THE DRIVE for entries to the 2008 Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (MAMA) gets underway in September.
The awards programme, which recognises the people, groups, events, companies and institutions that respond positively to diversity and interculturalism on the island of Ireland, was established by Metro Éireann in 2002 and is sponsored by the Iris O’Brien Foundation, the National Action Plan against Racism (NPAR) and the Office of the Minister for Integration Policy.
In total there are 11 awards, with nine presented in two categories, multicultural and media. There are also two special awards, namely the NPAR Award and the Judges’ Special Award.
This year, the Iris O’Brien Foundation will provide a special bursary worth €5,000 to an individual or organisation which has positively responded to cultural diversity in Ireland. At the 2007 MAMA Awards, Garda Inspector Mary Gormley and Sr Breege Keenan were presented with the NPAR and Judges’ Special Award respectively. Other previous winners include former Mayor of Portlaoise, Cllr Rotimi Adebari. and Limerick Leader journalist Anne Sheridan for the paper’s weekly Ethnic Limerick page.
Further information and application forms are available at www.mamaawards.com. The closing date for receipt of entries is 17 October 2008, with the awards ceremony taking place in Dublin in November 2008.
