Tipperary group donate 30,000 face masks to Lebanon

Following a conversation between the former Republic Of Korea Ambassador to Ireland H.E Mr Ki - Hwan Kweon and Mr John Wort, Chairman and founder Durlas Eile Eliogarty Memorial Committee at a ceremony held in the Korean Embassy in Dublin, 30,000 face masks have been delivered to Lebanon where they will be widely used in hospital and medical settings.

With there being a dire need for protective clothing and coverings in the country, Mr Ki Hwan Kweon offered to provide five boxes of face masks to Lebanon and the masks were arranged for transportation and delivery through the Dúrlas Éile Eliogarty Memorial Committee, which has strong links with the country.

“Ambassador Kwean felt that was a very good initiative, and while it took time to organise the transportation of the face masks to Lebanon, we hit on the idea of the Irish Defence Forces based in Lebanon who would be going over. I contacted Comdt Joe Gleeson, Irish Defence Forces, who in turn, contacted Captain Jack Setright to make arrangements to collect the masks.

“It took some time to arrange the transportation of the masks, but at last the news we were waiting for arrived with a phone call from Comdt Gleeson early in November, with Captain Setright arriving to collect the masks. The five boxes of masks, courtesy of the Irish Defence Forces were brought to Tibnin, South Lebanon, and Captain Jack accompanied them.

“On arrival in Lebanon, the masks were handed over to our Dúrlas Éile Eliogarty Memorial Ambassador, Mr Abdo Haddad, and he then handed them over to the Government Hospital in Tibnin, South Lebanon.

“On behalf of the Dúrlas Éile Eliogarty Memorial Committee, I, as Chairman, would like to thank Comdt Joe Gleeson and Captain Jack Setright and the Irish Defence Forces for their humanitarian gesture,” said Mr Wort.