Kilkenny cookery course has all the right ingredients for making friends

ABOVE: Maria Edincivc, Sharmin Akhter, Sarah Doyle, Narissa Carstens. All pictures: Harry Reid

Bonds of community and friendship are often cemented around a table, while enjoying a good meal.
A project in Kilkenny City has taken that idea to a new level with a group of parents and grandparents who have formed a new network of friendships while learning about local food and favourite dishes from all over the world.

The Intercultural Cookery Programme has been a brilliant success, involving the parents and grandparents of pupils from St John’s Junior and Senior schools in the city.
The dynamic bunch all contributed to the enjoyment of the course, as they not only learned about food but about each other and from each other.

Now, as the term comes to an end, they have produced their own Intercultural Cookbook.
The pages are filled with not only tasty recipes from the participants, but photo-memories of the good times they have had together.
It was launched on Intercultural Day.

Home School Liaison Coordinator at St John’s Junior and Senior schools, Orla Mackey, described how those who took part created a community among themselves and brought in the wider community.
It was also a way of creating a network here in Kilkenny for people who may have moved a long distance from their family and friend groups.

The school ran the course in conjunction with the KCETB. Carmel Bryan, Adult Literacy Organiser, KCETB, said the course has opened a world of opportunities for participants in relation to various dishes and ingredients that are associated with other cultures. Click NEXT to see more photographs and read more of the story...