Noel Fleming, Noel’s Deli
“I thought this year there was a great buzz around the area about the festival. I attended a few of the events and was disappointed to miss the opening night in Tailors’ Hall which I heard was a great success. The Paint by Pints event was terrific, great fun and given our shopfront was one of the ones chosen to be used on the night for people to paint I was delighted. I spoke to most of the people present and they all thought it was a great idea, also the venue was great.
Mary and I attended the Blue Rinse Ball which we thoroughly enjoyed, again a great venue for it. Liz Duffy was amazing as were the Liberty Belles…the feedback I got was terrific…I also attended for a while the event on Gray Street hosted by Anita Reilly, she was great, a natural MC, the crowd was great and a lot of tourists attended…
I spotted lots of tours going by the shop which was great to see and the pictures in the Liberty Market were also wonderful. I think overall given it was your first Liberties Festival you and the team done a great job…Congratulations!”
Linda Monga (visitor)
"I want to share my experience participating in the integration programme at SICCDA, now Liberties CDP, since 2023. My name is Linda Monga, and I am from Africa, and I am very happy to be a part of this programme. From the moment I joined, I have felt at home. The programme truly accepts and supports me as a member of its family. I receive all the necessary answers to my questions and feel that I am getting support that I haven't encountered anywhere else.
Every Saturday, I eagerly look forward to meeting with the program participants. This place has become a second home for me, where I am welcomed, and I feel comfortable and cozy. I am grateful to everyone who makes this program so wonderful and hope to continue growing and developing together with this friendly community."
The members of the History Group range in age from 62 – 94
"We all agree that once we came to the Robert Emmet Centre, we had, indeed, come home! Having found it to be such a warm and nurturing centre of excellence for learning, it was only a matter of time before we joined other classes – painting, sustainable art, drama, creative writing, computers and yet another intra-generational local history class. We blossomed and bloomed as individuals and grew in self-confidence. We learned leadership skills from the wonderful staff of the Robert Emmet Centre. Everyone’s unique skills and talents were used for the greater good. A hugely rich learning tapestry for us arose from the friendships we formed as a result of mingling with people from various cultures. We discussed the Palestinian Question with Wafoa from Palestine. Sultana from Pakistan shared her wonderful art and crafts from her country. Wendy from Zimbabwe taught us to make natural remedies to deal with arthritic pain and lower blood-sugars. Our own Anthony, the bee-keeping expert, provided us with local honey and educated us on the health benefits of it. It is truly amazing to see how the care and encouragement of the Robert Emmet Centre has helped Anthony blossom into the remarkable young man he is today – a fantastic role model for the young children with whom he shares his bee-keeping expertise."
Iryna Samagala
"I am very grateful for my experience with the CE Program at SICCDA. I have been working here for one year, and now my contract has been extended for another year. The team is very understanding and supportive, and I feel welcomed every day. The CE Program has helped me gain new skills and valuable work experience. I also have the chance to improve my English, which makes me feel more confident living in Ireland. The training I receive is very helpful, and it gives me the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. I would definitely recommend the CE Program with SICCDA to others. The coordinator (supervisor) is always there to help and guide us. This support has made my experience even better."