Welcome to our virtual, pop-up exhibition for DouglassWeek 2023
#DouglassWeek is a collaborative event series, celebrating the work and life of transatlantic abolitionist and humanitarian Frederick Douglass, in different countries around the world, including commemorating his visit to Ireland in 1845-1846.
The week includes performances, creative installations and critical discussions addressing the history and impact of Douglass in each location. DouglassWeek partner with a wide network of scholars, historians and researchers, artists, musicians, poets, athletes, community groups and activists from around the world to commemorate Douglass, the Douglass family and other changemakers to bring you memorable and thought-provoking events and activities.
Barretstown collaborated with DouglassWeek last year and are proud to participate again this year!
More about DOUGLASSWEEK 2023
At Barretstown we run residential camps for children and their families affected by serious illness. We offer a range of adventurous, fun and challenging activities which are supported behind the scenes by 24 hour on site medical and nursing care. Barretstown is free of charge.
It was founded by Hollywood actor Paul Newman in 1994 and modelled on his renowned Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut, USA. Our programmes take place at a fairytale castle in the beautiful foothills of Ireland’s Wicklow Mountains.
Barretstown is a break from hospitals, white coats and medical treatment and a chance for sick children to be children again: to have fun, to make new friends and create new memories – all within the beautiful and magical setting of Barretstown castle in the Kildare countryside.
More about Barretstown in Ireland
Barretstown is founded on the vision that all children deserve a childhood.
It embodies the concept of not judging or limiting children by the colour of their skin, their background, their abilities or their illnesses. Hospitals treat the illness, Barretstown treats the child.
This year DouglassWeek focuses on the role of Frederick’s wife and women in his life who supported him so much.
This echoes the Barretstown vision of the importance of family and how a support system is so important – to face challenges together. Barretstown is a support system for so many.
At Barretstown, you never walk alone.
On Sunday 16th July 2023, Barretstown is hosting it's annual BIG PICNIC open day; opening the gates of Barretstown Camp to the public, to join us for a magical open day.
Throughout the day we will be running all our usual activities, and we will have a bunch of special guests helping us to make the day extra special.
This year, our local choir, the Ballymore Connect Choir will be performing a specially-designed programme of music, in front of Barretstown Castle, to lift our spirits and join us together through the magic of music.
We invite you to join us, as we livestream the recital, at 2.30pm IST (9.30am EDT) on our socials!
For DouglassWeek, the Barretstown Camp team also joined forces with a group of Transition Year Students from Celbridge Community School (a town where Frederick Douglass spoke, during his time in Ireland in 1845-1846).
Barretstown facilitated an online workshop with the students and Dr. Adrian Mulligan of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, who very kindly gave his time to talk about Frederick Douglass and his time and thoughts in Ireland, and we spoke a little about our founder Paul Newman and his vision for children with serious illness.
The discussion was to spark some conversation and research by the students into the ideas of kindness, non-discrimination and humanitarianism.
The students and the Barretstown Camp team present below here, their found words from both men, in the form of this video montage of their powerful words.
We would like to thank DouglassWeek for the opportunity to collaborate.
We would like to thank Adrian Mulligan for kindly sharing his time with the students.
We would like to thank of Barretstown Camp Team for taking time out to work on this project!
And thanks to :
Ciara Doyle
Peace Kisuka
Laura Dziegielewska
Emily Bulger
Lucy Keogh
Darragh Rowe Carr
And their teacher, Deirdre Roddy, all from Celbridge Community School, Kildare, Ireland
For more information on the rest of the 2023 DouglassWeek programme of online events and talks:
DOUGLASSWEEK 2023
