Irish present book of condolences
PHUKET CITY: Helene Fallon Wood, representing the Irish Ambassador to Thailand, handed over a signed book of condolences to Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura at Phuket Provincial Hall today.
“This book came from County Galway, on the west coast of Ireland.” said Ms Wood. “Shortly after the events of December 26 last year the Lord of Galway instituted this book. Many hundreds have signed their condolences to show their support for the people of Thailand.”
She said that four Irish people were lost to the tsunami in Khao Lak but added that all of the bodies had been identified and returned to their families.
“The Irish Embassy has had an immense amount of post-tsunami work to do and, as a result, I have been to Khao Lak and Phang Nga many times.
“We are helping to set up scholarships for Thai students and are inviting some Thai students to come to Irish universities. We are also trying to help on a smaller level by providing household needs in Khao Lak and Phang Nga.” Ms Wood said.
Ten Irish university scholarships are on offer to students from Phang Nga. It will be up to the stricken province’s discretion which students get to travel to the Emerald Isle.
Ms Wood added that the Irish government and people have donated more than 20 million euros towards tsunami recovery in Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
“We are very involved in the recovery. It’s up to all of us to try to get Phuket, Khao Lak and Phang Nga back to normal again,” she said.
“Everybody was impressed by how the people of Thailand got together. Everyone got involved; the police, the hospitals and even housewives and volunteers.
“The Thai people reacted very well and the Thai government has done as much as they possibly could to help people get back on their feet. I think in a year or two everything should be pretty much back to normal,” she said.
She added that Irish tourists will come back to Phuket again because the island is a favorite destination of theirs.
“When I spoke to my family and friends in Ireland they asked me what they could do to help. I replied ‘Come back on holiday and spend money in Thailand.'”
Gov Udomsak accepted the book of condolences on behalf of all six tsunami-affected provinces of Thailand.
