BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!

BRAZIL met Bray last weekend at the Harbour Bar and Mermaid Arts Centre.

This was the third event of its kind in the seaside town, with Brazilians now the largest immigrant group in Bray.

The two-day festival was held to celebrate their culture, and support integration. There was a great attendance by Irish people, Brazilian people, and others.

At the Harbour Bar on Saturday afternoon, visitors enjoyed the best of Brazilian and Irish culture.

There were authentic Brazilian dishes, Irish and Brazilian dancing, photography, and a language exchange featuring Portuguese, English and Irish. There was music from bands Celtic Grace and Morro 16,.

In the Mermaid on Saturday, photographer Paulo Pimentel was ‘In Conversation’ about the exhibition, Canavieiros, a sideshow of powerful black and white images of people who worked in the 1980s at the sug- arcane plantation in Brazil. The Brazilian news cameraman and photographer has covered many conflicts and wars, including the fall of the Berlin wall.

There was a film-making element also, with a series of short films, made by Brazilians living in Ireland, entitled ‘I Love Bray’.

The films focused on multicultural aspects of the connections between Brazilians and the town of Bray.

On Monday evening, the festival came to a close with a showing of the film, Trast, a look at two boys living amongst the daily detritus in Rio’s slums.

Alan, Sarah and Jack Joyce enjoying the Brazil Meets Bray Festival.

Paul, Isabelle, Emily and Roseann Whinnery eating some Brazilian treats.

Tom Dalton, Veronica Dolan and Bert Vasey from Celtic Grace.

John O’Sullivan, Bill Murphy from Bray Camera Club, Paulo Pimentel and Eilis Taves from Tres Brazilian Cultural Centre at Paulo Pimnetel’s talk in the Mermaid Arts Centre.

Aurore Aubery and Maicon Santana who were demonstrating Forro Dance from Northeast Brazil.

Caroline McGarrigle with her grandson Liam.

Eibhlín ní Bhaoighill plays accordion at the Harbour Bar.