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It's an exciting day at #IamIrish HQ.. Our amazing CEO Lorraine Maher is off to the Global Irish Diaspora Awards!!! Having been shortlisted for a Social Innovation Award, we are keeping everything crossed that she wins!!! #IamIrish #SocialInnovation

St Patrick's day a moment of Irish pride everywhere a moment to celebrate ,to reflect and to connect. Enjoy your day what ever you are doing today 🇮🇪 ☘️ Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaoibh go léir! 💚🤍🧡 #IamIrish

Day 31 #BHM Today on the last day of our Black History Month Campaign we are delighted to bring you MC Chickaboo , MC Chickaboo started out in Birmingham with GE Real working with big raves such as Fantasia and DreamScape. Whilst working in electronic music she MC?d with producers including Jumping Jack Frost, Goldie and Africa Bambaata . Her move to the Breakbeat scenes saw her winning the best song award at Breaspoil 2006 She has performed at a number of festivals including Glastonbury. She has written, performed and recorded vocals for many produces . While working with Jazzie B OBE she regularly toured with Soul II Soul sound system. which included Festivals , corporate events and supporting artists such a Blondie , MaryJ Blige and Alicia Keys Mc Chickaboo we big you up #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #McChickaboo #MC #BHM2019 #RT

Day 30 #BHM What ever our political views MP Chuka Umunna has Irish ancestry and would be be eligible to Play for Irelands national team if he were a sporting man. Before entering Politics Chuka worked as a solicitor in the City of London. He specialised in employment law. From 2006, he began to write and provide commentary on the Labour Party as well as broader social and economic issues. He also wrote articles for the Financial Times, Tribune, The Voice, The Guardian and the New Statesman, and began to appear on various radio and television programmes as a commentator. He founded and edited the online political magazine,The Multicultural Politic. As a South Londoner Chuka supports Crystal Palace. #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #ChukaUmunna #BHM2019 #RT

Day 29 #BHM Today we honour the incredible Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, Author , nurse, health expert, tutor, lecturer and Emeritus Professor of Nursing . Irish-Nigerian via Birmingham Elizabeth was born in 1947 and started working for the NHS at the age of 16. In 1979 she helped to establish the first nurse-led UK Sickle & Thalassaemia Screening and Counselling Centre and has since received many awards for this work. She has written extensively and is a co-author of The Politics of Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia. Elizabeth holds a PhD, was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire and is a Fellow of the RCN.She retired in 2007 and published her memoirs Mixed Blessings from a Cambridge Union. Dame Elizabeth you are an inspiration to us all #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #Dame #Professor #ElizabethAnionwu # BHM2019 #RT

Day 28 #BHM Today as we begin our last week of highlighting amazing Irish people. We acknowledge Darren Randolph. Darren is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Championship club Middlesbrough and the Republic of Ireland national team. He has previously played for the Republic of Ireland U21 team. Darren is quite the sports man and has also represented Ireland at basketball. Darren was born in Bray and played school football with Ardmore Rovers. He joined Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2003 and has since played for Motherwell , Birmingham City, West Ham United , Middlesbrough #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #DarrenRandolph #BHM2019 #RT

Day 27 #BHM Today we celebrate the amazing Liz Bonnin Liz is a French, Irish science, wildlife and natural history presenter, who has worked on television in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. She is also a biochemist and wild animal biologist. She presented music shows RI:SE and Top of the Pops in the early 2000s. She began her career by joining an Irish girl pop group named Chill, who signed to Polydor but broke up before recording. She is best known for presenting wildlife and science programmes She co-presented the BBC factual series Bang Goes the Theory from 2009 until 2014 and since 2013, has co-presented Countrywise for ITV. Liz is a role model for EDF Energy's Pretty Curious programme, which is aimed at encouraging teenage girls to study science-based subjects at school. #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #LizBonnin #BHM2019 #RT #WIldlife

Day 26 #BHM Today we big up Simone Powderly Model, influencer, mental health activist. Simone has big hair and an even bigger heart when it comes to giving back, Simone is an ambassador of mental health awareness, she is a public speaker; educating communities with health literacy, on the prevalence and incidences of mental health with the goal to remove stigmatisation Raising awareness on PTSD and Depression in Child Trauma. She has created a youtube channel and social media platform to empower and encourage young women and raise awareness on mental health.Simone is also a Co-Founder @theteenexperience . #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #SimonePowderly #BHM2019 #RT #BigHair #PTSD

Day 25 #BHM Clinton Hubert Morrison a former professional footballer and pundit who plays as a forward for Mickleover Sports. Clintons began his career at Crystal Palace in 1998, for whom he scored over 100 goals across two spells. Born in England, he represented the Republic of Ireland 36 times at full international level, scoring 9 goals, and made their squad for the FIFA World Cup. During his career he has played for Crystal Palace ,Birmingham City , Coventry City , Sheffield Wednesday , Colchester United Clintons has also done some media work as a pundit on Sky Sports and Football League Tonight on Channel 5. #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #ClintonMorrison #BHM2019 #RT

Day 24 #BHM Today the day of our Historic Black History Month Celebration at the Irish Embassy in London; following many requests I introduce you to myself. Lorraine Maher -Founder and Director of IamIrish . I have spent the best part of my career working in Arts and Social Justice I guess I have what is known as a portfolio Career : I am an experienced Community Cultural Advisor ,Educator , Trainer , Speaker, Creative Practitioner , Director, Producer ,Curator , bringing some of the hardest to reach communities and organisations together to create inspirational collaborations and experiences. but my most important role to is that of Mother / Grandmother. Ive been described as a Creative activist having developed pioneering creative projects that place hidden voices at the heart of their vision. Alongside my work at IamIrish I am also Participation Manager for Clean Break Theatre company working with vulnerable women. The company?s work is rooted in the belief that theatre changes lives. Im also a director of Project 507 a social enterprise that aims to change the systemic conditions generating violence . I have a special interest in work around, identify and belonging, mental health and well being, education , equality and homelessness. #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #justbeingme #BHM2019 #RT

Day 23 #BHM Delighted to shine a light on the incredible Siobhán McKenna today . Siobhan is currently the Programme Manager - Violence Reduction Unit at City Hall / Greater London Authority previously a Senior Policy Officer on the Diversity and Social Policy Team at the Greater London Authority (City Hall).. Amongst other things Siobhan is on the board of Coram Family and Childcare Trust. Siobhan will chair our Black History Month event at the Irish Embassy tomorrow . Siobhán thank you for all that you do to make sure that London a safe and equal place to live. #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #SiobhanMcKenna #BHM2019 #RT

Day 22 #BHM Today we celebrate Kit de Waal, Kit de Waal is Midlands based award winning novelist. She was born in Birmingham to an Irish mother and Caribbean father. My Name Is Leon, her debut novel won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year 2017. Her second novel, The Trick to Time, was long listed for the Women?s Prize for Fiction 2018. After securing her first publishing deal with Penguin, Kit used some of her advance to set up the Kit de Waal Creative Writing Fellowship to help improve working-class representation in the arts. Kit we think you are AMAZING #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #KitDeWaal #BHM2019 #RT

Day 21 #BHM Today we shine a light on the formidable Rosemary C Adaser BA (Hons) Msc.Dip. Rosemary Adaser is the founder of the Association of Mixed-Race Irish, She has campaigned for recognition of institutional racism against mixed-race children raised in institutional care in Ireland during recent statutory inquiries. Rosemary has successfully drawn attention to the experiences of this community, many of whom moved to the UK in search of a more inclusive society. Rosemary has lived in London since 19 years old and spent her career working in social housing. Rosemary was recently reunited with her son who had been removed from her illegally in institutional care in Ireland, and with her extended family, she continues to draw attention to the erasure of the mixed-race Irish from the histories of Ireland and the Irish in Britain. She is a member of the Collaborative Forum, an initiative set up by Minister Zappone of the Children and Youth Department in Ireland to look at the benefits of Transitional Justice, 1st trialled in South Africa following the liberation of Mandela in the 1990s. In addition to ensuring that the voices of mixed-race Irish are included in any Survivor narrative, Rosemary has a special interest in highlighting the diversity that has always existed on the island of Ireland. Rosemary is currently leading a fundraising campaign for AMRI to go to Geneva to tell their stories to the UN CRED committee www.gofundme.com/f/AMRIUN We support you all the way #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #RosemaryAdaser #BHM2019 #RT

Day 20 #BHM Today we honour the incredible Emma Dabiri , Author ,visual sociology researcher,Social Historian and teaching fellow at SOAS. The observer named Emma Rising star 2019 She is a BBC television presenter, and ex Model.She has published in a number of anthologies, and is the author of the acclaimed book, Don't Touch My Hair. #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #EmmaDabiri #Donttouchmyhair #BHM2019 #RT

Day 19 #BHM Shereen is a dedicated and versatile creative practitioner, not only with an excellent academic background in the arts but also an outstanding attitude to work, growth and inspiring a younger generation into theatre. Alongside her BA and MA, Shereen has worked as an actor, director, facilitator, stage manager, creative producer and many more. Her area of work centres around intersectional identity, current and historical politics, education and diversifying the theatre, as seen on our London stages. Shereen has recently trained in directing and facilitation with Talawa on Creating Routes 2018-2019, and undergone the Making Theatre with Young Peoples course with Company Three. Shereen?s recent directing credits include; Assistant Directing seven methods of killing kylie jenner at the Royal Court, and Co ? Directing and producing Bitchcraft at Tristan Bates Theatre. #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #ShereenHamilton #BHM2019 #RT

Day 18 #BHM Evon Brennan became a fashion model at 55, she was scouted and has become a big name in the fashion world . Evon and her twin sister are from Donegal .They survived the horrors of Irelands industrial homes. Before leaving Ireland Evon firmly established herself as a singer /Songwriter. She worked as a Music tutor and Literature student before joining the fashion industry In a recent interview Evon said ?If this experience has taught me anything, it?s that you never know where an opportunity will lead you ? you just have to be brave enough to say yes. We say yes to you Evon?. keep strutting your stuff we could all learn a thing or two from you . #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #EvonBrennan #Yourock #Model #RT

Day 17 #BHM Today we raise our hats to Simone Wilson an entrepreneur living in London . Simon is a proud mother who successfully juggles family life with her various businesses . Simone can we seen in Camden serving delicious Caribbean food from her Kiosk Patty n Punch . We wish Simone much success with our latest venture eyewantlashes #GlobalIrish #IamIrish #SimoneWilson #PattynPunch #eyewantlashes #BHM2019 #RT