Belfast TV presenter Cara Mailey is to open the inaugural online global `Irish Roots' festival this weekend, which aims to address concerns that mixed-race young people in Northern Ireland `are seeing little to no representation of anyone who looks like them'.
The `Still I Rise' story teller and CBBC star, who is 12 and from Carryduff, will officially open the four-day festival on Sunday.
The event is the first of its kind and has a line up that gives Irish people a chance to celebrate their inter-racial heritage and stories.
The curtain goes up at 11am on Sunday when Cara, who is a pupil at Assumption Grammar in Ballynahinch, will read The Little Crayon, a children’s story book written by 24-year-old Amelia Kai, also from Belfast.
Among those who will take part in the festival are European Heavyweight Champion, Tommy McCarthy, who will talk about the importance of mixed-race role-models, the Okasili brothers, who will share stories about growing up in Armagh in the sixties, and Portadown-born Andy George, President of the National Black Police Association in the UK, who will speak about policing and the importance of community connections.
The Irish Roots Festival was created by Tipperary native, Lorraine Maher.
Speaking about the festival, she said: "Mixed-race people are one of the fastest growing demographics in the western world, it is crucial to highlight the lives, achievements and struggles of mixed-race Irish people.
"This is a great opportunity to give a shout out globally to those of Irish ancestry regardless of colour or location," she said.
"Representation is so important for a sense of well-being and belonging".
Further details about the festival are available at www.iamirish.org
