Christy Moore, Dr. Wiwa & McGraths to Lead Annual Afri Famine Walk in Mayo

mayo | miscellaneous | event notice Sunday May 14, 2006 09:41 by Afri - Action from Ireland Afri on 01 8827563

Christy Moore and Dr. Owens Wiwa, Vincent and Maureen McGrath

to Lead Annual Famine Walk from Doolough to Louisburgh

on Saturday May 20th 2006

Afri and Louisburgh Community Project are delighted to announce that the leaders of this year's walk are Christy Moore, Dr. Owens Wiwa and Rossport couple Vincent and Maureen McGrath.

The theme of this year's walk is 'Land for People, not for Profit'. This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mayo's most famous son, Michael Davitt, founder of the Land League. Our leaders have agreed to participate in the walk as people's rights to the land is an issue close to their hearts and still very relevant today.

Dr. Owens Wiwa, brother of the late Nigerian writer and environmentalist Ken Saro Wiwa, knows only too well the consequence of placing profit and resource extraction before people and their livelihoods. Ken Saro Wiwa paid with his life.

Christy Moore has addressed the issue of land and people for many years through his songs and we are delighted to welcome him along for a second time as leader on the walk.

Vincent McGrath is one the Rossport 5 who paid for their resistance to Shell with 94 days in jail. During this time and all through their campaign Vincent's wife, Maureen, has been a tireless voice defending the rights of the North Mayo people.

The annual 10 mile sponsored walk from Doolough to Louisburgh, which follows the route taken by hundreds of people in the spring of 1849, takes place this year on Saturday May 20th. The walk commemorates those who died in 1849 along this route and is also an act of solidarity with those who suffer injustice in today’s world.

The walk is organised jointly by Afri and Louisburgh Community Project and promises to attract hundreds of people from all over the country along with local people from Louisburgh, Mayo and Galway.

Calendar of events:

Friday 19th May: 8 p.m. Drama, music and art by pupils of Killeen, Louisburgh and Lecanvey national Schools, followed by questions and answers with Dr Owens Wiwa

Saturday 20th May: 12 noon. Music on Louisburgh Square by pupils of Killeen National School

1 p.m. Shuttle buses leave the square for Doolough

2 p.m. Christy Moore, Dr. Owens Wiwa, Vincent and Maureen McGrath (Rossport) address the walkers before start of walk

5 to 7 p.m. Certificates on arrival from walk; music and sandwiches in Teach Na nOl and The Bunowen Inn

9.30 p.m. Céilí in The Derrylahan with Sheamus Heneghan and other musicians

For further information please contact;

Afri on 01 8827563