Kerry Education and Training Board (Kerry ETB) and Coláiste Gleann Lí welcomed a visit from the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Ireland, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdelmajid, on Wednesday, May 18th 2022.
The focus of this visit was to discuss educational initiatives between students of twinned towns Tralee and Beit Sahour, with the Ambassador taking the opportunity to visit Kerry ETB school, Coláiste Gleann Lí to meet with some students.
Coláiste Gleann Lí is located on Clash Road in Tralee, adjacent to the Kerry College’s Clash Road Campus and the South Campus of the Munster Technological University. Currently boasting enrolment figures of c. 235 annually, Coláiste Gleann Lí is committed to the holistic development of each student entrusted in their care, with students being supported both in their studies and in their search for meaning and identity.
Following a tour of the school, Coláiste Gleann Lí’s Student Council invited the Ambassador to plant an olive tree on the grounds, an act symbolic of peace and prosperity. At the ceremony, Principal, Mr Liam Mc Gill, said: “Coláiste Gleann Lí is privileged to welcome Ambassador Abdalmajid. The school’s rich history in STEM education and our core values of Excellence in Education, Care, Equality, Community and Respect make Coláiste Gleann Lí the perfect location to acknowledge this twinning arrangement with the planting of an olive tree.”
As part of the visit, the Ambassador also met with the Kerry ETB Senior Executive Management at its Head Office in Centrepoint, John Joe Sheehy Road, Tralee. The meeting opened with Kerry ETB Chief Executive Officer providing a comprehensive overview of the services delivered by Kerry ETB to its c. 11,000 students and learners throughout the county each year.
The twinning arrangement between Tralee and Beit Sahour historically began in March 2019 – the first time an Irish town was twinned with a town in Palestine. Speaking of this arrangement Ambassador Abdalmajid said: “I have been looking forward to meeting with Kerry ETB and local councillors to discuss the co-operation between the twinned towns of Tralee and Beit Sahou, and discuss possibilities for mutually beneficial co-operation between Palestinian and Irish educational institutions.”
Commenting on the visit, An Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Jim Finucane said: “We are very grateful to the Ambassador for visiting Kerry today and look forward to bringing real effect to the educational initiatives proposed.”
