Another link between the people of Ireland and Kenya will be forged today in the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 at 5pm. The Kenyan Ambassador to Ireland her Excellency Catherine Muigai Mwangi will accept a gift of over 4,500 books (which includes 2,000 children’s books) from Dublin’s Lord Mayor Eibhlin Byrne. The Books are destined for the Public Libraries in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. Donated by Dublin City Libraries, the collection includes a set of children’s encyclopaedia.
As part of the City’s Internationalisation programme, Dublin City Council is working to build practical co-operation with cities in the developing world. The Global Hands programme of Dublin is an umbrella term that covers practical projects that support and build capacity in developing cities. Within that framework of sharing, Dublin City Librarian Ms. Deirdre Ellis - King identified the opportunity to donate books surplus to local needs in the Dublin Library system to a developing city. The book donation is part of an initiative proposed by The Kenyan Ambassador seeking to develop closer friendship relations between Nairobi and Dublin . The provision of books to the Library system in Nairobi was seen as an opportune first step in developing projects between these capital cities. The Lord Mayor, through the Ambassador, extended an invitation to the Mayor of Nairobi to visit Dublin so that further exploration could take place on how the capitals could co-operate and learn from one another.
Books and literature are hallmarks of Dublin as a city. This literary tradition is safeguarded and promoted by the extensive network of Public Libraries in the City and the Dublin Region. The timing of the exchange of the books with Nairobi comes at the beginning of June, a month during which, Dublin’s literary tradition is celebrated so much e.g. The Dublin Writers festival will be held from the 2nd –7th June; Bloomsday is celebrated on the 16th June. Trinity College Dublin will host the presentation of the Man Booker International Prize on the 25th June.
The winner of the International Impac Dublin Literary Award will also be announced on the 11th June. This is the largest award for a single work of literary fiction in the world and the authors and books nominated for the award, are nominated through a worldwide network of over 150 public libraries, many of them in developing countries “. It is appropriate, as Deirdre Ellis-King noted, “ that Dublin City Libraries which manages the Dublin Literary Award on behalf of the city, should offer libraries in developing countries and their readers, the opportunity available to Dubliners, to extend individual horizons and possibilities through access to books of the imagination and books which support learning on a life long basis.”
Dublin’s Lord Mayor Eibhlin Byrne observed : “The beginning of June is an appropriate time for Dublin to give these books to the City of Nairobi. The power of literature to transform lives is undeniable and as a city, we have given great writers to the world, so we must also share our stock of literature with the world. Cities like Dublin and Nairobi can learn a great deal from one another and an initiative like this, builds the practical links on which friendships thrive and learning happens.”
Commenting on the importance of Dublin engaging with the world, Lord Mayor Byrne said : “ Ireland can only build its economic future by engaging with the global economy. But economies matter little, if people are not supported in their own development. We live in a world of imbalance. If we are to build sustainable futures, we, as a developed city, must reach out in practical expressions of friendship and co-operation to cities in the developing world. Today is one small step in building a practical working future with one of Africa’s great cities.”
In receiving the books, H.E. Ms. Mwangi thanked the people of Ireland for the assistance given to the Kenyan people since Kenya’s independence in 1963. She noted that “we appreciate the significant role that Irish have played in the supporting various development projects brining direct benefits mainly to poor communities across our country. Irish people have indeed been true friends of Kenya helping us develop our education, public health and agricultural sectors mainly rural areas.” The Ambassador further highlighted that “Kenya is host of perhaps the largest number of Irish non-governmental and charitable organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa. These organisations remain an integral part of Kenya-Ireland relations and their presence attests the direct linkages that exist between the peoples of our two countries.”
Ambassador Mwangi further expressed on behalf of the Mayor and the People of Nairobi gratitude for the good gesture of true friendship by Dublin City Council. She concurred that that the gift is a first step towards developing closer relations between the two cities and expressed confidence and commitment of the Kenya Embassy to work closely with the Dublin City Council towards building cooperation in other areas such as linking business and academic institutions of the two cities, sport and cultural exchange programmes
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