Ireland charity dinner raises money for Tbilisi flood victims

Ireland has shown its strong support for Georgia by hosting a charity evening to raise money for the victims and recovery efforts of the June 13 flood that ravaged Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

On Saturday evening officials from Ireland and Georgia, business and academic figures attended the charity dinner in Dublin; part of Ireland’s contribution to international humanitarian assistance and various charity events that raised funds for Georgia as it recovered from the extensive flooding that left 22 people dead and about 400 citizens from 80 families’ homeless.

The invited guests included representatives of the local Georgian diaspora and were addressed by Georgia’s Chargé d'Affaires in Ireland George Zurabashvili, who spoke about the extent of support his home county had received from Ireland following the flood.

We have received numerous messages of support in relation to the Tbilisi flood both from the Irish government and common citizens … this creates a firm basis for further strengthening of the partnership and friendly relations between the two countries,” Zurabashvili told the audience at the charity event.

Proceeds from the Dublin fundraising dinner were transferred to a special fund to help the victims of the natural disaster.

Georgia’s Chargé d'Affaires in Ireland George Zurabashvili (L) meets Irish Councillor for Cork City North West Ward Mick Nugent in Ireland last week. Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

Earlier in the week Zurabashvili met with representatives of the Irish government, the business community and media at University College Cork, where he reaffirmed his readiness to strengthen cooperation between Georgia and Ireland.

The series of meetings were held on October 19 and 20 and included Councillor for Cork City North West Ward Mick Nugent, Mayor of the County of Cork John Paul O' Shea and Editor -in-Chief of the local Evening Echo newspaper Maurice Gubbins.