Maseru, Lesotho – His Excellency Mr. Austin Gormley, the new Irish Ambassador to Lesotho, officially began his duties after presenting his credentials to King Letsie III at the Royal Palace in Maseru today. Ambassador Gormley succeeds Ms. Fionnuala Gilsenan.
Ireland and Lesotho boast a long history of cooperation, with Lesotho being one of the longest-standing beneficiaries of Irish Aid since 1975. Despite this close collaboration, formal diplomatic relations weren’t established until 2005, following the opening of the Lesotho Embassy in Dublin. Ireland had a consulate in Maseru established in 1980, which was upgraded to a full embassy in 2006 before its closure in 2014.
People-to-people ties between the two nations remain strong, evidenced by school twinning programs and the well-known “Kingdoms Twinning Initiative” between County Kerry in Ireland and Lesotho.
Since 2012, a dedicated volunteer team from Portmarnock, Ireland, has been actively involved in a five-year integrated program for Lesotho. This initiative encompasses various projects, including:
- Collaborating with the Lesotho College of Education to enhance teachers’ skills in ICT and life skills at Hlalele High School.
- Constructing classrooms and keyhole gardens at Hlalele High School.
- Providing medical services like nursing and dentistry at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Roma.
- Training Lesotho Mounted Police firefighters on using equipment donated by the Trust in 2013.
- Building capacity for officials from Maseru City Council and the Ministry of Local Government in spatial planning.