Annual Féile na Beatha Festival Takes Place at SETU

Afri

SETU hosted the annual Féile na Beatha (Festival of Life) in collaboration with Afri (Action from Ireland) on Thursday, 27 March.

The event brought together social care students, Afri, and members of the University and local community to commemorate the lives lost during the Great Famine and reflect on how history can guide us in fostering a more caring and compassionate society.

Students of SETU and The Delta Centre singing An Gorta Mór alongside one another at the Famine graveyard during Féile na Beatha
Students of SETU and The Delta Centre singing at Féile na Beatha alongside Joe Black Ryder and Roger Whelan.

Commemorating the past

A central part of the festival was the commemorative walk to the Famine graveyard where over 3,000 people who perished during the Great Famine are buried. Led by Afri, the walk featured reflections from local historian Anthony Brophy and speeches by Katie Martin, Afri and climate justice communicator, Nandana James. First-year social care students, joined by guests from the Delta Centre Carlow, performed ‘An Gorta Mór’, a song that powerfully captured the significance of the day.

Katie Martin, Coordinator of Afri, said,

“Afri is honoured to partner with SETU for this special annual event, which centres on remembrance and solidarity. This year’s theme, ‘Creating Cultures of Care’, was deeply felt as we reflected on the lives lost during An Gorta Mór. Each person buried here is a testament to a tragic chapter in our history and the lessons we have yet to learn. We honour their lives and heed the call for courage in confronting the structures perpetuating inequity. Through commemoration, music, and shared experiences, we strengthened our bonds with SETU and The Delta Centre and reinforced our commitment to building just and inclusive societies together.”

Katie Martin, coordinator at Afri speaking into a microphone in the Famine graveyard at Féile na Beatha.
Katie Martin, Afri speaking at the event.

Exploring the history of social care education

The second half of the event focused on the premiere of a new documentary, ‘The History of Social Care Education’, created by Dr Denise Lyons, Social Care Lecturer at SETU, and PhD candidate Charlotte Burke. The project was funded by the Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement (SATLE) and supported by SETU’s Teaching and Learning Centre. The 45-minute film, produced by RoJnRoll Productions, explored the evolution of social care education in Ireland, and featured insights from Mr Pat Brennan, Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, and third-year social care students, highlighting the pioneering efforts that shaped the profession.

Dr Denise Lyons, Social Care Lecturer at SETU, said,

“The documentary will be available as a resource for students throughout Ireland and available for download from the Social Care Ireland website. The documentary was inspired by the insightful teachings of Pat Brennan, Programme Director of the Kilkenny Programme 1971-1981. Pat’s reflections on the key themes of social care work are still relevant to social care practice and education today.”

Dr Denise Lyons speaking at a podium at Féile na Beatha event
Dr Denise Lyons, SETU speaking at the event.

A lasting impact

The event concluded with a reflection session, where attendees discussed the key themes of the day and how they could apply these lessons in their own lives and communities. Féile na Beatha 2025 served as a powerful reminder that understanding the past is essential to building a future rooted in empathy, solidarity and care.

This article is a repost from www.setu.ie. Please follow this link for further details.

Featured image: Kseniya Rusnak playing the Bandura, the national instrument of Ukraine. Photo by Larysa Karankovich

Féile na Beatha 2025

Afri

Join Afri and South East Technological University on Thursday, March 27, from 11 am to 2 pm for this remarkable annual festival! This year’s theme, Creating Cultures of Care, prompts us to consider the vital role of care, exploring the profound significance of the past and ways we can forge futures rooted in empathy, solidarity, and support for one another.

Enjoy various engaging and moving events, delving into the intertwined legacies of colonialism and care, challenging us to consider how we honour the past and nurture the future. Through a commemorative walk, music, and the premiere of a thought-provoking documentary, we will explore the profound significance of our past and invite you to consider how we can cultivate a culture of care in our lives and communities.

Event Highlights:

11:00 AM – Launch of the Event in A102

Dr. Eileen Doyle-Walsh, Head of the Faculty of Business and Humanities, will kick off the day with an inspiring message accompanied by beautiful music from Kseniya Rusnak.

11:20 AM – Commemorative Walk to the Famine Graveyard

At the heart of our festival lies the Famine Graveyard, a solemn site where 3,000 souls rest, victims of An Gorta Mór. Led by Afri, we will walk and commemorate those who died or were displaced during this time. Through engaging speakers, including Nandana James, input from a local historian, Anthony Brophy, and song and tree planting, we will consider how caring for one another and the planet embodies the lessons of history. This commemoration also shows how the Famine Graveyard is slowly transforming into a place that not only remembers and honours those who died during An Gorta Mór, but also a space where biodiversity has begun to flourish.

12:40 PM – Launch of Documentary Premiere

Join Dr Denise Lyons and Charlotte Burke at the launch of a powerful new documentary, “The History of Social Care Education.” This critically important documentary explores the history and development of welfare provision in Ireland, specifically looking at the impact of the first social care course in Kilkenny in 1971. Before the screening, we will hear the story of how the documentary came to fruition, as well as insights on the importance of building cultures of care, both locally and globally.

12:50 PM – Documentary Screening

Be among the first to view “The History of Social Care Education.” This powerful 45-minute documentary sheds light on the history of welfare provision in Ireland and how social care education emerged from the inspiration of three adults who wanted to create change in how we cared for vulnerable people in Irish society. This SATLE-funded collaborative project between Dr Denise Lyons, Charlotte Burke and Year 3 students of SETU Carlow Campus, and Mr Pat Brennan, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy and RoJnRoll Productions is not to be missed!

1:40 PM – Reflections, Evaluations, and Closing Music

We will conclude the day with reflections on the themes discussed and how we can embody the lessons of history in our daily lives.

Join us and be part of a transformative experience that honours our past while paving the way for a more caring future.

Féile na Beatha Ceatharlach – Carlow’s Spring ‘Festival of Living’

Afri1 Comment
Carlow’s Spring festival of living takes place on March 19th this year, with a range of compelling events throughout the day. Féile na Beatha has grown out of the Famine Walk which has taken place from South East Technological University to the nearby Famine Graveyard for more than a decade. 

Continue reading “Féile na Beatha Ceatharlach – Carlow’s Spring ‘Festival of Living’” →