Ireland’s economic downturn is a topic on everyone’s lips, and it seems like there’s no getting away from it. So it was little surprise that the issue came to the fore among attendees at last Thursday’s euphoric MAMA Awards ceremony.
Ireland’s economic downturn is a topic on everyone’s lips, and it seems like there’s no getting away from it. So it was little surprise that the issue came to the fore among attendees at last Thursday’s euphoric MAMA Awards ceremony.
Denis O’Brien, entrepreneur and chairman of the Iris O’Brien Foundation, a sponsor of the awards, reflected on the sombre mood felt by many at the event in Dublin’s Abbey Theatre. “I know it’s very difficult to be optimistic about the future because it’s much more difficult to get funding and I would hope that obviously the Minister [for Integration, Conor Lenihan TD, also present at the awards] would take account of this.”
Reacting to what individuals or organisations with a multicultural agenda face in relation to funding within Ireland’s economic downturn, O’Brien continued: “I think the whole idea of making available money through county councils and local authorities is the wrong way to actually disperse money to organisations that are really pushing the multi-culture agenda in this country.”
O’Brien was also resolute in what he felt was required to change the way in which funding for such organisations is approached.
“I think it needs to be centralised for people who really have an affinity and understanding of the invaluable work that people are doing in organisations all over Ireland,” he said.
However, on a more jovial note, O’Brien reflected on the importance of the MAMA Awards in its seventh year of promoting, celebrating and honouring those people, groups, events, companies and institutions that have embraced diversity throughout the island of Ireland.
“I think it is a very, very important because, I think, you’ve got to recognise people that are doing terrific work across the country in building a much more multicultural society and that is obviously my interest in this,” he added.
