Ireland’s South Sudanese community to celebrate in Kilkenny

Over 200 people are expected to gather in Kilkenny next week to celebrate the newly independent country of South Sudan.

Kilkenny has been chosen as the site for the nationwide celebration because of the 11 Sudanese families who have made their home here since August 2009.

The event will also mark the launch of the South Sudanese Community Association in Ireland.

The festivities will take place at the Millennium Court Community Centre on August 19 at 3pm and are supported by Kilkenny Integration Forum.

Representatives from the South Sudanese and Irish governments have been invited for the occasion, and the mayor will carry out the official launch, according to the group’s deputy chairman, Samuel Morgan.

It isn’t every day a nation gets to celebrate its independence, and it’s an occasion that their community has been seeking for many years.

“It will be a great day for all of the people,” Mr Morgan said. “We were born during war, we grew up during war, and we have now seen our country become independent.”