Building Bridges between Nepal and Ireland

Up until 1980, there were not many Nepalese in Ireland except for a few students who came here for their higher studies. In 1982, a couple of Nepalese families came here and established themselves as permanent residents while working in the hospitality sector. The record shows a sudden influx of students who came to Ireland for their higher studies at the start of 2000. The population of Nepalese in Ireland has grown significantly in recent years. An unofficial number shows there are around 2500 Nepalese living in various parts of Ireland. Most of them work in the hospitality sector; some of them own their own restaurants. There are quite a few who are in IT, Medical, Accounting, and various other occupations.

Although Ireland and Nepal are quite a distant apart geographically, the connection between the two countries goes deeper into people level with more than 3000 Irish annually visiting Nepal primarily for touristic purposes.

Ireland has established itself as a leading destination for higher education, attracting a significant number of students mostly from Asia. Over the past five years, Ireland has welcomed more than 500 Nepalese students in different universities and colleges in Ireland. The growing connection, both ways, at different levels has prompted other opportunities such as in trade and investment, research collaboration, technology transfer, etc. With this potential in mind, the Nepal Ireland Society has been working towards strengthening relations between the two countries; the effort started in 2011.

Without a resident Embassy, it was difficult to institutionalize the relationship between the two communities by building a platform, dedicated and interested in cementing links between the two countries. The first attempt was made by Nepal Ireland society in 2011 by organizing an interaction program with Irish NGOs who were actively working in Nepal but based in Ireland. 12 organizations (including Foundation Nepal, INET, Nepal Leprosy Trust, and Draiocht) participated in this historic event. The participating organizations presented papers on the work they had been doing in Nepal.

In 2011, with the initiation of the then Nepalese Ambassador to Ireland and UK HE Dr. Suresh Chandra Chalise, Nepal Ireland Society successfully organized a Visit Nepal 2011 event in Hilton Hotel in Dublin where more than 80 Irish dignitaries, including the then Lord Mayor of Dublin Mr. Andrew Montague, attended. At the event, Mt. Everest Summiteers Mr. Pat Falvey, Ms. Clare, and Mr. Geogheghan were felicitated as Goodwill Ambassadors for tourism promotion by the government of Nepal.

On 23rd July 2012, with the help of the Embassy of Nepal in London, the Nepal Ireland Society carried out a week-long Nepal promotion campaign in Dublin with the “Explore Nepal” poster on Dublin busses. This campaign was also a historic step that helped gain monumental coverage with an estimated reach of more than 300 thousand Irish people.

In 2013, the Nepal Ireland Society took a breakthrough step by forming an executive committee consisting of members from both Irish and Nepalese communities. A 21 member committee was formed in which 11 were Irish. With the Irish members in the executive committee, it gave Nepal Ireland Society more energy and a wider connection.

With the concerted effort, Nepal Ireland Society organized the very first Nepal Day in Ireland in September 2013 in Farmleigh, Phoenix Park. Farmleigh is the government-owned venue where only national-level events are organized. The government of Ireland provided the venue in support of ushering Nepalese culture and arts in Ireland. There were an estimated 10000 visitors. The event consisted of different segments including photographic exhibition, mountaineering talks, cultural programs, handcraft, and Thanka stalls, Irish trekking stalls, henna and face painting stalls, food, and other stalls. Nepalese living in Ireland were clad in their ethnic dresses and costumes which gave an authentic representation of Nepalese culture in Ireland. One of the segments at the Nepal Day was Mountaineering talks; the speakers were Mr. Dawson Stelfox (First Irishman to climb Mt. Everest 20 years ago), Mr. Pat Falvey (motivational speaker and two times Mt. Everest summiteer and Cian O’Brolchain (Mt. Everest summiteer in 2012). The inauguration ceremony of the inaugural Nepal Day in Ireland was graced by the then Nepalese Ambassador to the UK and Ireland H.E. Dr. Suresh Chandra Chalise and then MEP Ms. Emer Costello.

Nepal Day was later renamed as ‘Nepal Ireland Day’ to mark the celebration of growing and deepening friendship between Nepal and Ireland. The event is organized every year by the Nepal Ireland Society in collaboration with the Embassy of Nepal in London, Nepal Tourism Board, and various Nepalese organizations in Ireland. The only year the event didn’t take place was in 2015 due to the earthquake.

Although 2015 was one of the darkest years for Nepal, there was a slight silver lining which manifested with the organic outpouring of moral and financial support from the Irish public for the people of Nepal who were marred by the disastrous natural havoc. The love and support shown by the Irish public in the aftermath of the earthquake was heart-warming and phenomenal. Nepal Ireland Society, with the help of its Irish executive committee members, co-ordinated the fundraising effort in Ireland and helped the people in need by actively mobilizing its members on the ground.

In August 2015, Nepal Ireland Society organized Nepal Earthquake Conference in Dublin where many NGOs (including ActionAid Ireland, Irish Red Cross Society, Concern Worldwide, Trocaire, Nepal Leprosy Trust, Habitat for Humanity Ireland, and Irish Nepalese Educational Trust) attended and presented the work they have been doing in Nepal for the earthquake recovery and the projects they had completed before the earthquake. The available data shows, between 2015 and 2017, Ireland provided assistance to Nepal in various forms which was worth more than 25 million euros. The cumulative assistance was provided through the Nepalese government, Irish NGOs, and at people to people level as well.

The Earthquake unveiled not only the love and affection that Irish people have for Nepal, but it also brought Irish NGOs into the limelight. It divulged the vast amount of work these NGOs do in Nepal in various sectors for the socio-economic development of the country. With this fact in mind, the Nepal Ireland Society formed Nepal Ireland Alliance, a virtual platform to bring all Irish NGOs who have connections and interests in Nepal. This effort has helped NGOs in coordinating projects in Nepal, sharing experience and knowledge of working in Nepal with their peers. The formation of Nepal Ireland Alliance established an organization level link between Nepal and Ireland on top of already existent people level links. At present, 22 Irish organizations are part of this virtual platform. Since its formation in 2015, Nepal Ireland Society has been organizing the annual Nepal Conference by inviting all member organizations to present their work in Nepal.

The second Nepal conference was organized in April 2016 at Trinity College in Dublin. The speakers in the conference were from ActionAid Ireland (Ms. Triona Pender), Sarah Bird Foundation (Ms. Naomi Gould and Paul O’Connor), Engineers Without Borders (Mr. Declan Alcock), Irish Nepalese Educational Trust (INET) (Ms. Valerie Burris), Comhlamh (Mr. Phillipe Mudge), Concern Worldwide (Mr. Ros O’Sullivan), Nagarhope Ireland (Ms. Niamh Clandillon), Tear Fund (Ms. Emma Lynch), Nepal Leprosy Trust (Mr. Mike Winterburn), Trocaire (Mr. Conor O'Loughlin), Plan International (Ms.Linda Fuhrmann), Habitat for Humanity Ireland (Mr. Vinnie Cunnigham), Umbrella Foundation (Ms. Ciara Close), Draiocht (Ms. Sarah O’Connell and Ms. Siabhra Medley) and Touch Ireland (Mr. Shiva Gautam). The speakers presented details of the projects their organizations had been involved in Nepal after the earthquake. There was a good interaction between the participating organizations where they shared their ideas and thoughts regarding possible future projects their organization could carry out jointly in Nepal.

After the devastating earthquake in 2015, many countries issued travel warnings for their citizens wanting to visit Nepal. Although the risk of more earthquakes had entirely diminished, several countries, including Ireland, had not revised their travel advisory for Nepal. Nepal Ireland Society, with the help of the Embassy of Nepal in London, strongly lobbied requesting the Irish government to lift travel warnings against Nepal. The effort was successful; the Irish government finally lifted strict travel warnings to Nepal in May 2016.

Nepal Ireland Society has organized numerous events focusing on promoting Nepal in Ireland and hence helping to forge a strong link between Nepal and Ireland at people level, organizational level, and the government level. Some of the events, and the list of Irish dignitaries who attended those events, are listed below:

• Post Earthquake Nepal Tourism Promotion Program, 2015

• Organized in collaboration with Embassy of Nepal London

• Attended by former Irish Minister for Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Joe Costello, former Member of European Parliament and former Dublin Lord Mayor Ms. Emer Costello and Dublin Councillor Mr. Greg Kelly

• Nepal Ireland Day 2016

• Jointly organized by the Embassy of Nepal in London, Nepal Ireland Society and Nepal Tourism Board

• Attended by Dublin Lord Mayor Mr. Brendan Carr, former Irish Minister for Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Joe Costello, former Member of European Parliament and former Dublin Lord Mayor Ms. Emer Costello and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Deputy Director Mr. Brian O’Brien

• Nepal Ireland Day 2017

• Jointly organized by the Embassy of Nepal in London, Nepal Ireland Society, and Nepal Tourism Board

• Inaugurated by the Rt. Hon. speaker of the Irish Parliament Seán Ó Fearghaíl and HE Nepalese Ambassador to the UK and Ireland Dr. Durga Bahadur Subedi

• Attended by Hon. Member of Irish Parliament Mr. Sean Crowe TD

• Nepal Conference 2017

• Organized jointly by the Embassy of Nepal in London and Nepal Ireland Society

• Keynote Speech by HE Nepalese Ambassador to the UK and Ireland Dr. Durga Bahadur Subedi

• The speakers were from Dublin Institute of Technology (Mr. Liam McCarton), NIS Health Committee (Dr. David Weakliam), NIS Education Committee (Dr. Jane Fenlon), Musa Masala (Ms. Hannah Dennison), Concern Worldwide (Mr. Peter Doyle), Emergency Logistics (Mr. Will Holden), Nepal Leprosy Trust (Ms. Vera Mcevoy), ActionAid Ireland (Ms. Jo-Ann Ward), Tearfund Ireland (Ms. Emma Lynch), Umbrella Foundation (Ms. Naomi Gould), Plan International (Mr. David Williams), Trocaire (Mr. Conor O’Loughlin), Comhlamh (Ms. Ruth Powell) and University of Cambridge (Ms. Sorcha Ni Mhuimhne acháin)

• Nepal Heritage Cuisine Food Tasting Event 2018

• Organized by Nepal Ireland Society

• Attended by Hon. Members of Irish Parliament Ms. Maureen O’Sullivan TD and Mr. Sean Crowe TD

• Nepal Ireland Day 2018

• Jointly organized by the Embassy of Nepal in London, Nepal Ireland Society, Nepal Tourism Board, and NRNA Ireland

• Inaugurated by the convener of Ireland-Nepal Parliamentary Friendship Group and Hon. Member of Irish Parliament Ms. Maureen O’Sullivan TD.

• Attended by Fingal County Council Mayor Cllr Anthony Lavin

• The mountaineering talk program by. Mr. Dawson Stelfox, Mr. Noel Hanna, Mr. Seamus Lawless, Ms. Jenny Copeland, and Mr. Daithí Ó Murchú Crowe TD.

• Nepal Ireland Day 2019

• Jointly organized by the Embassy of Nepal in London, Nepal Ireland Society, and various Nepalese organizations in Ireland.

• Jointly inaugurated by Hon. Senator Ms. Mary Seery-Kearney and Hon. Member of Irish Parliament Mr. Sean Crowe TD.

• Participation in South Dublin Food Festival, 2018

• "Everest 2019 - Story from the Ground" - Talk by Irish record holder for climbing Mt. Everest for the highest number of times Mr. Noel Hanna

• "Nepal Talk" - Talk by 2019 Mt. Everest Summiteer Ms. Jenny Copeland

• Participation in Holiday World Show in Dublin to promote Nepal Tourism

• Visit Nepal 2020 Europe Lottery

The effort to establish the Ireland-Nepal Parliamentary Friendship group began in early 2016. This was an effort to explore opportunities to cement another level of relations between Nepal and Ireland, at the government level. With help from former Irish minister for Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Joe Costello and former MEP and Dublin Lord Mayor Ms. Emer Costello, the officials from Nepal Ireland Society held a historic meeting with the Rt. Hon Speaker of the Irish Parliament Mr. Seán Ó Fearghaíl. The Rt. Hon. Speaker assured that he will provide full support and needed help to establish the Ireland-Nepal Parliamentary Friendship group in Ireland.

The Nepal Ireland Society contacted several Hon. Members of the Irish Parliament. There were five Hon. Irish MPs and a Hon. Senator who replied with emphatic support to be part of the parliamentary friendship group. They were Hon. Senator Ms. Ivana Bacik, Hon. MP Mr. Sean Barrett TD, Hon. MP Mr. Darragh O’Brien TD, Hon. MP Ms. Maureen O’Sullivan TD, and Hon MP Mr. Sean Crowe TD. The society officials also met with the Hon. Irish Minister for Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Charlie O’Flanagan TD. The minister also assured to provide full support for the formation of the parliamentary friendship group.

In April 2017, Nepal Ireland Society invited Hon. Member of the Nepelse Parliament and former Finance Minister Mr. Surendra Prasad Pandey to Ireland. Nepal Ireland Society organized separate meetings between Hon. Mr. Surendra Prasad Pandey and the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the Irish Parliament, Hon. Irish Foreign Minister Mr. Charlie O’Flanagan TD, and all Hon. Irish MPs and Hon. Senator who had shown interest to be members of Ireland-Nepal Parliamentary Friendship Group. The meetings were primarily focused on the establishment of the friendship group and opportunities for increasing collaboration between the two countries.

With years of continuous and untiring effort, the Nepalese community in Ireland led by the Nepal Ireland Society landed a historic achievement by successfully lobbying to establish the Ireland-Nepal Parliamentary Friendship Group on 27th June 2017. This effort wouldn’t have been possible without the strong support from the Embassy of Nepal, London. The historical launch ceremony of the friendship group was chaired by the Rt. Hon Mr. Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD in the Leinster House (The Irish Parliament Building). The Ireland-Nepal Parliamentary Friendship Group comprised the Honourable Members of Irish Parliament, Hon. Ms. Maureen O’Sullivan TD (Convener of the Friendship Group), Hon. Senator Ms. Ivana Bacik, Hon. Mr. Sean Barett TD, Hon. Mr. Sean Crowe TD and Hon. Mr. Darragh O’Brien TD as its members. Also present at the historic inauguration of the Ireland-Nepal Parliamentary Friendship Group were Honorable members of the Irish Parliament Mr. Brendan Smith TD (Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee) and Mr. Thomas Pringle TD, Hon. Senator Terry Leyden (Member of the Council of Europe), Ms. Maeve Collins (Regional Director for Asia Pacific Region at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), Mr. Sharad Raj Aran (Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Nepal London), Professor Juliette Hussey (Vice-President, International Global Relations, Trinity College) and many distinguished personalities.

The formation of the Ireland-Nepal Parliamentary friendship group heralded a new era in the relations between Nepal and Ireland. The relationship was further cemented by the official Nepal visit made by Rt. Hon. Speaker of the Irish Parliament Mr. Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD in September 2019. During his visit, the Rt. Hon Speaker met with the Rt. Hon. President of Nepal Ms. Bidya Devi Bhandari, the then Rt. Hon. Speaker of Nepalese Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Chairman of the National Assembly of Nepal, Hon. Deputy Prime Minister, and the Hon. Tourism Minister. Nepal Ireland Society played a vital role in making the visit to take place. The visit is the highest official visit to date made by either country.

The formation of the Ireland-Nepal Parliamentary friendship group was reciprocated by the government of Nepal with the formation of the Nepal-Ireland Parliamentary friendship group under the convenorship of Hon. Member of the Nepalese Parliament Ms. Radha Kumari Gyawali. After the announcement of the Nepal-Ireland Parliamentary friendship group, Nepal Ireland Society hosted an interaction program with the Hon. members of the friendship group in Nepal on 18th May 2019. The interaction program was attended by former Prime Minister and Hon. Member of Parliament Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal, former Finance Minister and Hon. Member of Parliament Mr. Surendra Prasad Pandey, Hon. Members of Parliament Mr. Dibya Mani Rajbhandari and Mr. Lal Prasad Sanwa Limbu along with the convenor of the friendship group Hon. Ms. Radha Kumari Gyawali.

After the formation of the parliamentary friendship groups in both countries, the Nepal Ireland Society co-ordinated a visit by HSE’s (Ireland Health Services) Global Health Program Lead Dr. David Weakliam to Nepal to explore possible opportunities for collaboration between Nepal and Ireland in the health sector. Nepal Ireland Society also published a Health Book with the details of possible areas where Ireland could potentially contribute.

The initiatives taken by the Nepal Ireland Society over the past few years have made substantial contributions in creating an enduring link between Nepal and Ireland at people level, organizational level, and the government level. This is just the beginning and should be considered as the foundation for building cordial ties for the mutual benefit of both countries. There are plenty of opportunities; the appetite for getting things to happen is there with people and the government of both countries especially in education, trade, investment, health, research and technology sectors. The challenges lie in coming up with constructive ideas, carrying out meticulous planning, making sure of persistent implementation, and achieving accomplishments.