By Seamus Mac SuibhneAs part of celebrating Europe Day on Saturday 9 May, European Movement Ireland adopted a fresh approach to engaging people in Europe by flash mobbing in the centre of Galway city. 30 volunteers who were dressed in rather eye-catching bright t-shirts gathered at a number of locations across Galway city including Eyre Square shopping centre and Shop St. and simultaneously revealed these t-shirts to the unknowing public while shouting “Happy Europe Day!” and bursting into a short round of applause. Europe Day is celebrated annually to mark the founding of the European Union with a number of EU countries holding events to mark their European identity.
According to Andrea Pappin, Executive Director of European Movement Ireland: The simple aim of this event is to get people thinking and talking about Europe: “We are an independent organisation who want to answer people’s questions about Europe, but in plain English. We want to get people to just take 5 minutes to think about what role we want to play at the European table. We are doing this a little more uniquely by are flash mobbing in the middle of Galway”, said Ms. Pappin.
Volunteers were on hand to answer any questions people may have had regarding European affairs. With the upcoming European elections on 5 June and another referendum on the Lisbon treaty to follow thereafter, a myriad of people and opinions faced volunteers while attempting to answer questions on the streets of Galway. One interesting trend that was noted was the positive attitude of young people towards Europe, which seemed to contradict the high no vote seen in Galway in the Lisbon Treaty referendum last year. In general, young people and students were “very positive towards Europe”, according to European Movement volunteer Rosella Virdo.
While not everyone shared the general views of young people, every person seemed to have strong opinions on Europe. European Movement volunteer Eoghan Mc Ilwaine said: “We are being met mostly with comments and people are either very pro or anti Europe.”
There is no doubt that this event captured the attention of the public in Galway and should help to combat the general sense of apathy towards the EU and the upcoming European elections. This may inspire other groups or even candidates in the upcoming elections to follow their lead and engage in more fresh and original approaches to relay information and messages to prospective voters. Here’s hoping it comes down South soon!
