By Dan Walsh in Gorey

At the official signing in Gorey Council Chamber ( front); Cllr Joe Sullivan and Dr Jan P. Dettlaff. (back); Minister Paul Kehoe, T.D., Polish Ambassador, Ryszard Sarkowicz, (centre), and Maciej Neumann-Kochanski, Chairman, Gorey Polish Cultural Association. (Pic; Joe Dixon).

The Polska Eire Festival had a family fun aspect to its Sunday afternoon activities and the attendance included the Polish Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Ryszard Sarkowicz, Minister Paul Kehoe, T.D., and the Chairman of Gorey Municipal District Council, Cllr Joe Sullivan, and a spirit of co-operation excelled at the 4th annual festival.
In a brief signing ceremony held in the council chamber at the Civic Centre, it was agreed “to explore and develop the intention of partnership co-operation in the spirit of a European agreement and co-operation between institutions and social groups.”
It is aso agreed “to deepen and support the development of mutual friendship at the level of cultural exchange, especially promoting and building a cultural image of national traditions, including regional roots.”
Officially recognised as “A Letter of Intent,’ the document was signed by Dr Jan P. Dettlaff, Director of the Centre of Culture Sport and Tourism in Gmina Puck (Republic of Poland), and Joe Sullivan, Chairman of Gorey Municipal District (Republic of Ireland).
Cllr Sullivan had welcomed the Polish delegation while speaking at the official opening of the Polska Eire Festival, which took place in the grounds of the Civic Cente on The Avenue, and attracted a large attendance in ideal summer conditions.
“The festival continues to celebrate Polish and Irish people living and working together in Ireland and promotes mutual respect and understanding between our two cultures,” said Cllr Sullivan, who added: “The 2018 Festival will see a number of events taking place all over Ireland, and once again Gorey will have one of the largest programmes outside of Dublin and our thanks to the vibrant Polish community led by the Gorey Polish Cultural Association.”

Dignatories from Puck and Gorey at the launch of the photographic exhibition, “My Kashubia’ in Gorey Library. (Pic; Joe Dixon).

Chairman of the Gorey Polish Cultural Association, Maciej Neumann-Kochanski, reciprocated and expressed his delight at the success of the event and the warm co-operation between the Polish and Irish communities in Ireland, and especially in Gorey.
The festival opened with exhibitions and children’s events last week, but the official opening was reserved for Sunday’s Family Fun Day in Gorey Civic Square where activities for the whole family, food produce and live music on a giant stage was most entertaining.
The launch of the ‘My Kashubia’ photography exhibition took place in the foyer of Gorey Library.
There was also a lecture by Dr Danuta Dettlaff in Gorey Library on ‘Kashubian North – Cultural Phenomenon’.
Chris Niedenthal, winner of a World Press photo competition in 1986, and he has worked for renowned international publications such as NEWSWEEK and TIME MAGAZINE, has an interesting exhibition of his photographs on display in Gorey Shopping Centre.