Kilkenny marked a historic milestone on Monday, October 20th, as the city hosted its first-ever Black History Month celebration at the Mayfair Library Gardens. Organised by Dr. Toluwani Akaehomen of Phenomenal Ventures, the event brought together students, community members, and civic leaders, including Mayor John Coonan.
Keynote
Keynote speaker Dr. Philomena Mullen of Trinity College Dublin shared evidence of people of African descent living in Ireland long before the Great Famine and highlighted the story of 18th-century Irish singer Rachel Baptiste. The second speaker, Mr. Jude Hughes, born in 1941 and co-founder of Harmony, Ireland’s first anti-racism group, shared powerful memories of growing up in 1940s Ireland and his continued advocacy through the Association of Mixed Race Irish, a non-profit organisation.
Mayor Coonan praised the event for promoting belonging and inclusion, calling it “a
powerful demonstration that every background is woven into the tapestry of our shared Irish
life.”
