A great evening was had by all on Friday, 15 May 2009, as community groups across East Down came together with members of the local Polish Migrant Community for an evening of music and craic to celebrate Polish Cultural Week. The event held in Denvir's Hotel, Downpatrick incorporated a diverse range of musical traditions in Northern Ireland from Ulster-Scots, Irish and Polish.

Welcoming everyone to the event the Chairman of Down District Council, Councillor Colin McGrath stated "Polish Cultural Week has provided us an opportunity to take time to recognise the changes within our communities and to offer a hand of welcome our new neighbours from Eastern Europe. It is right and fitting to take time out to celebrate our diverse cultural traditions, all has something of value to offer the others and recognising and sharing it is the way forward." The evening got quickly underway with all three bands meeting with rapturous approval as they took to the stage to perform with participants from Ards and Down joining in by singing, chapping and dancing. A topical quiz -based on the information stands from the various statutory organisations in attendance - allowed people to mix and get to know someone new as they worked together to find the answers, with the team from Ballywalter winning.

The event organised by East Down Rural Community Network in partnership with Down Diversity in Action Forum was funded by Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Investing for Health and Down District Council. For further information on Down Diversity in Action Forum or Ards Intercultural Forum contact East Down Rural Community Network on telephone number 028 9182 8884.