Ambassador G. R. Malik and large number of prominent high profile guests representing various walks of life. The ceremony started with the song “The Flower of Pakistan” by a group of children from Holy Rosary College, Mount Bellew, Co. Galway which was lauded with standing ovation by the audience.
In his speech, Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello congratulatedMalala Yousafzai for receiving Tipperary Peace Award which he said was in recognition of Malala’s courage, determination and perseverance alongwith the impact she had on so many people across the world.
Minister Costello added that Malala joins shining galaxy of Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, President Bill Clinton, Benazir Bhutto and former Irish Presidents Mary McAleese and Dr. Martin McAleese, who were earlier recipients of Ireland’s most prestigious award.
The Minister expressed his admiration for Malala’s courageous efforts topromote the fundamental right to education for every child and her efforts to access to education for women and girls in Pakistan specially and other regions worldwide
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In his citation, Martin Quinn of the Tipperary Peace Convention said Malalawas “a reminder that anything is possible as long as there is hope”.
The award a crystal Dove of Peace was the latest in a growing list of international honours for the teenager as courageous as she is humble.
Malala Yousafzai will return to Ireland next month to be honoured an award at Amnesty International event in Dublin.
On this occasion, Malala Yousafzai said that she believes in power of pen and book and her purpose of life is to spread education all over the world.
She appealed to governments all over the world that education must be their top priority and to abolish the laws that go against the rights of children and women. She said that Pakistani nation is resilient and the people love to education.
She urged the Irish people to visit Pakistan and Swat valley which is now apeaceful place. She also expressed her desire to visit Pakistan very soon.
Malala’s visit to Ireland received front page coverage in print media and several talk shows in electronic media in Ireland.Malala Yousafzai is a very popular iconic figure in Ireland and there is immense goodwill for her at all levels in Ireland.
The educational institutions and other non-governmental organizations have expressed hope that Malala’s visit to Ireland would help in strengthening their efforts for promotion of education in Pakistan.
A number of institutions have expressed their resolve to support Malala to develop state of art infrastructure in education in Pakistan to promote girls education.
