His Majesty King Letsie III and Her Majesty Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso of the Kingdom of Lesotho paid an official visit to Ireland from the 20th-22nd May 2012. The main focus of the visit was on consolidating the strong bilateral links which exist between Ireland and Lesotho.

The King and Queen met with the President who hosted a lunch at Áras an Uachtaráin, and with Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D., who hosted an official dinner at Iveagh House on Monday 21st May. The delegation also met with the small Lesotho Community in Ireland, as well as those who provide support to Lesotho or have business links with the country.

Amongst other engagements, they visited a market garden and a community school in North County Dublin, both of which have links with Lesotho, and the national control centre at Eirgrid which manages electricity transmission in Ireland, as well the Guinness Storehouse.

Lesotho is Ireland’s longest running bilateral aid programme dating from its establishment in 1975. Almost €200m has been provided in aid by Ireland since then.

Lesotho has benefitted in the past from substantial Irish volunteer engagement through the former Agency for Personal Service Overseas which, in the course of its history, provided many volunteers to work there.