The Irish in the UK – Ep 230. Gary Cunningham celebrates his 50th and Coventry becomes the “City of Languages”

This week, we’re at the Irish Centre in Liverpool celebrating the birthday of Gary Cunnigham and then on to Coventry as it becomes the “City of Languages”

In Part 1… Gary Cunningham is very well known in Liverpool for his great work within the community. Friends join him from far and wide to celebrate his 50th birthday. Gary is always there to help people in their hour of need, generous and always upbeat. His wife Kathleen runs the Bolger Cunningham School of Irish Dancing and explains how they’re back in business post lockdown. We join the Cunnighams as they party into the night with dancing and laughter, supported by the London based “Progressive Traditional” Irish folk band, Hungry Grass.

In Part 2… Coventry is the City of Peace & Reconciliation, City of Sanctuary, City of Culture and now… City of Languages! With over 90 languages spoken, Coventry receives this well-deserved title and acknowledges the massive contribution of the Irish community and the Irish language.
Back in 2018, Irish immigrant Margaret Keane passed away and there followed a lengthy legal battle to get a simple Irish inscription added to her grave stone. Her daughters Caroline and Bez fought for 18 months, and won! Caroline is now nominated for a Community Award for her services to the Irish language, and the Irish community as a whole.
Lots of singing celebration supported by the Lord Mayor of Coventry, and local MPs Zarah Sultana and Taiwo Owatemi

Margaret Keane… inár gcroí go deo

Find out more about this programme..

liverpoolirishcentre.org/bolger-cunningham
Hungrygrass.com and follow Hungry Grass on YouTube
Coventry.go.uk

Watch the Irish in the UK every Thursday night at 7.30pm on SKY 191 or Freesat 162. Repeated on Tuesday at 1 pm