Multicultural coffee and boxty event to be hosted in Mullahoran
By Gemma Good
An international food tasting event will take place tomorrow (August 7) in Mullahoran.
The Mullahoran Multicultural Coffee & Boxty event, organised by the Cavan Cross Cultural Community, aims to introduce new people and cultures to the area.
Founding officer of the organisation, Vanda Marie Brady, explained the event usually takes place in Cavan Town.
“I decided why don’t we make it different this time,” she said of the decision to move the outdoor gathering to a more “isolated area".
"We decided to reach out to the locals living in the rural farming parishes in Cavan.
“It’s just nice to let them know that we exist,” she explained.
The Cavan Cross Cultural Community was established in 2018 and serves as a 'platform for different country members in Cavan'. Its aim is to promote diversity and inclusion.
“We have 79 member countries so far,” said Vanda, explaining there are many different nationalities living in Cavan.
They want to reach out to the community to introduce themselves and their cultures.
Vanda said “at the same time” the group also want to learn about the history and the local heritage of the surrounding areas.
Tomorrow’s event will give people the opportunity to taste foods from different countries. Traditional Irish dishes will also be served.
“That’s why it’s called the boxty event,” added Vanda.
Mullahoran lady Mary Mulligan, famed for boxty making for the last 50 years, will be whipping up the famous dish for the day.
“I’ve just learned that boxty is a local bread here in Mullahoran,” Vanda explained, mentioning the Cully's loaf bread will also feature.
The group also plans to “highlight other members of the community” with many different guest speakers on the day. There will be a bouncy castle for children, as well as goodie bags.
“It won’t be the usual one they get here, it will be different sweets coming from different countries,” Vanda said.
A garage sale and raffle with “great prizes from different communities” will also take place to raise funds for the organisation.
The event will take place outside Vanda and Shane’s home in Killydream. An hourly bus will go from the post office in Cavan from 12.30-6pm.
People can expect a fun day of tasting foods and meeting new people with insightful talks from different communities. Latvian and Irish dancers will also be performing on the day as well as musicians.
“It is for the whole family to get to know different cultures and groups living in Cavan,” Vanda enthused.
The event will take place from 2-6pm at H12 X2R3.
Originally from the Philippines, Vanda moved to Mullahoran with her husband, Shane Brady, in 2014. Vanda spent 10 years living in London, where she met the “Mullahoran man.”
“After having kids in London, we decided to move here to his hometown,” Vanda explained.
“I knew I was going to be living in the middle of the fields in the middle of nowhere.”
Although the move was a “big adjustment,” feeling welcome “has never been a problem” for Vanda living in the rural community.
“I had Shane supporting me all the way,” she said.
“We had set the foundation of the house and he asked me if I’m really sure I want to move here.”
With two young children, Vanda was able to keep herself busy and couldn’t be happier in Mullahoran, a place she now calls home.
“Everyone has always been very welcoming,” she said.