Africa Day celebration in Athlone's Burgess Park this Saturday

An Africa Day celebration is taking place this Saturday, May 25, from 1pm to 8pm in Burgess Park, Athlone.

The Athlone African Community Group is organising the event, which will include a BBQ, music, cultural events and food sampling.

Africa Day is an annual worldwide celebration of the people, cultures, and potential of the African continent, and this year all 31 local authorities across Ireland are hosting various cultural, artistic, and family-friendly events.

The Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Seán Fleming, commented: "Ireland has growing trade, political and cultural links across the continent of Africa. Africa Day is an opportunity to promote those links and learn more about the diversity and vibrancy of African cultures."

At a recent launch of the nationwide programme of events for Africa Day 2024, Minister Fleming was joined by representatives of the African diaspora community in Ireland, including dancer Lapree Lala, designer Virtue Shine, Shamrock Rovers and Cape Verde footballer Roberto Lopes, and Michael Chanda from the Discovery Gospel Choir.