A record 14 awards were presented at this year’s MAMA Awards ceremony in Dublin’s historic Abbey Theatre
A record 14 awards were presented at this year’s MAMA Awards ceremony in Dublin’s historic Abbey Theatre
Multicultural: Individual
Utsav Lal, Indian classical pianist
Utsav Lal is one of India’s youngest concert pianists and has acquired international acclaim for his renditions of classical ragas on piano at over 60 piano concerts at prestigious venues in India and abroad.
Having played his first concert in Delhi at the age of nine, he is considered to be a musical prodigy. Based in Blackrock, Dublin and now aged 16, Utsav is the youngest individual winner of the Multicultural Individual category at the MAMA Awards.
A trained jazz pianist and a certified western classical pianist from the Trinity School of Music, London, Utsav drew his inspiration at an early age from Indian music, breaking traditional barriers to draw on the power of ragas on the piano. Drawing inspiration from Irish music, Utsav has played compositions of Irish traditional music in the raga style on piano complemented by traditional Indian instruments. The expression of his raga music needs no written scores as the music flows from within, naturally and impromptu.
Upon receiving his MAMA Award, Utsav said: “I really love Ireland and from my first step on Irish soil I felt that it was home. I would like to thank the Indian Embassy for their support and the Festival of World Cultures as well.”
Multicultural: Group in Non Govt Sector
Third Age Foundation – Fáilte Isteach Project
Fáilte Isteach is a country-wide community project involving older people volunteering their time to teach conversational English classes to new migrants. Originally established in the village of Summerhill in Meath, this initiative – developed by Mary Nally, chair of the voluntary organisation Third Age Foundation – has provided basic language support to over 100 people, from 19 different countries who have come to live in Ireland.
The primary target group of the Third Age Foundation is older people, and part of the this involves a focus on providing information and new ideas that will encourage older people to improve their own lives, and make a positive difference to their communities through their actions.
On stage at the MAMA Awards, Mary Nally said she would like to receive her prize on behalf of all the pensioners in Summerhill who gather every Tuesday to teach conversational English to immigrants. “I would love to see this happen in every town and every village of Ireland. I believe this project really helps people to integrate,” she said.
Multicultural: Institution in Public Sector
Dublin City Libraries – Many Faces Many Places
The aim of Dublin City Libraries’ ‘Many Faces Many Places’ intercultural programme for young people throughout the summer of 2008 was set up to inform children about ethnic diversity and provide participants with an opportunity to engage with these other cultures. Such was the enthusiasm generated at branch level that over 90 events were organised in total across the city.
The project's co-ordinator Alison Lyons said that Dublin's libraries had a lot to gain from the initiative. “The libraries got busier and they attracted a lot of children. The project widened children's experience in the library. They found that a library is not only a place where they can read books, but also a place where you can learn about other cultures, languages and learn to play new musical instruments as well.”
She added that the libraries' work on integration and inclusion will continue, and was confident another project would be forthcoming next summer.
Multicultural: Company in Private Sector
Crowne Plaza Northwood
The Crowne Plaza in Northwood, north Dublin, has in recent years sought to meet the challenge of managing diversity. In order to achieve this, the hotel began by creating a powerful vision for diversity and its management within the organisation, aiming to tackle prejudice and unfair treatment for employees and guests alike.
Mary Buckley – general manager at Crowne Plaza Northwood, who spoke to us after the event – believes that diversity has a range of benefits for her company. “It’s an expression of what I and Crowne Plaza stand for,” she said. “It’s right for business and our communities. It creates greater tolerance and understanding. Sourcing diverse talent results in a variety of perspectives within the workforce. This makes the company more efficient in appreciating the needs of its diverse customer range. Crowne Plaza essentially attempts to be who it serves.”
Buckley said all the hotel staff were delighted to receive the award, and added that the trophy itself has been placed in the lobby of the hotel for all to see.
Multicultural: Multinational Organisation
Dell Ireland
With 80,000 employees living and working in 34 countries, diversity is in Dell’s DNA, according to the global computer firm. This is clear to see in that 20 per cent of Dell’s employees between Limerick and Dublin hail from 77 different countries abroad. As a result, Dell has ensured that cultural diversity is integrated into every aspect of its business.
Dell’s MAMA Award was collected by Ingrid Devlin of Dell Ireland, who said: “International activities and diversity have become such a part of our day-to-day business that we have a festival or a celebration almost every day of the year.”
Media: Print Media
Kid’s Own Publishing
Kids’ Own publishes books by children for children. The company dedicated to raising the status of children’s work as writers and artists to a wider audience, employing a holistic approach to the creative environment, which is passionate and ambitious.
One of its publications was the result of a country-wide project to reached those who may have had limited access to arts and literature. The book – ‘This is the Place That I Love Best (And I’m Not Just Sayin’ That!) – involved Kids’ Own undertaking a tour of its books by children to libraries around the country, during which Kids’ Own engaged with 320 children between the ages of five and 15. The resulting publication was launched in March 2008.
After receiving the MAMA Award, Kids' Own director Orla Kenny said: "It was fantastic to get recognition for the work we have done. It brings home the value of new ideas in these changing times.”
She added that Kids' Own was now developing new titles written by children from various ethnic backgrounds who have made Ireland their home.
Media: Broadcast Media
RTÉ Radio One – Spectrum
RTÉ Radio One’s Spectrum investigates Ireland’s response to its changing ethnic and cultural makeup. Through debate, comment and analysis of the international context, Spectrum explores how Ireland is coping with its new multiculturalism.
The MAMA Award was received by Spectrum’s presenter Zbyszek Zalinski and researcher Alana Doogan. However, many other people have worked on the programme over the years, and the award was also a recognition of their contribution. “I called all the producers that worked on Spectrum previously and personally told them the news,” said Zalinski. “Everyone was very happy that their work got this kind of recognition.”
Media: Visual Media
Ross Whitaker, Liam Nolan – Saviours
Saviours is a documentary film set in St Saviours boxing academy on Dorset Street in Dublin’s north inner city. Among the members of the club are locals, immigrants, Olympic champions, asylum seekers, academics and school dropouts. Candid and cold-eyed in its approach, this powerful film seeks not to comment on life but to observe it in action.
On receiving their MAMA award, Liam Nolan said: “I still remember how we first went into that little boxing club on Dorset Street and met the great boxers who trained there... They came from different countries, but they were all Dublin boxers and they were great.”
Media: Student Media
Julian Ulrichs, Richard Walsh – FGM: No Way Home
FGM No Way Home is a seven-minute documentary film that deals strongly but very sensitively with the topical issue of female genital mutilation, or FGM. The film follows the story of Pamela Izevbekhai, a Nigerian woman who lost a daughter to FGM and is now fighting a legal battle to stay in Ireland with her other two daughters who, she says, could be at risk.
On accepting their award, the young filmmakers used the opportunity to draw media attention to Pamela’s story, and encouraged attendees to visit the website www.letthemstay.com which contains information on the woman’s case.
“I am hoping that the fact our film got an award will draw as much attention to Pamela’s case as possible,” said Richard Walsh. “At the moment she really needs public support”.
He added that in future he would like to make a full documentary on Pamela’s story. The film student also said that another subject that interests him is the way direct provision centres operate in Ireland.
“It would be really interesting to investigate the asylum system in a documentary,” he said.
Media: Online/Web Media
NIC New Communities (newcommunities.ie)
This website – suggested, designed and implemented by Garda John Condruin – is aimed at new communities in Dublin’s north inner city. The website was developed as a method of communication in the widest way possible, to provide information on Garda sevices for new and ethnic communities in the area. The overall aim is to facilitate people from new communities living and working in the area to have a channel of communication to express their views and to build relationships between their communities, gardaí and Dublin City Council.
After receiving the MAMA Award, Garda John Condruin said: “It’s very important for new communities who move into the north inner city that there are people out there to facilitate and help them, that they’re not alone. We’re always there to help.”
Foras Na Gaeilge Award
Peer Pressure Productions/Des Bishop – In the Name of the Fada
In the Name of the Fada aired on RTÉ One from 13 March to 17 April 2008, documenting Irish-American comedian Des Bishop and his pursuit of fluency in the Irish language. The six-part series followed Bishop as he spent a year living in Tír an Fhia, one of many Gaeltacht regions in Ireland. By the end of his stay, Bishop aimed to be able to perform a stand-up comedy act completely as Gaeilge.
After a lengthy speech in Irish upon accepting his award, Des Bishop switched to his mother tongue to say: “I think the presence of so many cultures and nationalities in Ireland is one of the reasons the Irish language has grown in strength. People start to realise the importance of cultural identity and see how beautiful their own language is.”
Iris O’Brien Foundation Bursary Award:
St Saviours Boxing Club
St Saviour’s Boxing Club on Dublin’s Dorset Street received a special €5,000 bursary from the Iris O’Brien Foundation to honour its wide membership of locals and immigrants and the club’s efforts to promote integration through sport. Upon receiving the award, the club’s representative said: “Being a member of Saviours is always a special thing, but to be recognised in this fashion is even more special.”
NPAR Award
O’Connell School, North Richmond Street, Dublin
O’Connell School on North Richmond Street in Dublin’s north inner city won this year’s special award from the National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR) – received by teacher Michael Kilbride – for its extensive English language teaching provided for its large number of pupils from immigrant families, and the ongoing financial support it provides to its non-EU pupils who proceed to third level.
Commenting on the MAMA Awards ceremony, school principal Michael Finucane said: “It was a wonderful celebration of real people, real events and real activities rather than the glitz that often goes with such presentations.”
Finucane said all the teachers and staff of the schools were “absolutely delighted” to have their work recognised. He also expressed a hope that their work will get the same level of recognition from the Government, especially in light of its recent decision to reduce the number of language support teachers.
“The Government has indicated that it would look favourably on schools where there is a large concentration of pupils with language needs,” he said. “We are certainly one such school and we are hoping that the Government will consider this. It is vital because the work that we are doing now cannot be sustained without support from the State.”
Special Judges’ Award
Philip Watt, NCCRI director
Philip Watt has been director of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) since 1998. He was previously seconded to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to help draft the National Action Plan Against Racism in 2003 and to co-ordinate European Year Against Racism in 1997.
The Belfast native has written extensively on racism and interculturalism in publicatiosn such as Responding to Racism in Ireland (Veritas, 2001), Migration Policy in Ireland (NCCRI, 2002) and Racism in Northern Ireland (1992). He has worked closely with EU organisations, including the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia.
Philip Watt received his MAMA Award “on behalf of the NCCRI” and the work it has done. He said: “Racism is still an issue in Ireland, and therefore I would call on the Government to recognise that and develop a new plan against racism."
