Behind the Scenes: The Start of Refugee Week
It started, as good things often do, with a cup of coffee.
Bróna and I met at the start of the week — no agenda, no big team, just a sense that Refugee Week should be marked, and that we could probably pull something together. Between us we had knowledge of the community, some connections, and trust. And that was enough.
Because we’re a grassroots organisation, we could move quickly. We knew who to ask. We knew who might be willing to volunteer. We knew who had the skills and who needed to be included. Things that might take weeks in bigger systems happened in a couple of days.
There were no big budgets. No PR agency. But there was heart. And because there’s always heart in our community, everything fell into place: speakers, venues, interpreters, volunteers, welcome signs, samosas, music, sewing kits, support.
That’s the truth of it. Refugee Week wasn’t “produced” — it was woven together. Like patchwork. Like a community quilt.
Not perfect. But warm. And real.
Day One: Stories in Stone and Sunlight
Date: Monday 16 June 2025
Events: Marcus Copley’s Talk at Central Library & Community Picnic in Wyse Park
Refugee Week began with a powerful look at the stories written into the fabric of Waterford itself. Researcher Marcus Copley of Waterford Civic Trust led a midday talk at the Central Library buildings on Lady Lane, delving into the hidden histories behind the city’s commemorative plaques. Marcus gave special attention to the Daley family, a mother and her two daughters who ran a café that became a lifeline for dockers, widows, WWI veterans and homeless people. He also highlighted the Jacob’s Biscuit Factory, founded by a Quaker family who faced their own discrimination but built one of the city’s most worker-friendly spaces: complete with a rooftop garden, swimming pool, and a part-time doctor for employees.
We ended the day under the trees in Wyse Park, with a community picnic. Everyone brought their own blankets, food and music, and an open DJ list let people add their songs to the soundtrack. It was relaxed, joyful, and a reminder that solidarity can look like sharing space, stories and snacks.
Tuesday Night: A Circle of Voices
Date: Tuesday 17 June 2025
Location: WCQ Place, 16–18 O’Connell Street, Waterford City
> “The simple act of listening to another person can be a profound gesture of respect.”
— Bryant H. McGill
Last night in the heart of Waterford City, something quietly powerful happened. A group of us—Irish residents, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and even a local councillor—gathered in a circle at WCQ Place. We shared our stories. We listened with empathy and respect. We laughed, reflected, and recognised one another’s humanity.
This special gathering was one of the events marking Refugee Week here in Waterford—a time to honour the strength, resilience, and voices of those seeking safety and belonging.
But these moments of connection don’t just happen once a year. That’s why Waterford New Communities hosts Together Tuesdays every week—a space where everyone is welcome to show up, be heard, and feel at home.
📍 Tuesdays, 5–7 PM
📍 WCQ Place, 16–18 O’Connell Street, Waterford City
Whether you’re new to Ireland or have always called Waterford home, come for a chat, a cup of tea, and the chance to be part of something meaningful. We’re building a more inclusive Waterford, one conversation at a time.
A heartfelt thanks to Waterford Cultural Quarter for providing this warm and welcoming space.
African Print Workshop at the Volunteer Centre
Also on Tuesday 17 June
Location: Waterford Volunteer Centre, O’Connell Street
I had such a great time at the African Print Workshop. There was such warmth in the room — everyone smiling, chatting, sharing. The strong colours and bold patterns of the fabric just lifted the space. I’d never worked with African textiles before, but I felt connected — to the people around me, to the culture, to the creative energy.
Workshops like these do more than teach skills. They help build friendships. They remind us how beautiful it is to learn from each other.
Thank you to everyone who made it happen.
Volunteering Drop-In: Tea, Chats & New Connections
Thursday 19 June 2025
Location: Waterford Volunteer Centre, O’Connell Street
I popped into the Volunteer Centre during Refugee Week not quite knowing what to expect — and I’m so glad I did. The atmosphere was just lovely. Friendly people, great conversation, and some really delicious cakes and buns!
It was great to meet Anna and Reka — both so welcoming and helpful. I definitely made some good connections, and to my surprise, I even signed up for a couple of one-off volunteering events. Sometimes showing up is the hardest part, but I walked away with a real sense of belonging.
Thanks to everyone who made it so easy to feel part of something.
Friday Night: From Riace to Waterford – A Talk with Monica Rudi-Kent & Il Volo Screening
Date: Friday 20 June 2025
Location: WCQ Community and Cultural Hub
Friday evening’s event was one of the emotional highlights of the week. We gathered at the WCQ Community and Cultural Hub to hear Monica Rudi-Kent speak about her hometown of Riace in Calabria — a place that became internationally known for welcoming migrants and refugees when others turned them away. Monica shared how integration efforts there transformed both the newcomers and the local community.
Afterwards, we screened Il Volo (The Flight), a documentary inspired by the Riace model. Though made after the fact, the film captures the ethos of solidarity and mutual transformation that defines community at its best. The discussion that followed was honest, hopeful and deeply moving.
Saturday Night Reflections: Aisha at Garter Lane
Date: Saturday 21 June 2025
Location: Garter Lane Arts Centre
Saturday night’s screening of Aisha was my first time seeing the film — and it stayed with me long after the credits rolled.
It’s a quiet, powerful piece that captures the deep heartache of the direct provision system in Ireland. What hit me hardest was the constant fear: the reality of living in a place where you can be moved at any moment, without warning. Where the people who manage the centre can make your life easier — or unbearably hard — depending on whether they like you. That kind of power imbalance is frightening. And deeply unfair.
But there was also beauty. The film captured the strong bonds formed between people living together in the same centre. Strangers becoming family, offering comfort and strength in a system designed without much humanity.
What made the evening even more meaningful was the presence of two local women, Toyin and Suha, who had small cameo roles in the film. Hearing them speak about their own experiences in direct provision brought everything into sharp focus.
They had lived it — at a time when you couldn’t work, couldn’t study, couldn’t leave the centre for more than a few hours. Stuck, day after day, with no sense of control over your future.
But what uplifted me most was what came after. Toyin and Suha not only got through that system — they built lives from it. Found work. And now support others going through the same journey. They are a beacon of hope. Living proof that even within a broken system, hard work, resilience, and a willingness to connect with Irish society can carry you forward.
Their presence reminded us that change is possible. And that community matters.
Sunday Celebration: Mini Football Tournament
Date: Sunday 22 June 2025
Location: Villa FC Grounds, Waterford City
Sunday afternoon saw a simple but joyful end to Refugee Week — a small football tournament hosted at Villa FC. It began with just two teams: one Brazilian and one a mix of local refugees and migrants. What followed was a relaxed, good-natured match that drew cheers, laughter, and a real sense of togetherness.
It wasn’t about winning. It was about connecting — on the pitch, on the sidelines, and in the spirit of community.
Closing Reflections: Small Acts, Big Impact
This year’s theme, “Community as a Superpower – Small Acts”, echoed through every single event.
From shared meals to thoughtful conversations, from welcome signs to sound systems, it’s the small things that made Refugee Week powerful: a volunteer giving a lift to an elder, a child offering a crayon to a new friend, a story shared in a second language.
We saw again and again that community doesn’t need to be loud to be strong. It just needs to show up.
We’re proud of what we built together this week. And we’re grateful — to every speaker, artist, helper, and attendee — for reminding us what belonging can look like.
Let’s carry that forward.
Contact Us
Waterford New Communities Network
🌐 www.waterfordncn.ie
✉️ contact@waterfordncn.ie
📞 085 865 9613