Portmarnock event marks Lesotho anniversary

FINGAL County Council joined Action Ireland Trust and the Embassy of Lesotho in Ireland at a recent event in Portmarnock Community School to mark the 50th anniversary of the Kingdom of Lesotho’s independence.

Minister of State for Diaspora and Overseas Aid, Joe McHugh, was the keynote speaker. Lesotho Ambassador to Ireland, HE Paramente Phamotse, Cllr Brian McDonagh (Lab), deputising for the Mayor of Fingal, Action Ireland Trust chief executive Francis Whelan, and Principal of Portmarnock Community School Eithne Deeney were also present.  

The event acknowledged the recent success of students from Portmarnock CS who received the silver medal at the Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) World Cup where they presented a prototype application for an emergency call out service for emerging economies. Students Colin Mc Andrew, Emma Ford, Ravi Gollapalali and Anbu Sundaravadaivelu were congratulated at the event for their achievements. 

The event also acknowledged Ms Refiloe Leotla and Ms Mamathealira Letsie, planners from Lesotho who have just commenced studying for a Masters Degree in Spatial Planning, an initiative developed by Fingal County Council at Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street.

In recent years, Fingal County Council have partnered with Action Ireland Trust to put in place a Planning and Mapping project for The Kingdom of Lesotho. This project has operated for three years and has resulted in Lesotho now being the best mapped country in Africa. The process has delivered data and information that will allow the Government of Lesotho make informed decisions for the future of the country. 

This initiative is part of the skills exchange and capacity building programme that Action Ireland Trust facilitates in Lesotho. This and other programmes are supported by Dublin Fire Brigade, Country Crest, The Irish Planning Institute, OSM Ireland, RCSI Bahrain, and Electric Aid.