isteach na Gaeilge in Dublin's Temple Bar, for promoting the Irish language and culture among immigrants.
Lucy Gaffney of the National Action Plan Against Racism said the awards represented the progress that had been made across Ireland in "integrating non-Irish citizens into the swing of every day life here".
