Polish Independence Day in Athlone – A Warm Thank You from Our Community
On Sunday, 9th November, the Drum Community Centre filled with colour, music, and laughter as we celebrated Polish Independence Day together. For many of us living in Ireland, this day carries a special meaning. Ireland has become our home, yet in our hearts we continue to cherish the culture, language, and history passed down through generations of Poles who fought for the freedom we enjoy today. Celebrating here, with our neighbours and friends, reminds us how lucky we are to live between two welcoming cultures.
We would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported and joined the celebration.
A warm thank you to Electro Direct – Athlone, Camlin Contractors, and the Polish Embassy in Dublin for helping make this community event possible.
Special thanks to Anna Misiewicz and Kasia Kulik, whose beautiful singing of the Polish National Anthem brought a moment of reflection and pride—reminding us that even far from home, we can keep our language and traditions alive.
We also thank Jarek (@85db_studio) for the sound setup, the Order of Malta Ireland – Ambulance Corps – Athlone, Athlone GAA Club, our wonderful volunteers, helpers, and the members of Midlands Polish Community CLG for their incredible support.
A big thank you as well to Westmeath County Council, Cllr Frankie Keena, and Irish Rail for lighting the Athlone railway bridge in white and red 🤍❤️ —a gesture that meant so much to our community.
A Day Full of Smiles and Shared Moments
Families enjoyed a lively mix of activities:
Archery workshops with Greg, a Polish archer of Tatar heritage
A Slavic cultural show
Face painting, an inflatable castle, and creative art stations
A fire circus performance
The children's Independence Run
Warm Polish pea soup, BBQ treats, and lots of friendly chats
Our “Polish Accent” competition brought extra excitement, with children proudly wearing Polish colours, folk touches, and flags. Seeing young people grow up bilingual and connected to both Ireland and Poland is something we deeply treasure.
We also want to give a shout-out to Ulfhednar Hird Ireland – you were absolutely fantastic! 🤍❤️
Thank you to everyone who joined us!
Celebrating Polish Independence Day here in Athlone shows that while Ireland is our home, the stories, music, and traditions of Poland live on in us and in our children. And together, we keep them alive.
We look forward to meeting you at the next community event!