Irish-British Cultural Day at Natolin
On 21 March 2025, Natolin students from Ireland and the UK hosted a vibrant celebration showcasing the rich cultures of their nations.
The official activities of the cultural day began with a Gaelic football and hurling training session. Students felt very lucky to have four members of the Warsaw GAA club visit Natolin and deliver an introductory training session. The students got a taste of the two national sports of Ireland, practiced drills, and even finished with a Gaelic football match!
Simultaneously, two Natolin students from Ireland hosted a céilí (traditional Irish group dance) where the students learned how to perform four of the main dance-hall style group dances that are practiced in Ireland, particularly in the Irish-speaking regions (or Gaeltachts).
Once the rain had deterred everyone from the outdoor activities, the students gathered inside for afternoon tea. Our British students prepared a wide variety of teas to try, complemented by delicious lemon and poppyseed cake kindly provided by the Natolin Restaurant. While enjoying their refreshments, the students also had the option to participate in a traditional pub quiz, with the chance to win multiple prizes!
Before long, it was time for the cultural dinner. Our Irish and British students had prepared a surprise for everyone at the start of the dinner in the form of a performance from an international bagpiping troop. The four performers put on a spectacular show despite the weather, helping to get everyone's spirits high before the evening activities.
During the dinner, students enjoyed traditional dishes from the UK and Ireland expertly prepared by the Natolin Restaurant Staff.
Students were very grateful to welcome the Irish Minister of Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Mr Christopher O'SULLIVAN, as well as the Irish Ambassador to Poland, H.E. Mr Patrick HAUGHEY, and other embassy representatives from both Ireland and the UK.
The final event of the day was a Seisiún Ceoil (traditional Irish music session) held in the Winter Garden. An amazing group of local musicians from the groups "Heel n Toe" and "Duality", as well as dancers from "Damhsa Álainn" put together a stellar performance for all our guests. During the performance, guests could enjoy drinks and snacks from Ireland and the UK and take pictures in a homemade photobooth equipped with accessories.
On the occasion of the Irish-British Cultural Day, Natolin campus was also home to two exhibitions: one on an introduction to the Irish language, and another on the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The aim of these exhibitions was to provide some context into two elements that have greatly influenced Irish culture throughout history. During the launch of the exhibitions, students could enjoy Irish tea and Cadbury's biscuits and chocolates.
Moreover, in the week leading up to the cultural day, students held two movie screenings: "An Cailín Ciúin" as a representation of modern Irish cinema, and "Billy Elliot" as a representation of classic British cinema. The two films presented a stark juxtaposition, despite both being set in the 1980s: the former portraying the quiet resilience of life in rural Ireland, and the latter an empowering of self-identity and the challenging of social norms against the backdrop of industrial England. Both films were chosen as a celebration of their respective cinema cultures.
The photos of the cultural day can be found here:
