The West Links with Africa

Twelve parishes in Mayo and Galway will be linked with partnership parishes in Kenya and Tanzania on Christmas Day in a special two hour shortwave broadcast arranged by RTE.

The parish partnership was founded in 1982 when a group of people in Westport formally agreed to link up with the parish of Aror in Kenya through the Medical Missionaries of Mary. The Sisters estimate that at least 4,000 lives were saved from famine as a result of the money raised to assist projects in Kenya.

Westport photographer Liam Lyons and local businessman Michael O'Donnell initiated the original scheme. Following an exhibition of photographs taken in Aror by Mr Lyons other parishes in the West joined the partnership. There are now 11 parishes in Mayo and one in Galway partnered with parishes in Kenya and Tanzania. Projects supported in Africa cover education and health and individual needs such as the provision of motor cycles and solar panels.

Representatives from the Irish parishes will send greetings on Christmas Day to Kenya and Tanzania in a programme presented and produced by Liam MacNally, a journalist with Mid-West Radio. Both the Catholic Archbishop of Tuam, Dr. Michael Neary, and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Tuam, the Rt Rev John Neill will participate in the programme along with the Superior General of the Medical Missionaries of Mary, Sr Phil Sheerin.

RTE has leased the short wave frequency from deutsche Telekom. The program will be transmitted on Christmas Day on 15625 KHz at 1500 - 1700 UTC / GMT.

There is now a support group structure in place in the West called Western Parnerships. This umbrella group issues regular newsletters to members and is able to deepen the links among all parishes.

Brid McAuley is the part-time administrator in the post sponsored by the NCD (National Committee for Development Education - set up in 1994 by the Tanaiste under the auspices of Irish Aid).

To date upwards of 15 people from the West, including two secondary pupils from Westport, have visited their respective partnerships in Kenya and Tanzania.

The Mayo parishes are Westport (Aror, Kenya); Ballinrobe (Mukuru, Kenya); Mulranny (Kabulwa-Kiberia, Kenya); Kiltimagh (Kipsaraman, Kenya); Ballina (Kakuma, Kenya); Clare Island (Nakwomoru, Kenya); Carnacon (Nangua, Tanzania); Tourmakeady (Loolera, Tanzania); and Ballinasloe, Co Galway (Lodwar, Kenya)

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