Nepal Ireland Day and Nepal Conference Concluded Successfully

Post date: Sep 15, 2017 4:21:56 AM

The Embassy of Nepal in London, Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Ireland Society jointly organized 'Nepal Ireland Day' in Dublin on 10th September 2017. The annual event was organized to promote Visit Nepal Europe 2017 campaign and celebrate the 18th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Ireland.

Visit Nepal Europe 2017 campaign was announced by Nepal Tourism Board, National Tourism Organization of Nepal for tourism activities, to increase the number of tourists visiting Nepal from Europe in 2017 by 30-40% in comparison to the tourist arrivals in 2016.

The event was jointly inaugurated by the speaker of the Irish Parliament Seán Ó Fearghaíl and HE Nepalese Ambassador to the UK and Ireland Dr. Durga Bahadur Subedi. Also present was a Member of Irish Parliament Sean Crowe. Mr. Sean Crowe is also a member of Ireland Nepal Parliamentary friendship group.

Irish Mt. Everest Summiteers of 2017 Mr. John Burke, Mr. Rory McHugh and Mr. Terry Kelleher were felicitated by the Ambassador during the opening ceremony.

In his keynote speech, HE Ambassador Dr. Durga Bahadur Subedi requested the Irish public to Visit Nepal. He said Nepal has 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world, the country is blessed with pristine Himalayan trails and trekking routes but the most important thing is Nepal boasts the exceptional hospitality of its people where guests are treated like gods; he urged everyone to visit Nepal not once but multiple times and enjoy the divine experience the country has to offer. Referring to the relations between Ireland and Nepal, HE Ambassador added the link between Ireland and Nepal has taken an exceptional leap in recent years. He assured he will work tirelessly to continue and enhance this effort.

The chief guest of the event, the speaker of the Irish Parliament, Mr. Seán Ó Fearghaíl said he was delighted to attend Nepal Ireland Day. He emphasized on the need of further developing the relations between Ireland and Nepal by frequent exchange visits of the parliamentarians and ministers and explore possible opportunities for the benefit of both countries. The speaker added Ireland is a multi cultured society; the contribution of Nepalese community in Ireland to strengthen the diversity in the country is really encouraging and praiseworthy. He assured he will definitely visit Nepal in near future after being impressed by seeing the photographs of Nepal on display at the photo exhibition.

At the request of the speaker of the Irish Parliament, a minute silence was observed to remember the people who lost their lives in the devastating earthquake of 2015 and the recent floods in Nepal.

Welcoming the guests, President of Nepal Ireland Society, Nepal Tourism Board Honorary Public Relations Representative and the Chief Coordinator of Visit Nepal Europe 2017 campaign Mr. Deepesh Man Shakya said - "We are celebrating this year’s Nepal Ireland Day to commemorate 18th Anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Nepal and Ireland and to promote the year 2017 as Visit Nepal Year in Europe. Visit Nepal Europe 2017 campaign was announced by the government of Nepal to increase the tourists going from Europe to Nepal by 30% in 2017 in compare to 2016. I feel proud to mention that, after the completion of 8 months of the campaign, the statistics show 40% increase in European tourists going from Europe to Nepal. From Ireland, it is even better and the number stands at 51%. "

Mr. Shakya further added - "Today’s event is rather a special one. This is the first Nepal Ireland Day we are celebrating after the historic establishment of Ireland Nepal Parliamentary Friendship group in June. We have been working with the Irish Parliamentarians to strengthen relations between Ireland and Nepal and also increase collaboration between the two countries in education, research, technology, trade, and investment"

A mountaineering talk programme was also held where all Irish Mt. Everest Summiteers of 2017 shared their experiences. Ireland's renowned actress Ms. Aoibin Garrihy who did Everest Base Camp trek in April this year also shared her experience at the talk programme. The talk program was oversubscribed with more than 100 people attended the crowded hall.

One of the major highlights of Nepal Ireland Day was the photo exhibition where 100 photographs taken by Irish tourists who visited Nepal in 2016 and 2017, were on display in specially crafted frames. The visitors were full of praise seeing the majestic landscape, culture and art depicted in the photographs.

Nepal Ireland Day is a mega Nepalese event in Ireland organized annually in Farmleigh, Phoenix Park which is one of the historic locations of Dublin. Along with the opening ceremony, Mountaineering Talk Programme, Nepal Photo Exhibition, and Nepalese Cultural Programme there were also Nepalese Handicraft stalls, stalls of tour operators, and information desks of different Irish NGOs who are doing projects in Nepal

Artists from Sayapatri group and the local artists performed in the cultural programme attended by more than 500 Nepalese residing in Ireland and a ground full of Irish people who were very enthralled to see Nepal's culture and art.

This year’s Nepal Ireland Day saw a record number of crowd with more than 10,000 Irish visitors.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Nepal Ireland Society's General Secretary Mr. Gangaram Kandel and Joint Secretary Ms. Alison Irwin. Society's Vice - President Mr. Jivan Timalsina gave a vote of thanks.

Nepal Ireland Society's Chief Treasurer Mr. Prakash Mali and Treasurer Mr. Balkrishna Shrestha expressed their satisfaction to see the success of the event. According to Mr. Shrestha, Nepalese residing in different parts of Ireland traveled to Dublin to attend Nepal Ireland Day.

Nepal Ireland Society has been spearheading to strengthen the link between Ireland and Nepal at the highest level. The society’s effort to establish Ireland Nepal Parliamentary Friendship Group was finally materialized in June this year. The group provides Nepal Ireland Society a government level platform in continuing its work to build a strong bond between two countries.

The venue for the event was provided by OPW. The event was part sponsored by South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council and ICD Business School.

On 11th September, Nepal Ireland Society and Embassy of Nepal London jointly organized Nepal Conference in Dublin. The conference was focussed on Trade & Investment, Education, Health and ongoing Humanitarian projects in Nepal carried out by Ireland based NGOs. Speakers 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), Action Aid 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 Mhuimhneacháin) presented the work they have been doing in Nepal.

President of Nepal Ireland Society Mr. Deepesh Man Shakya presented an overview of investment opportunities in Nepal.

HE Ambassador Dr. Durga Bahadur Subedi in his keynote speech assured Embassy will always be in full cooperation to help NGOs who are carrying out various humanitarian projects in Nepal. He outlined Nepal’s potential as a business hub and requested Irish business houses to explore the possibility of investing in Nepal.

The conference was hosted by Ms. Alison Irwin and chaired by Dr. Patrick O’Sullivan, Ms. Emma Lynch, Mr. Jivan Timalsina, Mr. Balkrishna Shrestha and Mr. Prakash Mali in different sessions.