Past Events
Sunday 15 February 4.30-6pm
Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church Hall – entrance from Loudon Terrace G12 9AR
talk hosted by PalCafe in association with Glasgow Bethlehem Twinning Association
George & Nidal Rishmawi
Cultural Heritage Under Threat: Preserving Identity Amid Occupation
George and Nidal Rishmawi, from Beit Sahour near Bethlehem, discuss how occupation policies affect Palestinian cultural identity — from threats to archaeological sites and traditional crafts, to efforts by local communities to safeguard heritage as an act of peaceful resistance.
The talk will be followed by a Q&A – a chance to find out about life in the West Bank from a leading figure in the nonviolent resistance movement and a professional trekking guide.
George Rishmawi is the General Director and co-founder of the Palestinian Heritage Trail (established in 2013) — a route connecting communities from Jenin to Hebron, including Jerusalem. The organisation invites people from around the world to walk through the West Bank and experience Palestine’s culture, history, and daily life under occupation. George also serves as Co-President of the Mediterranean Trails Network, Vice President of the Arab Orthodox Cultural Club, a member of the National Advisory Council for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and a board member of the Cultural Fund in Palestine. With over 35 years in Palestinian civil society, his experience in protecting and promoting Palestinian cultural heritage is extensive. As well as being a prominent Christian leader and an environmental authority, he co-founded Palestine summer encounters, which takes large numbers of volunteers mainly from the USA, to the West Bank, for exposure to reality. He was also a co-founder of the non-violent International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
Nidal Rishmawi was one of the first guides on the Palestinian Heritage Trail and helped with collecting the GPS tracks for the path, developing good relationships with all the local communities. He’s a father of three: Simon, Hala, and Layth. Nidal offers cultural tourists the best experience possible. He is very engaged with his local community; a scout leader for more than forty years and a former board member of the Arab Orthodox Cultural Club.
“Working as a guide means responsibility towards my country. I love my work for it gives me the opportunity to meet new people from different cultures and nationalities. It also gives me the opportunity to spend as much time as possible in nature with people who are interested and who appreciate it.” Nidal
George Rishmawi instagram Palestinian Heritage Trail Trail Instagram
Sumud! Saorsa agus Ceartas do’n Phalastain !
PalCeilidh
30 January 2026 8-10pm
Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church Hall G12 9AR
Our January PalCeilidh presented in collaboration with ZarifAtToul-AsSamer, a fundrasing social enterprise project that helps orphans and mothers in the Palestinian camps of Jordan and Gaza. In addition to learning some traditional Palestinian dance moves, there will be a stall selling Palestinian goods. ZarifAtToul-AsSamer, aims to raise awareness of Palestinian folklore in Scotland and to use this folklore as a tool to help relieve poverty, particularly for orphans and needy children. The organisation’s dabke folklore dance troupe is at the core of its educational and cultural activity.
‘Ceilidhs keep communities connected’
Palestinian Makers’ Christmas Market
Thursday 4 & Friday 5 December 10-3pm, Saturday 6 December 10-2pm
+ Saturday 13 December 10-3pm
Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church – Saltoun St, Glasgow G12 9AR MAP
Fairtrade Palestinian crafts and food items from our partner Hadeel
We’ll feature a range of fabulous products including clothing, bags, jewellery, ceramics, toiletries, gift items, food and household goods. Everything we sell helps to sustain infrastructures, as many of the producer groups in Palestine also provide health, education and emergency services in their communities.
+ PalCafe Palestinian Makers’ Christmas Market at the Halliday Foundation’s
Reidvale Centre Christmas Fair, 13 Whitevale St, Glasgow, G31 1QW
Sunday 14 December, 12 – 4pm
PalCafe stall at the very first Reidvale Christmas Fair. The Halliday Foundation has been tackling poverty, inequality, homelessness, and social isolation since 2019.
Saorsa agus Ceartas do’n Phalastain !
Friday 21 November, 8-10pm
Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church Hall
MAP – entrance on Loudon Terrace, G12 9AR
PalCeilidh
This Ceilidh is presented in partnership with the Glasgow Bethlehem Twinning Association. The proceeds will go to support teacher development for the special educational needs work of the School of Joy in Beit Sahour.
Both previous PalCeilidh’s have sold-out – make sure to book in advance!
Saturday 8 November, 2-11pm
Solidarity
an all-day punk rock event
Audio Lounge, 24 Craigmont Street, Maryhill
featuring some of Glasgow best young punk bands and speakers from multiple organisations, to raise funds for the Hebron International Resource Network.
Saturday 1 November, 3pm
ARC, Advanced Research Centre, Glasgow University Campus
Asylum Diaries
A HARK Project Performance
a video, music, sound and voice performance that charts the sensory journey of people seeking refuge and asylum. The atmospheric piece incorporates a video diary shot on an iPhone and documentary images made in collaboration with Amed al-Baz a photographer in the West Bank who has made a photographic study of deserted and destroyed villages in the Nakba.
The performance features live music. It is preceded by short poetry readings from the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish.
The event is a fundraising event for PalCafe and is presented by HARK Collective, a collaborative and participatory project. Read about the development of the piece and explore the Collectives many projects: HARK.org.uk
24th October, 2025 8-10pm
Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church Hall – Saltoun St, G12 9AR
PalCeilidh
Following our first ever PalCeilidh in September – a sell-out success that raised nearly £1000 for the Hebron International Resource Network in Palestine – we move to a new venue for our October ceilidh. Join us and help to weave a rich tapestry of solidarity through song, stories, spoken word and dancing!
Monday 29 Sept, 6-8.30pm
Kelvin Hall, 1445 Argyle St, Glasgow, G3 8AW
Freedom to Run
Freedom to Run follows two groups of runners, one from Right to Movement in Palestine, and one from Scotland. The two groups of runners support each other as they run both the Palestine and Edinburgh Marathons and on this journey, they discover they are not so different, but they live very different lives. There will be a Q&A with the filmmakers after the film. FREE event
2025: 19 September, 7-9.30pm, in Glasgow University Chapel
PalCeilidh
Our first ceilidh event was a big sold-out success –‘ceilidhs keep communities connected’. All proceeds will support the work of Hebron International Resource Network. There will be more pop-up PalCeilidhs over the coming months, featuring acclaimed traditional and contemporary musicians from the Gaidhealtachd, Glasgow, Scotland and beyond, weaving a rich tapestry of solidarity through song, stories, spoken word and dancing!.
2025 Monday 25 August, 6-8pm
Britain in Palestine + From the Nakba to Camp David
film screening and panel discussion and Q&A co-hosted with the Britain Palestine Project with guests Afif Safieh, former Palastinian Ambassador and Dr Brian Brivati, BPP Executive Director.
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