THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE around the country will be dining and celebrating with their neighbours on the streets tomorrow.

The 7th annual Street Feast is taking place across Ireland with over 1,200 events scheduled.

According to organiser Sam Bishop, the community feasts can be as big or as small as people want. They’re aimed at encouraging neighbours to get to know each other.

Says Bishop:

We hope a street feast will act as a spark to help rejuvenate communities, across the generations – welcoming old and new faces together.

There’s an added element to the Street Feast this year… The government is endorsing it as part of the programme of events to mark the 1916 centenary.

One of the Street Feast organisers Sam Bishop Source: Leah Farrell

“People do it whatever way they feel, some will be tiny with 20 people or so,” says Bishop. Hundreds of people are expected to attend in other communities.

As for the 1916 theme?

Some will have flags flying high around the street, and others will have the Proclamation on the table or read out.

For the most part it will be all about doing “little things” to commemorate the centenary year.

Source: RollingNews.ie

President Michael D Higgins is the patron of this year’s centenary Street Feast.

Speaking about his role he said:

As we remember the momentous events of a century ago, we also have importantly, and in addition, the opportunity to reflect on the decisions and events that shaped our country, and on the options open to us as we continue to build our society.

He added:

I hope that all over Ireland people will reconnect with old friends, welcome new ones and embrace this opportunity of grand celebration of local communities as it gets underway.

Where it all began

The idea for Street Feast was created and developed by a small group of volunteers seven years ago, as a way to reduce and identify isolation within communities.

There were around 30 events scheduled in 2010, and the annual celebration has grown bigger and better each year.

To find out if a Street Feast is happening near you, you can visit their website to find out more.

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