An Post Stamp Celebrates a Changing Ireland
7 March 2008
The launch of An Post’s stamp celebrating 2008 as European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (EY/ID) saw the Minister share stories with primary school children, professional storyteller, John Mahon, and Catherine Joyce, Traveller and national ambassador of EY/ID.
A spokesperson for An Post said "The 55c EY/ID stamp features the Year of Intercultural Dialogue logo. The stamp is designed by Ger Garland and shows several figures forming a circle, turning hand in hand and dancing together as an expression of ‘joie de vivre’".
Philip Watt, Director of the the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI), which is coordinating the Year in Ireland stated ‘The launch of the stamp gives a very visible sign that Ireland is committed to promoting intercultural dialogue in Ireland where both diversity and the need to live together in a shared space are valued’
"The Traveller community welcomes the launch of this stamp which celebrates all ethnic diversity in Ireland, "said Catherine Joyce, Ambassador for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue,
The EY/ID stamp is available from the GPO Philatelic Shop (01-705 7400), selected post offices nationwide or from www.irishstamps.ie
To launch the stamp, the (NCCRI) and the Chester Beatty Library, in partnership with the Draiocht Theatre, Blanchardstown will showcase an intercultural arts project for primary schools in Dublin titled Tell Your Story.
Notes to the Editor:
Stamp Design
The stamp design of an open ended circle echoes the openness of the EU: people from all nations are welcome. The four basic colours of the logo - blue, red, yellow and green - symbolise both harmony and diversity as the base colours from which all other hues are formed.
The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) was designated by the Irish Government and the European Union as the National Coordinating Body for the Year in Ireland and is one of 27 similar NCBS across the EU. The NCCRI is an independent expert body that seeks to provide advice and to develop initiatives to combat racism and to work towards a more inclusive, intercultural society in Ireland.
Tell Your Story is a six week project devised to provide positive arts experiences around storytelling. The participating children build language skills, confidence, arts awareness and multicultural understanding through highlighting commonality and celebrating difference. The project centres on the idea of creating a box of keepsakes. Each child participating will tell the story of collecting their keepsakes and these stories will be recorded and edited into a DVD memoire for the children and their schools. Tell Your Story runs from March 31st – May 5th and is managed and resourced by Draiocht and The Chester Beatty Library.
