connect 2018 • 84 AROUND THE WORLD CHINA March, 2018 Hong Kong Island based Stanley Sea School Principal Hon Piu Lee and his teenage students hosted the Claddagh Boatmen Peter Connolly, Coilin Hernon and Joe Joyce for the week 22 to 29 March. The Claddagh Boatmen are the custodians of the Galway Hooker, the iconic fishing vessel of the West of Ireland. For the first time, the Boatmen travelled to Hong Kong and Macau to share their unique skills, experience and passion. They spent time with the students in the Sea School in Stanley, met with counterparts in Macau and screened a documentary on their work titled Croí an Ċladaiġ – From the Woods to the Water, by documentary film-maker Tony Walsh. The students received hands-on training in traditional boat building skills and the school and wider Hong Kong community were able to learn about the working history and recent regatta resurgence of these unique vessels. May, 2018 Darkness Into Light Hong Kong 2018 excelled having 30% more registered participants than the 2017 inaugural event. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park at 5 am witnessed 500 yellow clad walkers support Pieta House Ireland and Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong (SBHK) in preventing suicide and self-harm, with a symbolic passage from darkness of night to light of dawn. With 200,000 participants at 180 Irish and worldwide venues, Irish and Hong Kongers alike showed solidarity and raised awareness for this Irish campaign. Local donations and sponsorship has been directed by The Ireland Funds to SBHK’s Life Education schools and community program. The Ireland Funds China—Croí an Ċladaiġ—From the Woods to the Water The Ireland Funds China & Pieta House Darkness into Light 5K Walk 1 1 2 2 3 1 Joe Joyce with students 2 Learning boat-building skills 3 Tony Walsh, Coilin Hernon, Peter Connolly, Joe Joyce at Stanley Sea School Hong Kong Photos: Paul Gallagher 1 Darkness Into Light Hong Kong 2018 participants greet the dawn at Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park 2 Darkness Into Light Hong Kong 2018 signed message of HOPE Photos: Paul Gallagher