The Belfast Lord Mayor is helping to normalise breastfeeding by taking part in this year’s Breastival.
Breastival 2021 is a virtual week of talks, workshops and fun activities designed for everyone including expectant parents, new families, experienced parents, grandparents and supporters.
A #MoreThanMilk exhibition has been installed in the Kennedy Centre as part of Féile an Phobail, aiming to celebrate and normalise breastfeeding as part of everyday life and will be open to the public until August 15.
In January 2021, Councillor and Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl fed her baby son Cian in the Council Chamber and took him with her to Committee meetings, events, constituency meetings and Parliament Buildings.
Speaking at the launch of the #MoreThanMilk exhibition she said: “It’s a real honour for me to be part of the #MoreThanMilk exhibition, feeding my son – alongside all of these fantastic parents and their children. This photo captures a very special time when I could bond with Cian and know that I was providing him with the most natural of nutrients.
“Of course, it’s a very personal choice, but as a society, I’d like to see us do more to help breastfeeding mothers feel much more comfortable and welcome.
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“Not least, because, as the World Health Organisation has documented, breastfeeding prevents disease in the short and long term for both babies and their mothers. I’m hopeful that having the exhibition on display in the Kennedy Centre during Féile An Phobail and Breastival will help more of us to recognise that breastfeeding is a normal part of everyday life.”
Over the past four years, Breastival has curated more than 300 images of mothers, babies and children breastfeeding for the mother-led photographic exhibition. #MoreThanMilk has been displayed at two regional hospitals, two arts galleries and the Ulster Museum.
The physical exhibition is complemented by a digital showcase that has been installed at a number of high-profile events including International Women’s Day and Breastival. This year Breastival is also launching a ‘virtual gallery’, allowing people to view the image gallery online.
Kevin Gamble, Director of Féile An Phobail said: “Féile an Phobail takes place during World Breastfeeding Week. This year we are delighted to partner with Breastival to host the #MoreThanMilk exhibition because we’re committed to normalising breastfeeding as part of everyday life.
“We welcome this very personal submission to the exhibition from the Belfast Mayor Kate Nicholl. For the Mayor to join so many other women in publicly documenting their breastfeeding journey will be a significant step in normalising breastfeeding in the city of Belfast and beyond. I would also like to thank all of the women who are part of #MoreThanMilk and the Kennedy Centre, for playing their part in normalising breastfeeding.”
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Jennifer Hanratty, co-founder of Breastival added: “We are honoured to have the Lord Mayor feature in the #MoreThanMilk exhibition. Along with the other families who have contributed, this will help to normalise breastfeeding and create more welcoming and enabling spaces where women can feel confident in feeding their babies in the community.
“We want to continue adding to the exhibition and are accepting submissions to be included in our digital exhibition, which we will showcase at future events and on our website. We particularly welcome submissions from underrepresented groups, including women of colour and LGBT+ parents.”
Breastival continues online until August 7 as part of World Breastfeeding Week.
The Big Virtual Global Latch takes place towards the end of the week on Saturday August 7, hosted by journalist Jen Hogan who is a breastfeeding advocate and mother of seven.
At 10:15am, families and supporters, all around the world, will gather online via webinar or live stream and feed their babies together. Breastival is asking breastfeeding mothers to join online as part of this global event.
Details on Breastival is available at 2021 Programme – Breastival | Celebrating & Normalising Breastfeeding in NI
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