On Saturday 26th April, SLIP celebrated Sierra Leone’s 64th Independence Day with the Sierra Leone diaspora community in Limerick in Mungret St. Paul’s GAA Club. Friends of Sierra Leone in Ireland joined Sierra Leoneans who came from all parts of Ireland for the celebration which started at 2pm.
This year SLIP included an Awards ceremony in recognition of award to pioneers and contributors to the development of Sierra Leone. SLIP Chairperson, Betsy Sam introduced the awards which were beautifully printed and framed for the occasion. The award recipients were; Councillor Dan McSweeney representing the Mayor of Limerick- for Limerick County Council hosting Sierra Leoneans in the community. The following religious sisters brothers and priests were awarded for their pioneering missionary and development work in Sierra Leone over past 100+ years, the Holy Rosary Sisters, the Cluny Sisters, and the Spiritans. A special award was also presented to Dr. Sinead Walsh, First Ambassador of Ireland to Sierra Leone who served in Sierra Leone during the Ebola Epidemic. There was also an award for Elders of Sierra Leone presented to Rev Fr. Michael Fillie, Sierra Leonean and Irish Spiritan. Finally, a special award to the pioneers of SLIP which was founded 33 years ago was presented to Jim Owens and Ger Horgan who represented SLIP pioneers.
The Awards were followed by an evening of celebration with wonderful Afro beats and favourite Sierra Leone songs played by DJ Ibrahim. Everyone danced and then queued for beautifully prepared food. There was also the blessing led by Rev Fr. Augustine Bangalie and a special birthday cake for Sierra Leone. The photos capture the joy of the occasion and everyone felt renewed connection with each other and beloved Sierra Leone. As the song goes….Oh Oooo Ooo Oh Wi lek wi Salone.
LtoR, Councillor Dan McSweeney, Mr. Ibrahim Bah, Ms. Betsy Sam, Chairperson SLIPFr. Michael Fillie (Right) presents Award to Dr. Sinead Walsh, Climate Director, Irish Aid and First Ambassador of Ireland to Sierra Leone & Liberia (2014-2016) with Ms. Betsy Sam, Chairperson, SLIP.
LtoR Betsy Sam, Mr. Ibrahim Bah presents pioneer award to Sr. Rowena of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny. Also, Sr. Gertrude and Sr. Carmel. Sister Teresa McKeon (pictured below with Ambassador Aidan Fitzpatrick) recently received a Presidential Award from President Michael D. Higgins in recognition of Sr. Teresa’s 70 years work in Sierra Leone in particular work to support and empower women and girls. Sr. Teresa is still in Sierra Leone.
(LtoR) Ms. Betsy Sam and Councillor Dan McSweeney present award to the pioneers of SLIP represented by Jim Owens and Ger Horgan. Liam McGlynn SLIP committee.
Minister of State for International Development and the Diaspora, Neale Richmond T.D., with delegates from Sierra Leone and Liberia in Iveagh House recently. SLIP was represented by (Back row L to R) Rev. Fr. Augustine Bengalie and Ms. Betsy Sam, Chairperson of Sierra Leone Ireland Partnership.
Communication Secretary: Florence Gorvie, fgorvie1993@gmail.com
Treasurer: Jim Owens: jimowens.pg@gmail.com
PRO : Ibrahim Kabba
Web minder: Mohammed Kamara
The out going Chairperson Martin Rowan was thanked for his long commitment to the role and for steering SLIP through many changes over the recent years. The outgoing Communications secretary was also thanked for her steadfast commitment to ensuring the SLIP Committee was active and in touch with all relevant parties.
Members of former and new management committee of SLIP 2024 (LtoR) Fr. Augustine Bengalie, Betsy Sam, Elizabeth Smith, Florence Gorvie, Jim Owens, Ibrahim Sorie Kabba, Joe Manning, Tony Robinson, Liam McGlynn (Geraldine Horgan photograph and in picture below).
A very successful Independence day celebration was held yesterday to honour 63 years of Independence in SL. The event was organised by the SL Community in Ireland, led by Ms. Betsy Sam and her hardworking team. A large crowd attended, over 100, mainly SL people living in Ireland and a much smaller number of Irish people who know and worked in SL.
The event was opened by Betsy Sam who introduced a minute’s silence for prayer of each person’s choice, followed by a minute’s silence for the people who travelled to Ireland from SL and have died here.
The MC who conducted the rest of the day beautifully was Ms. Yeama Florence.
The guest speaker of the day was the local Co. Co. Mr. Ronan McMahon (Independent) who spoke of the need to warmly welcome the deep rooted connections between our 2 countries. He recognised the work of SLIP for over 30 years in holding this significant link. He also spoke of the need to have greater equality between the richer countries of the North and those of the Southern hemisphere. He referenced his own introduction to SL from his secondary school days as he attended St. Mary’s School run by the Spiritans. He also spoke of the need to support quality education in SL.
Mr. Joe Manning the Honorary Consul for SL in Ireland congratulated the organisers who prepared the event wonderfully. In particular he thanked the wonder worker Betsy Sam. Joe then expressed appreciation of the great connections between our 2 countries. He acknowledged the honour it is for him to be the Honorary Consul for SL people in Irl. He pointed out that there is a need for more people in Ireland to work for the businesses and services in the country and anyone who says otherwise is misinformed. He spoke in particular to the younger people present and urged them to avail of all the education opportunities that emerge for them. The future is brighter for the better educated, and advised the young school going population listening to continue in education for as long as they can. He wished all present a very happy Independence Day.
Mr. Ibrahim Bah spoke of the 63 years since Independence and how the country has navigated the challenges of war and disease. He thanked people for attending in such large numbers and wished people a happy Independence Day. He urged the diaspora to behave in a responsible manner and to be a source of encouragement to the hard working citizens in SL. He emphasised the need to maintain a positive attitude while demanding justice and accountability for the people of SL.
Dr. Liam McGlynn spoke on behalf of the Sierra Leone Ireland Partnership (SLIP). He extended congratulations to all the people of SL celebrating 63 years of Independence. He sent special wishes to Ambassador Fitzpatrick and the staff in the Irish Embassy in Freetown. Liam highlighted the work of SLIP in maintaining the link between both countries for over 30 years, and named the 3 founder members present who were Jim Owens, Martin Rowan, and Geraldine Horgan. He also acknowledged and named people who formed the Management Committees over the many years. He acknowledged that the emphasis was changing from supporting projects and issues in SL to the more recent emphasis on dealing with issues for SL people living in Ireland. He said that there has been some assessment within SLIP of its continuing role. Liam thanked the organisers of the day for preparing the Hall so beautifully and the people who prepared so much wonderful ‘SL chop’. He informed people that the SLIP book ‘Leaves from the Cotton Tree’ was for sale in the hall. He also said he has been reliably informed that there are green shoots emerging from the fallen Cotton tree in Freetown and hoped green shoots continued to form for the continuing relationship between our 2 countries.
The speeches were interspersed with short quizzes for the the youngest ones, then for the teenagers and finally questions for the adults! A good fun atmosphere was created.
The speeches were followed by SL singing and dancing by the children present.
Later in the evening there was a wide menu of SL dishes offered to all present. The food was greatly appreciated and very highly commended by the connoisseurs.
(All the speeches will be put on the website in due course)
