During June 2026, Comendador Anthony Bailey, Hon Consul-General of HM The King of Tonga to the Portuguese Republic, participated in a series of cultural, literary and civic engagements organised by the Municipality of Lisbon and diplomatic missions based in Portugal. These events reflected the important role that culture, literature, music and national traditions continue to play in strengthening international friendship and understanding between nations.
SANTOS POPULARES ENGAGEMENTS
On 12 June 2026, the Hon Consul-General commenced his participation in Lisbon’s Santos Populares celebrations by attending a private dinner hosted by Maria and João Cortez de Lobão, bringing together members of Portugal’s diplomatic, cultural and business communities.
Later that evening, he attended the annual Santos Populares Parade at the invitation of Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon, held on Avenida da Liberdade and in the presence of HE Antonio Seguro, President of the Portuguese Republic.
The reception formed part of the Festas de Lisboa, one of Portugal’s oldest and best-loved cultural traditions. Celebrated each year in honour of Saint Anthony, the Patron Saint of Lisbon, the festivities include the famous Marchas Populares, neighbourhood celebrations, music and traditional gastronomy, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Portuguese capital.
Official website Câmara Municipal de Lisboa https://www.lisboa.pt
#TongaPortugal #Tonga #Portugal #SantosPopulares #FestasDeLisboa #Culture #Diplomacy #Lisbon
BLOOMSDAY CELEBRATION HOSTED BY THE EMBASSY OF IRELAND
On 16 June 2026, the Hon Consul-General attended the Embassy of Ireland’s annual Bloomsday celebration at the Centro Cultural de Cascais, hosted by Her Excellency Alma Ní Choigligh, Ambassador of Ireland.
Bloomsday commemorates the life and literary legacy of James Joyce, whose masterpiece Ulysses is set on 16 June 1904. Celebrated around the world, it has become one of Ireland’s foremost international cultural events and an important element of Irish cultural diplomacy.
In her keynote address, Ambassador Ní Choigligh reflected on Joyce’s enduring literary influence. The literary programme was led by Desmond J. Green, a distinguished member of the Irish community in Portugal and founder of The Desmond J. Green Collection – James Joyce: A Life in Books, recognised as one of the world’s finest private collections devoted to James Joyce and his works.
The Kingdom of Tonga and Ireland established diplomatic relations in 2023, and the event provided an opportunity to celebrate the growing friendship between the two countries through their shared appreciation of literature and culture.
Official websites Embassy of Ireland in Portugal https://www.ireland.ie/en/portugal/lisbon/
The Desmond J. Green Collection – James Joyce: A Life in Books
https://www.rarebooks.ie/james-joyce-a-life-in-books-the-desmond-j-green-collection/
#TongaIreland #Tonga #Ireland #Bloomsday #JamesJoyce #DesmondJGreen #IrishLiterature #Culture #Diplomacy
THAI FESTIVAL HELD IN LISBON
On 19 June 2026, the Hon Consul-General attended the annual Thai Festival, organised by Her Excellency Mrs Kanokwan Pengsuwan, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Portuguese Republic, at the Jardim Vasco da Gama, Belém, Lisbon.
The festival celebrated Thailand’s rich cultural heritage through traditional music, dance, cuisine and cultural performances. Organised by the Royal Thai Embassy, it forms part of Thailand’s programme of cultural diplomacy around the world.
The Kingdom of Tonga and the Kingdom of Thailand established diplomatic relations on 11 June 1999 and continue to enjoy exceptionally close relations. As two constitutional monarchies, the friendship between the two kingdoms has been strengthened over many years through close ties between their Royal Families, governments and peoples, including reciprocal royal and official visits.
Official website Royal Thai Embassy, Lisbon https://lisbon.thaiembassy.org
#TongaThailand #Tonga #Thailand #ThaiFestival #Culture #Diplomacy #Monarchy #Portugal
EUROPEAN CONCERT HOSTED BY THE MAYOR OF LISBON
On 21 June 2026, the Honorary Consul-General attended the annual European Concert at the invitation of Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon, held in the Jardim da Torre de Belém.
The concert formed part of the Festas de Lisboa 2026 programme and marked the 40th anniversary of Portugal’s accession to the European Communities, now the European Union, celebrating four decades of Portugal’s European journey.
Against the backdrop of the historic Tower of Belém, the concert featured the internationally renowned Orquestra Gulbenkian, including a tremendous performance of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, before an audience that included members of the diplomatic corps, Portuguese public life and the general public.
Official websites Câmara Municipal de Lisboa https://www.lisboa.pt
Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian https://gulbenkian.pt
#TongaPortugal #Tonga #Portugal #EuropeanConcert #EuropeanUnion #FestasDeLisboa #GulbenkianOrchestra #Culture #Diplomacy
KOSOVO NATO MILITARY EXHIBITION
On 15 June 2026, the Honorary Consul-General Comandador attended a reception hosted by H.E. Dr. Edona Maloku Bërdyna, Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo at the Museu Militar de Lisboa.
The reception was held in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition Bridging Distances, Building Peace: The Portuguese Footprint in Kosovo, which commemorated the important contribution made by the Portuguese Armed Forces to the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission.
Through photographs, historical material and personal testimonies, the exhibition highlighted Portugal’s commitment to international peacekeeping, post-conflict reconstruction and the promotion of regional stability. It also recognised the close cooperation that has developed between Portugal and Kosovo since the establishment of the KFOR mission in 1999.
The Kingdom of Tonga recognised the Republic of Kosovo in 2014, and the reception provided an opportunity to strengthen contacts with members of the diplomatic corps while reflecting upon the importance of international cooperation, peacekeeping and respect for international law.
Official Page : Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo
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#Kosovo #Portugal #KFOR #Peacekeeping #InternationalCooperation #KingdomOfTonga #Diplomacy
