Mayo role in forging links between Ireland and India

Pictured at a recent visit to the Irish embassy Delhi were Castlebar natives Mary Quinn and Bridget Horkan with the Irish ambassador, Kevin Kelly.

Bridget co-founded Thamarai children's education project in Tamil nadu, India.

Also present at the meeting were embassy staff, Sophie Rogan, whose mother hails from Castlebar (Mary Gilvarry Rogan) and Armann Srivastava.

Margaret Hennessy from Ennis, Co. Clare, a longtime supporter of Thamarai's work was also part of the delegation.

The meeting was to showcase the Thamarai project and cross cultural youth work with Foroige and MSLTB.

Bridget presented the international story book, created by youth from the Bey project Ballyhaunis and youth from Thamarai in Tamil nadu.

This book was a prize winner in the 2025, ETBI youth excellence awards.

A Virtual Reality gallery created by Foroige's Ruairi Kelly was viewed by the ambassador.

The VR gallery displays the stories, art and film work of Irish and indian young people that captures a unique cross cultural youth experience.

The meeting further discussed Radical Transformational Leadership (RTL) programs that are ongoing with Thamarai in Tamil nadu and previously hosted by ATU Castlebar when RTL founder Monica Sharma, former UN leadership director, visited Castlebar.

The Thamarai team look forward to welcoming a delegation from the Irish embassy to Tamil nadu, India to see the project and ongoing work on the ground in the near future.