Twinning The Kingdom Tapestry Project:
Woven Art in European Union House, European Commission 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. The exhibition will run from 14th September until 25th September 2009 Opening hours 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday. Click here for more

June 2008
Click here to read press release on "Twinning The Kingdoms" at Prince Harry's Sentebale conference

April 2008 Meshu Mokitimi visits Kerry:
Meshu, Lesotho’s most renowned artist will be working as Artist in Residence at Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, an Daingean. Whilst in Kerry he will be launching an exhibition ‘Ra’moho’ on Saturday the 26th April at 6.00pm at Siamsa Tíra, Tralee.

April 2008 Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards Finalist:
Lís Ní Chonchuir, student at Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, an Daingean, has been nominated for a national award in recognition of her work in Lesotho in 2007.

March 2008 Film Premier:
Film maker Michael Kelly has just released a short documentary film about the work of Twinning the Kingdoms in Mapotsoe. This film is available to schools, community groups and volunteers at a nominal cost; for further information contact Michael on 087 7937471.

Dr Bill Mangan Memorial Fund:
In February 2008 the trust donated over seven thousand euro to construct a classroom at St. Monica’s Primary school in Mapotsoe. The classroom with replace an old tent; it is hoped that the new building will function as a technology lab where students will have the chance to access computer skills.

Waterville Friends of Lesotho:
The group have raised over seven thousand euro in January/February 2008; this money has been matched by funds raised from Twinning the Kingdoms second hand book sales in order that the newly constructed vocational woodwork classroom at Morate Medium High school can be outfitted with benches and carpentry tools.

Institute of Technology Tralee :
Social Care Students Susanna Holden and Aoife McSweeney are preparing for their three month work placement as volunteers in Maseru in September 2007.

‘Breaking The Barriers’ :
On December 3rd, International Disabilities Day, the Queen of Lesotho, ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso opened Eileen O’Leary’s photographic exhibition ‘Breaking The Barriers’ in Teya-Teyaneng: the exhibition is about ten people in Lesotho, all of whom have some form of disability. Some of their stories are heart-breaking, some are inspiring but all of them are real. The exhibition illustrates the numerous challenges which face people with disabilities in Lesotho. Mojalefa Mabula, Director of Lesotho National Association for People with Disabilities attended the opening and said, ‘Disability does not mean inability. It’s time for Lesotho to wake up and start recognising that the disabled need to be given an opportunity.’

Second-hand Bookshop :
North’s Auctioneers have offered free of charge, for a short term, the use of a shop unit in the Tralee Shopping Centre, formerly Dallas Boutique. We would welcome any books you can give to fill the shelves. The Twinning appreciates the dedicated team of volunteers who are enabling us to keep the doors open six days a week.

Football Boot Project :
Dick Spring launched the project to send used football boots to Lesotho. Supported and organised by the Education Centre Tralee, and promoted by Kerry football greats Maurice Fitzgerald and Kieran Donaghy, over 400 pairs of boots were donated from schools around the county. The boots will be eagerly welcomed when they complete their long journey to the Mountain Kingdom.

Madge Davis Fund :
The generous donation of €3,500 from past president of Kerry ICA Madge Davis has enabled the recently renovated community resource centre in Ha Maputsoe to put in a new kitchen for training and general classes on nutrition for home care workers.

Dr Bill Mangan Memorial Fund :
A large group of family and friends gathered in Killarney in the Park Hotel and later at the home of Dr Patricia Mangan on the occasion of the first anniversary of the late Dr Bill Mangan of Killarney. The evening was organised by Dermot Walsh of Cahersiveen a close friend of the family and member of the Twinning Steering Committee. A proposal to assist with the building of a classroom in Lesotho was presented to the gathering and a bank account opened to receive donations.

Átha a’ Mhuilinn :
Átha a’ Mhuilinn on the Dingle Peninsula have twinned with the village of Ha Mapotsoe; both communities are benefiting from the cultural and supportive exchanges between the villages. Chairperson, Theresa Moriarty visited Ha Mapotsoe in September to celebrate the opening of the Community Resource Centre and to meet with her Basotho counterparts.

Waterville Friends of Lesotho :
They have raised 11,000 euro to support the building of two vocational classrooms for the students of Morata Medium High School in Kolonyama. These classrooms will ensure that students will leave school with marketable skills and have an opportunity to access employment in the area.

Electrification of St. Monica’s Primary School :
Support from the Tralee business community has meant that 5,000 euros has ensured that 1,500 pupils at the primary school now have light and heat in their classrooms; our thanks to Bill Kirby, Brogue Inn, Joe Walsh, Jerome Walsh’s Shoes and Dorothy Allard, Premier Financial Services, North’s Auctioneers and Roland Blennerhassett.

Slattery’s Travel Package Tours to Lesotho :
are now available in the current Slattery’s brochure. This initiative was overseen by David Slattery, one of our first steps in helping develop Lesotho’s tourist industry. The value of tourism to the country was emphasised by Lesotho Ambassador Mannete Ramaili, who pointed out during a visit to Tralee that the amount one tourist spends on a visit to Lesotho is the equivalent to creating one job, which often supports many families.

Kerry Law Society :
Matt Breslin President of the Kerry Law Society has forged links with legal bodies in Lesotho, including the Lesotho Law Society, and is involved in setting up scholarships for law students. Matt has visited Lesotho as Chairman of the Kerry Law Society, where he addressed by the Law Society of Lesotho.

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