A pop-up ‘table' will coincide with this June's Cork City Marathon to promote the discussion of the Direct Provision system through food.
A POP-up ‘table’ will coincide with this June’s Cork City Marathon to promote the discussion of the Direct Provision system through food.
The pop-up is part of a larger initiative called the Cork Sanctuary Runners which sees asylum seekers and refugees, including several from Clonakilty’s Direct Provision centre, run on the one team and with Irish people.
Already 150 people have signed up to run with the group on Sunday, June 3rd, including 51 runners from 20 countries who are currently living in Direct Provision centres throughout Cork.
Once they cross the finish line on the day, the Sanctuary Runners will gather at Rocket Man on Princes Street in Cork city where, as well as amazing food, a festival feel will consume the city centre, to which all are welcome.
Ballymaloe-trained chef Ellie Kisyombe will run the pop-up from 9am to 8.30pm.
Ellie is still living in Direct Provision where she does not have the facilities or the right to cook, even though it is one of her greatest passions.
Jack Crotty, owner of the Rocket Man has allowed his premises to be used for the event.
He said: ‘Food or when people break bread is when people come together. Around the kitchen table is where conversations, laughs and even fights take place. If you take that away from people, where do these conversations take place? People who live in Direct Provision don’t have this basic privilege and this event is about changing that mindset. It’s about bringing people from all walks of life together to break bread as they celebrate the end of the marathon.’
