19th December 2017
The Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce were lead sponsors at an event to celebrate the world Arabic language day.
The event was presented by Arabesque events with support from The Mission of the Palestinian State, the Embassies of the Kingdom of Morocco, The Arab Republic of Egypt, The Arab Republic of Sudan, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The event was held in collaboration with the Welcome Café which is funded by the Department of Justice and Equality and Dublin City Council.
AICC Chairman Dr. Niall Holohan
This was the first ever celebration of the World Arabic Language Daly in Dublin. The commemoration marks the fact that Arabic became one of the official languages at the United Nations, as well as a working language on 18th December 1973. It was first established by UNESCO in 2010 and has since been observed annually on this date.
Councillor Paddy MacCartan
The evening of poetry and entertainment was held at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin Castle on 18th December. The aim was to bring East and West together through sharing traditions and culture in an environment that will encourage the presenting of both traditions. Dublin based Palestinian musician Ruba Shamshoum performed with her band and Iraqi poet Majid Mujed read from his well know collection of poetry.
Aicc chairman Dr. Holohan with Councillor Paddy MacCartan
AICC Chairman Dr. Niall Holohan was a keynote speaker on the night and read a poem by acclaimed Palestinian poet and author Mahmoud Darwish.
In Jerusalem
BY MAHMOUD DARWISH
TRANSLATED BY FADY JOUDAH
In Jerusalem, and I mean within the ancient walls,
I walk from one epoch to another without a memory
to guide me. The prophets over there are sharing
the history of the holy ... ascending to heaven
and returning less discouraged and melancholy, because love
and peace are holy and are coming to town.
I was walking down a slope and thinking to myself: How
do the narrators disagree over what light said about a stone?
Is it from a dimly lit stone that wars flare up?
I walk in my sleep. I stare in my sleep. I see
no one behind me. I see no one ahead of me.
All this light is for me. I walk. I become lighter. I fly
then I become another. Transfigured. Words
sprout like grass from Isaiah’s messenger
mouth: “If you don’t believe you won’t be safe.”
I walk as if I were another. And my wound a white
biblical rose. And my hands like two doves
on the cross hovering and carrying the earth.
I don’t walk, I fly, I become another,
transfigured. No place and no time. So who am I?
I am no I in ascension’s presence. But I
think to myself: Alone, the prophet Muhammad
spoke classical Arabic. “And then what?”
Then what? A woman soldier shouted:
Is that you again? Didn’t I kill you?
I said: You killed me ... and I forgot, like you, to die.
Tamara Shannan
The event was presented by Arabesque events with support from The Mission of the Palestinian State, the Embassies of the Kingdom of Morocco, The Arab Republic of Egypt, The Arab Republic of Sudan, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The event was held in collaboration with the Welcome Café which is funded by the Department of Justice and Equality and Dublin City Council.