Lantern Centre Dublin 8, Dublin

For a country which for centuries has been monocultural and one which has seen milllions of its citizens migrating abroad to seek a new life in a foreign land, Ireland now finds itself as the recipient of people coming from a wide variety of nations and ethnic groups. The Lantern Centre situated in Synge St Dublin, was established by Michael Murray as place of hospitality to promote intercultural and interfaith dialogue. Sponsored by the Christian Brothers, the Centre, as one of its goals, facilitates the formation and development of ethnic based groups (national, cultural, and faith), among which an International Womens Support Group has been formed. It is recognised that a significant issue affecting the ability of migrants groups to participate more fully in social and cultural activities is the difficulty in accessing premises and facilities. The Lantern Centre meets this need. Up to 50 groups now use the space for a variety of activities. In the appendix, the groups currently using the Lantern Centre as their preferred meeting place, are listed. Irish cultural events are also facilitated at the centre during Seachtain na Gaeilge. In May we celebrated Bealtaine and Dublin City Council Community Development team use the centre for some of their cultural events. Other groups use the centre for worship and meetings, these include members of the Ethiopian, Tamil, Iraqi, Kurdish, Brazilian and Filipino communities. As well, the staff of the Centre provide opportunities for intercultural events. The centre has grown organically by word of mouth. In recognition of its works the Centre received the Metro Eireann Media and Multicultural Winners Award in 2011.