By INS Contributors

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 November 2025 — The Embassy of Ireland has launched a new exhibition, “Foundations of Friendship,” showcasing the centuries-long connections between Ireland and Malaysia and highlighting the contributions of Irish professionals, educators and administrators to Malaya and Malaysia throughout different historical eras.

The exhibition, opened at Badan Warisan Malaysia, traces shared experiences of colonisation, conflict, independence and nation-building. It also presents the long history of Malaysians who studied in Ireland, particularly in medicine, and the extensive networks of cultural, scholarly and institutional exchange that have developed over generations. 

Ambassador of Ireland to Malaysia Orla Tunney said the exhibition aims to show “at a human level” why Irish people journeyed to Malaya, whether for work, family or religious vocation, and how they contributed to the development of education, administration, science and the arts. 

She noted that these stories illustrate “the foundations of friendship” shared by the two countries and expressed hope that future editions will highlight more accounts of Malaysians who built lives and careers in Ireland. 

"It is my hope that future iterations of this exhibition will follow, expanding on the stories of Malaysians who travelled to Ireland. The visit of Sultan Sir Abu Bakar ibni Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim in August 1866 is the first of which we are currently aware. It was followed, from at least the 1940s, by a steady stream of students who came to Ireland to study, and in particular to study medicine," she said.

"Many of those early students had encountered some of the Irish mentioned in this exhibition, and were encouraged by them to make the long journey far from home, which proved transformative in their own lives and in turn built a community of Malaysians who know and love Ireland. I hope that this exhibition will help to expand further the long history of friendship between our people and our countries," she added.

Curator and historian Dr Angela Byrne said the exhibition reflects how Irish links with Malaysia stretch back hundreds of years, shaped by both countries’ similar paths through colonial rule and eventual independence. 

"It is vital to rediscover, remember, and reclaim historic global human connections. People have always travelled and migrated. The curiosity and connection involved in migration is an essential part of what makes us human. It teaches us about ourselves, and about each other," she said.

She highlighted the role of Irish figures in establishing Malaya’s early botanic gardens, legal frameworks, and public institutions, as well as the continuity of cultural heritage despite political and social change.

Byrne pointed to the work of Mubin Sheppard — the Irish-born first director of Malaysia’s national museum — who helped reclaim Malay artefacts from European collections and documented local heritage with what she described as “passion and dedication,” using change “to ensure continuity.” 

She added that the long history of Irish involvement in Malaysia offers “examples of empathy and adaptation,” from healthcare and education to literature and law-making.

The stories of Irish and Malaysian communities that have called each other’s countries home, she said, show “the best of what happens when people and cultures come together in a spirit of openness and generosity, she said.

The launch event featured remarks from Ambassador Tunney and a video message from Byrne. It was attended by representatives from Badan Warisan Malaysia, the National Archives, Assunta School, RUMC, Skrine Law, the Perak Heritage Society, the Royal Asiatic Society, and the St Patrick’s Society.

The exhibition will travel to other venues, including its next installation at GMBB on 22–23 November. Further dates will be announced through the Embassy’s social media platforms.