The 20th Anniversary of ATD in Ireland marked in Dublin

On Saturday May 4th, 150 people from Ireland and abroad gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of All Together in Dignity’s activities in Ireland and the 10th anniversary of ATD being registered as an Irish charity.

All Together in Dignity (ATD Ireland)  is a active member of ATD Fourth World, the change making international human-rights movement working through grass-roots projects in partnership with people living in poverty in 35 countries in the Global South and North.

For the past 20 years, ATD in Ireland has been close to family members facing persistent poverty and struggling daily to live in dignity. 

This landmark has been being celebrated with an anniversary concert in the heart of Dublin’s north inner city.  Along with the Island of Ireland Peace Choir and other singers and musicians (the High Hopes Choir, Aine and Cathal Holland), special guests included:

  • Former Irish Ambassador to the United Nations, co-facilitator of the UN Agenda 2030, David Donoghue
  • Stephane Crouzat, French Ambassador
  • Bernadette Scheid, Deputy Belgium Ambassador
  • Fr. Peter McVery SJ
  • Maureen O’Sullivan TD
  • Michael Doorley, Concern Worldwide
  • Barbara Walshe, Chair of Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation
  • Current and previous members of the ATD Volunteer Corps working in Ireland

The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, wrote a congratulatory message for this anniversary event: “Those who volunteer for All Together in Dignity are inspiring examples of that spirit of solidarity, offering friendship and support to those who live with poverty and social exclusion every day, struggling to create futures of hope for themselves and their families.”
At the event, it was read by Barbara Walshe, former ATD Board member and current Chair of the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation.
The full message of President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins is  here.

 

The concert marked some of ATD Ireland’s major achievements over the last 20 years including:

  • In cooperation with the Irish 17 October Committee, staging the annual commemoration of the UN End Poverty Day on 17 October in Dublin and other locations throughout Ireland, 2000 – 2018. The installation of the Human Rights and Poverty Stone in 2008 on the Customs House Quay, Dublin 1, as a central gathering point for the UN Day commemoration.
  • The innovative Cross-Community Programme supported by the Combat Poverty Agency, 2004 -2007, bringing people experiencing hardship from different disadvantaged communities in Dublin to discuss important issues for them and their families in a series of monthly meetings.
  • Following the visit to Ireland in 2011 of Magdalena Sepulveda, UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, finalising the Guiding Principles on Human Rights and Extreme Poverty, adopted by the UN in 2012 – the result of 25 years of continuous work and dialogue by ATD Fourth World International at the United Nations.
  • Supporting an alliance of civil society actors in a campaign that resulted in the Recommendation by the Constitutional Convention for the inclusion of Social, Economic and Cultural Rights in the Irish Constitution, 2013 – 2018.
  • Staging a series of Leave No One Behind Conversations in 2018 with people from disadvantaged communities to promote awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals and the transformative Agenda 2030 Promise.
  • Currently campaigning to protect Irish citizens from unequal treatment on the basis of the socio-economic status (introduction in the Irish Equal Status Act of the Socio-Economic Status as a recognised ground of discrimination).

Read more about the 20 years of activities of ATD in Ireland.

ATD is grateful to the O’Connell Secondary School and its Principal Lynn Kidney and to the Peace Choir Leader Phil Brennan for their strong support to the event.

Discover some pictures from the event:

The ATD 20th Anniversary Concert was one of the many community events of “The Big Hello”, the National Community Week End during the May Bank Holiday Week End!

This ATD event wass a “Star Wars Fans” friendly event! It was a way to mark “Star Wars Day” and support people who share a “New Hope” against poverty. May the Force be with us to #EndPoverty and #LeaveNoOneBehind!

The event also marked the European Youth Week! The ATD Unity in the Community Youth Group will share information about the #DemocracyAndMe campaign and explain why “Democracy is a #LeaveNoOneBehind promise!”. At the event they presented their current project: “End Discrimination – From Holocaust to Protection