World Refugee Day Awards 2006

Today there was two events which took place in Dublin. One was AGM of Integrating Ireland and another one was World Refugee Day 2006 Awards. Integrating Ireland is an umbrella organisation which works with over hundred of ethnic/immigrant led organisations in Ireland. Irish Sikh Council (http://www.irishsikhcouncil.com) is also a member organisation. I was quite surprised by the fact that some of most active member organisation/ persons are coming from african background & how they are helping to raise issues associated with their communities is eye openers for us.

Then there was world refugee day 2006 awards at Dublin City Council building. Programme started at 7pm. I reached there around quarter to seven and saw that everybody was being serving nice stuffed, vegetarian samosas and rolls.I took some pictures, then a man came to me and said, "sardar jee, how are you". I cudn't believe my ears for a moment. I asked him how do you know that I am a sikh. then he told me that he had taught biochemistry in CMC Ludhiana for 3 years in 1980's. At present he is teaching in Trinity College Dublin. He was very friendly guy and had been very appreciative of India, especially of sikhs throughout the conversatioin. As programme started there was address by Lord Mayor of Dublin. and before they stated other things, to our surprise, person incharge of stage announced the Punjabi Dancers are welcomed to stage!

these Drumers (informally) started the programme, by plying there drums. All the four participants belong to different countires!

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr. Catherine Bryne giving her inauguration speech.

Jagroop & his Bhangra Team giving their performace. It was very nice performance.

Bhangraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! (Punjabi folk dance)

Giving them bit of support!

Audiences enjoying the Bhagra!

Audiences were from all countries, majority of them from africa.

Hardip, Ranjit and Vivek in the background.

Mayor giving awards to nominated members.

Dr. Ronit Lentin, Dept of Sociology, Trinity College, Dublin, inviting people for awards.

( LtoR) Naimah Manna, Salome Mbugua, and Kay Mulhall nominated and awarded for their work in Community & Environment Category.

Nigerian Community presenting their dance. It was funny that they were asked by the stage secretary to perform better than the Punjabi dancers!

Mr. ......., Director of Integrating Ireland, giving his speech.

(LtoR) Memet Uludag & Laurence Van de Hogen awarded for their work in Education & Youth Category.

Drumers- a trually diverse team!

(LtoR) Dass, Vivek and Hardip Singh, at world refugee day.

(LtoR) Dass, with Ranjit & Hardip Singh

Vivek Jee with big smiles!

As we came out, some of afgani came to us and said, "Sardar ji ki hall hai...chak de fatteeeh"....We all were very surprised and had photo with them.

Ranjit Singh outside Dublin Civic Offices!

Vivek outside Dublin Civic Office.

After that we decided to go to nearby Museam but nobody thought that museam is open for certain time rather than 24hrs! Front doors were open for some other reasons, as we went inside, security guard told us that museam is already closed!

Hardip and Gurcharan Singh on the way to Museum!

World Entrepreneur of Year!

Irish Man, Bill Lynch, named World Entrepreneur of Year

The Irish born chief executive of one of the biggest transport companies in South Africa, Imperial Holdings, has won the Ernst & Young 2006 World Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Sixty two year old, who is originally from Ballybunion in Co. Kerry, emigrated to South Africa with his wife Ann in 1971.

More Pictures of Departure!

The following pictures are of 28th may, sunday evening, when Singhs from uk were leaving for home. Due to summer time, Dublin airport were very busy. There were long queues in front of every boarding counter. We had then good opportunity to have gurmat veechar with Singhs while they waiting for their turn ! Also Singhs were very much centre of attraction at the airport, it was perhaps first time that so many singhs, most of them in khalsa dress, were together at the airport!



Bhai Sohan singh ji, Bhai Jarnail Singh ji , Bhai Ragbir Singh Ji, Bibi Nirmal Kaur ji, Phulpreet Singh and dass.

More Pictures from Samagam

After Gurmat Veechar with youths, there was awesome kirtan by the visiting Sevadaars from Uk.

Bhai Dabinderjit Singh, Birmingham doing keertan seva. Bhai Hardip Singh from Slough is on Tabla.

Bhai Tarsem Singh ji doing keertan seva.

Bibi Indermohan Kaur Jee from Coventry doing kirtan

Bhai Sohan Singh Ji in seva of Guru Sahib

Bhai Nanak Singh (Slough) doing keertan.

Bhai Jatinder Singh ji doing keertan. On the left is Bhai Tavinder Singh, and Bhai Harpreet Singh is playing tabla.

Bhai Jatinder Singh again...

Sangat during Saturday evening divan.

Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Jee doing Asa Di Vaar da Kirtan on Sunday morning. Veer Tavinder Singh (with Chhaine) along with Bhai Prithipaal Singh are on stage.

Bhai Sukhwinder Singh along with Bhai Dabinderjit Singh and Bhai Nanak Singh Ji

Bibi Indermohan Kaur Jee along with other Singhnian doing kirtan

Panj Pyare (five beloved ones) coming to Guru Sahib after Amrit Sanchar Ceremony.

Bhai Jarnail Singh Jee in service of Guru Sahib

Bhai Jainder Singh Jee during gurmat veechar

Photos Sessions with Singhs after Samapati (finishing) of samagam on sunday.

(from L to R) Bhai Singh from Uk , Bhai Phulpreet Singh Jee (Dublin) and Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Jee with all the smiles!

(from L to R) Bhai Ranjit Singh, Bhai Phulpreet Singh, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh and Bhai Satwinder Singh.

Bhai Gurmeet Singh, Bhai Sukhwinder Singh and Dass. Bhai Gurmeet Singh or Gill bhaji is our local gatka master, with sole reponsibility of getting adults and kids together on Every tuesday for Gatka practice. Bhai Gurmeet Singh jee always remains ready (tatpar) to do any sort of seva in the Gurdwara.

No comment, Picture speaks for itself!

Bhai Gurwinder Singh jee (extream right) and Bhai Hardip Singh (3rd from left)
Bhai Harpreet Singh , Bhai Karanjit Singh (Japnit Singh), Rana Bhaji and Bhai Hardip Singh with someone else's laptop!, and Mr Gurpreet. Bhai Harpreet Singh jee are doing seva as Mukh Sevadaar (President) in recently selected managing committee of Dublin Gurdwara.