Launching Ando Glaso Ireland

Nurturing Roma Culture in Ireland

We’re pleased to announce the launch of Ando Glaso Ireland — a new initiative dedicated to supporting Roma culture through community-led arts, heritage, and youth work.

This marks the beginning of a new chapter for Ando Glaso, which has been developing its work in Scotland for nearly a decade. Our approach has always been rooted in Roma cultural knowledge, lived experience, and collaboration — and we now look forward to exploring how this work can grow in the Irish context.

Roma communities in Ireland carry a deep cultural heritage, but opportunities to share and develop that heritage publicly — especially through the arts — remain limited.

Ando Glaso Ireland has been set up to begin addressing that. It’s not a finished programme or a large-scale launch, but a starting point: an opportunity to listen, connect, and work alongside others to create space for Roma culture to flourish.

In this first phase, we’ll focus on:

• Supporting Roma artists, musicians, and young people to explore and share their culture

• Offering space for creative development and cultural expression

• Building links between Roma communities and the wider arts and heritage sectors

• Working collaboratively to support locally-led, culturally appropriate activity

The work will evolve over time and will be shaped by the communities and contexts we engage with.

We’re beginning with two key pieces of activity in September:

• ZOR at the Misleór FestivalWe’re proud to bring ZOR, a young professional Roma music group from Scotland, to perform at this year’s Misleór Festival in Galway. ZOR was formed through youth-focused work at Ando Glaso and represents an exciting example of what can happen when young Roma people are supported to develop their artistic voice.

• Visit to RoscommonWe’ll also be spending time in Roscommon, meeting with young Roma people and their families, and connecting with local organisations, including Music Generation Roscommon. This visit will help us better understand the local landscape and build relationships for future collaboration.

Ando Glaso Ireland will develop slowly and thoughtfully, always led by the needs and aspirations of Roma communities.

We welcome contact from individuals and organisations who share these goals — whether you’re a community member, artist, youth worker, or part of the wider cultural or education sector.

Updates will follow as the work progresses.