"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.
Over 200 people are expected to gather in Kilkenny next week to celebrate the newly independent country of South Sudan.
Kilkenny has been chosen as the site for the nationwide celebration because of the 11 Sudanese families who have made their home here since August 2009.
The event will also mark the launch of the South Sudanese Community Association in Ireland.
The festivities will take place at the Millennium Court Community Centre on August 19 at 3pm and are supported by Kilkenny Integration Forum.
Representatives from the South Sudanese and Irish governments have been invited for the occasion, and the mayor will carry out the official launch, according to the group’s deputy chairman, Samuel Morgan.
It isn’t every day a nation gets to celebrate its independence, and it’s an occasion that their community has been seeking for many years.
“It will be a great day for all of the people,” Mr Morgan said. “We were born during war, we grew up during war, and we have now seen our country become independent.”
PaanLuel Wël – Founder and Editor-in-Chief of PaanLuel Wël Media
PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a prominent news and commentary platform dedicated to covering the news, history, culture, literature, and socio-political affairs of South Sudan and the world. Established in July 2011, the website was born out of PaanLuel Wël’s vision to create a space for free expression and constructive dialogue during a pivotal moment in South Sudan’s history.
Through PaanLuel Wël Media, he has cultivated a vibrant intellectual forum that features a diverse range of voices, from poets, authors, and academics to activists, commentators, and community columnists. The platform is rooted in the belief that an informed and engaged citizenry is essential to the project of nation-building and social transformation.
PaanLuel Wël is a passionate advocate for the power of media to educate, empower, and connect people across political, ethnic, and generational divides. He is committed to fostering a culture of dialogue, tolerance, and inclusivity and is deeply invested in mentoring the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.
