After the first successful Irish Everest Expedition in 1993, the team had a small residue of money left over which they used to fund the education of some of their Nepalese team mates. Irish trekkers to Nepal have also since funded educational opportunities for additional Nepalese people in the Rai district of the Solu Khumbu. The Dermot Bouchier - Hayes Commemoration Trust had already been established following Dermot’s tragic death in a climbing accident. The Trustees raised money by producing and selling a much needed 1:25,000 map and associated guide book to the MacGillicuddys Reeks mountains in Kerry. Proceeds from sales were donated to the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team and later to INET towards a new school classroom in Phuleli. The classroom is dedicated to Dermot’s memory. The Trustees have since transferred the rights over the map and guide book to Kerry Mountain Rescue Team and have handed over fund raising activities to a volunteer Board of Directors from INET who were already devoting their energies to fund raising for Nepalese education. INET is an Irish registered charity set up for this purpose. Considerable additional financial support has come from the fund raising activities of the pupils and teachers of Alexandra College in Dublin. Many other organisations and individuals also support INET with contributions and fund raising. Every year INET holds a summer “street collection” over two days which takes place at Blackrock Shopping Centre, Dublin. INET and Ercus Stewart SC organise an annual Christmas art sale and exhibition which is held at The Bar Council’s Law Library in Dublin.
