The Big Feast: Communities get to know each other around the table

TABLE CLOTHS had just been laid on the trestle tables that ran half the length of the street when the rain lashed down.

Everyone ran into their houses. When they returned the cloths were soaked but the plates of quiches, sandwiches, salads and cakes were put out nonetheless and when the rain fell again everyone stayed in their seats this time, huddled under their umbrellas. It was classic Irish party weather.

The rain eventually stopped and 80 or so residents and friends of Bushfield Terrace in Donnybrook, Dublin, chatted, laughed and some even danced as musical duo Black and Blue, played a blend of easy-listening music.

Small children played a miniature version of tennis under rows of brightly coloured bunting criss-crossing the street.

Bushfield Terrace was one of hundreds of local communities taking part in “Street Feast”, an event to celebrate community and encourage local people to get to know their neighbours. Parties were held in parks, front gardens and streets across the State including in Dublin, Galway, Mayo, Drogheda, Balbriggan, Wicklow, Dingle, Kinsale and Carlow.

Jerrieann Sullivan, one of the national organisers and a Bushfield Terrace resident, said she had asked a couple of people on the street and just two meetings were necessary to get things going.

Maureen Fallong, a long-time resident and a Bushfield Terrace party organiser, described it as “thoroughly enjoyable”.

They had organised a couple of street parties previously but the last was some five years ago. She knew a lot of the streets residents “by virtue of living here for 30 years”.

“But we don’t interact with our neighbours all the time. I suppose we live anonymous lives and this has been an opportunity to get to know people better.”

In Dartmouth Square the rain had a greater impact and a much smaller group of about 20 had gathered at lunchtime for a veritable feast of food platters, sausage rolls and frittatas, rice, stews and music.

Minister for the Environment John Gormley visited a number of the street festivals including Dartmouth Square, describing the idea as “fantastic”.

He was particularly taken with efforts to get Dartmouth Square back into community ownership and praised the efforts of residents such as Peter O’Brien who organised film screenings and weekly Saturday morning yoga sessions.

Street Feast organiser and new resident Sam Bishop said the event gave people a good excuse to go and knock on their neighbour’s door and get to know them.