PICTURES: Cedar Awards ceremony in Kilkenny honours four distinguished recipients

The Cedar Awards ceremony took place in Kilkenny last weekend, in the face of the ongoing devastation currently being wrought in Lebanon and the wider Middle East region.

Friends of Lebanon and distinguished guests from local communities and further afield gathered at the Pembroke Hotel by invitation of the Irish Lebanese Cultural Foundation (ILCF) — a Kilkenny-based society established in 2001, dedicated to celebrating Irish–Lebanese relations through cultural diplomacy.

Mayor John Coonan delivered the opening address. He spoke of the city’s historical connections with Lebanon and extended a warm welcome to the recipients of the 2025 Cedar Awards and their families.

Pictures by Harry Reid
ILCF founder Guy Jones then presented a brief history of the presence of Cedars of Lebanon in Ireland, highlighting the national symbol’s deep significance and the attachment it represents for Lebanese people around the world.

The Board of the Irish Lebanese Cultural Foundation selected four recipients. Dr Hourani and Mr Salhani were unable to attend due to the situation in Lebanon. However, the family of Professor Suheil Bushrui and Mr James Zoghbi, campaigner and lobbyist, travelled from the United States to receive their awards.
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A letter of support from the World President of the World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU), Mr Wehbe, was read during the event.

“We honour the remarkable individuals who embody the spirit of the Cedar tree,” he said. “Their efforts inspire us all to continue building strong connections and nurturing the cultural bonds that unite our nations.”

The citation for Dr James Zoghbi’s lifetime achievements was delivered by Christine Coman, a member of the Board. It highlighted his Lebanese heritage, his connections to Ireland through marriage, and his lifelong commitment to equality and human rights, often in the face of prejudice and intolerance.

In his acceptance speech, Dr Zoghbi reflected on the many occasions he and his wife, Eileen, spoke about integration versus alienation, and the challenges they faced as voices for Arab Americans. He also paid tribute to Jesse Jackson, praising his tenacity and steadfast defence of human rights.

Guy Jones then read the citation for Professor Suheil Bushrui. It outlined his pioneering role in introducing Anglo-Irish literature across Lebanon and the wider Middle East, including translating the works of Yeats, Joyce, Synge, and Swift into Arabic — making Irish literature accessible to non-English speakers. He passed away in 2015, leaving a lasting literary legacy. He famously described himself not as Irish by birth, but Irish by profession.

The event was attended by members of the Bahá’í community, former professors from the American University of Beirut and SETU, and current lecturers from Trinity College Dublin and Maynooth University. Also present were representatives from the Organisation of Ex-Servicemen and Women, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, Korean and Lebanese community groups, and local media. A large number of Friends of Lebanon and their families were also in attendance.

Three songs were performed in honour of the occasion: Lebanese Night by Chris de Burgh, Cedar of Lebanon by Thom Moore, and Lebanon by Tracy Connelly.

Each awardee received a certificate confirming that a cedar tree has been planted in Mount Lebanon in their honour. The ceremony concluded with a lively and engaging question-and-answer session.

An honorary membership of the Irish Lebanese Cultural Foundation was presented to Dr Michael Casey. A note from Crann was also delivered by Mr Collins, and Mr MacAree presented the Cedar Grove project in the Glen of Imaal—co-partners of the Foundation.

Membership of the Irish Lebanese Cultural Foundation is now open. Those interested can contact info@irishlebanese.com or text 087-8090088.