Some of south Dublin’s newest citizens were invited to meet local councillors and network together at a special ‘Citizenship Celebration’ at Dun Laoghaire’s County Hall.The event hosted by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on 15 October was part of the council’s Social Inclusion Week programme and aimed to acknowledge local residents who have recently been granted Irish citizenship.
An Cathaoirleach Carrie Smyth personally congratulated the new citizens and reflected on their journeys.
“Some of you fell in love with our beautiful county and people, while others were forced to leave your homes due to civil war and uncertainty about your future,” she said.
According to the council’s social inclusion officer Rebekah Fozzard: “Integration is a very important issue for our county and is embedded within the council’s integration and diversity strategy.
“Everyone here tonight has invested considerable time and energy in establishing a life for themselves and their families in Ireland,” she said.
Guest speaker Dil Wickre-masinghe, host of Newstalk 106-108’s Global Village, talked about the importance of active citizenship.
“You are only ‘new’ citizens for a very short amount of time,” she said. “As Irish citizens we all have a responsibility to get active, follow our dreams, and participate in local democracy.”
New citizens in attendance on the evening were born in countries such as Iraq, Congo, India, Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Russia, Australia, Nigeria and Equador.
