Inaugural "Nepal Ireland Mountaineering and Outdoor Adventure Fair" concludes with resounding success

Post date: Aug 5, 2016 10:05:09 AM

12th July 2014, Dublin. Nepal Ireland Society in collaboration with Nepal Embassy, London and the Mountaineering Ireland organised 'Nepal Ireland Mountaineering and Outdoor Adventure Fair -2014' at Radisson Blu Hotel in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday 12 July 2014. The grand fair was Jointly inaugurated by Charge' d' Affair a.i. Tej Bahadur Chhetri and Lord Mayor of Dublin, Christy Burke by illuminating light in Panas in the presence of the Worshipful Mayor of Fingal County Council Mags Murray, Former Dublin Lord Mayor and former Member of European Parliament (MEP) Ms. Emer Costello, Aviation Speaker and Friend of Nepal Mr. Michael Ryan, President of Nepal Ireland Society (NIS) and NTB Honorary Public Relations Representative (HPRR) Mr. Deepesh Man Shakya, Board Member of the Mountaineering Ireland Dr. Patrick O'Sullivan, NRNA UK President Yogen Bahadur Chhetri and NRNA Ireland President Ganesh Prasai.

NIS General Secretary Mr. Gangaram Kandel welcomed the distinguished guests at the start of the event. NIS Vice-president Dr. Jane Fenlon and NIS Public Relations Officer Mr. Jivan Timalsina felicitated the chief guest, Fingal County Council Mayor Ms. Mags Murray and the Mountaineering talk programme speakers with "Khada". and "Panchakanya" clad in scintillating Nepalese cultural dresses greeted them with flowers. In a Keynote speech, Chargé d' Affaires a.i, Mr. Tej Bahadur Chhetri, highlighted the fact that although Ireland and Nepal entered into diplomatic ties only in 1999, a fond friendship at people's level dated further back than that as many Irish adventurists, explorers and social volunteers have been paying frequent visits to Nepal for many decades. Mr. Chhetri remarked how the relationship between the two countries has significantly grown in the recent years, which has become evident with the exponential rise in the number of Irish visitors to Nepal every year. He also underscored that a lot more could be done at the Government and people's levels to further enhance and deepen the relationship between the two nations. He further assured that Embassy will work to build a strong link between the two countries by exploring mutual opportunities in different sectors such as Hydropower, Business Investment, Technology Transfer, Tourism, Education, Research Collaboration etc.

Speaking in the inauguration ceremony, Dublin Lord Mayor, Mr. Christy Burke expressed his delight to attend the event and emphasized on the need to further strengthen the relationship between Ireland and Nepal. Fingal County Council Mayor Ms. Mags Murray said she would be interested to offer any help needed to facilitate talks to explore trade and business opportunities between the two countries. Former MEP Ms. Emer Costello, a longtime friend and well-wisher of Nepalese community in Ireland, said she is an adamant proponent of integration of multi-cultural communities in Ireland and assured that she will do her best to work for the betterment of Nepalese community in Ireland. NIS President and NTB HPRR Mr. Deepesh Man Shakya highlighted society's activities and its impact on Nepalese tourism and expressed Society's commitments in the future.

The programme was a whole day event with presentations from veteran Irish mountaineers Mr. Noel Hanna, Mr. Paul Devaney, Mr. Tony Nation, Dr. Patrick O'Sullivan, Mr. Frank Nugent and Mr. John Leech who shared their personal experiences of mountaineering and trekking in Nepal. It was well attended by an array of diplomats based in Dublin, officials, media, journalists, writers, mountaineers, adventure enthusiasts and other Irish people.

A beautiful cultural performance presented by Nepal Cultural Group,Ireland (NCGI) entertained attendees of the event. The event was hosted by Ms.Emma Lynch and Ms. Alison Irwin.