Meena Bazaar raises €1,000 for children’s charity Barretstown

THE ANNUAL Meena Bazaar was held in St Finian’s Community Centre in Newcastle earlier this month and raised €1,000 for children’s charity Barretstown.

Now in its twelfth year, the bazaar is organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association (AMA) with the aim of raising funds for local charities.

At the Meena Bazaar on Sunday, May 14, over 200 women and children attended and got to browse and purchase items from several stalls around the centre.

The stalls had Asian food, cakes and desserts, traditional clothes, handmade jewellery, and henna, while a beauty corner was set-up – all to generate funds for Barretstown.

Local politicians attended the Meena Bazaar, including Deputy Mayor Joanna Tuffy, TD Emer Higgins, and councillors Lyn Hagin Meade and Shirley O’Hara.

“I am here representing the council today in place of the mayor,” said Deputy Mayor Tuffy.

“I always come to the Meena Bazaar every year, or I try to.

“I think I’ve been here most years because I want to support the work of the Ahmadiyya Women’s Association, in terms of the work that they do for charity and fundraising and all their other good work, and so it’s a very important day for my calendar each year.

“I’m enjoying it, I’ve had a look there… it’s been very successful, there have been lovely clothes and jewellery on display and very nice food as well!”

Cllr Hagin Meade, who attended the event with her daughters, said: “I always look forward to the annual Meena Bazaar in Newcastle.

“Today, I met women who travelled from Galway and Cork to support the event.

“It is a wonderful demonstration of community, welcome and sisterhood.

“With beautiful crafts, stunning clothing, artful henna designs and delicious food, there are smiling faces and a warm welcome for every visitor.

“I have learnt much about the generous charity work carried out by the women of the Meena Bazar and celebrate their continued support of Barretstown.”

Nudrat Malik from the AMA said the group “deeply values service to humanity and contributing to the local community”.

The AMA women regularly engage in volunteer work and community integration throughout the year.

On Women’s Day, they distribute hampers to women’s shelters and extend their support to the homeless, and in the New Year, they deliver gift hampers to local nursing homes.

However, the Meena Bazaar continues to be a key highlight in the AMA calendar of charitable events, and the group said they plan to continue to hold the event for many years to come.