At the Sri Lankan New Year celebrations in Gorey on Saturday were Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabhain, Amanda Byrne, Gorey Municipal District Manager, Cllr Joe Sullivan, Chairman, and in the background, Cllr Robbie Ireton.

Fire dancing, traditional Sri Lankan drums, traditional music and classical interludes were all part of a colourful ceremony held at the Civic Centre, Gorey, last Saturday morning, marking the Sinhala and Tamil New Year 2018.
This event has been part of the local calendar of events in Gorey over the past few years and it is always an impressive and colourful public event. Chairman of Gorey Municipal District Council, Cllr Joe Sullivan, welcomed everybody to the ceremony and stated that Gorey was proud to be associated with the Sri Lanka day and wished the community an occasion of celebration.
Cllrs Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin and Robbie Ireton were also amongst those in attendance.
Leading the Sri Lankan community was Nalin Wickramartne, a bar man at the Ashdown Park Hotel, and his wife, Duleeka.
Also in attendance was well-known Television personailty, Daria Allen, Sri Lanka’s Honorory Consul.
The symbolic flag raising ceremony was accompanied by traditional Irish and Sri Lankan music from groups led by Sean Leacy and Aileen Kennedy.
The Sri Lankan New Year celebrations had begun earlier in the week at Gorey Library with a concert from the multi-talented Éire and Chulainn from Ceol Mo Chroi.
There was also a Sri Lankan ‘Food Experience’ in the library on Friday.