The Australian Ireland Fund Corporate Governors Programme

Our Benefactor and Governor Programmes have provided vital funds to support our important work. In order to build on this we are now launching our Corporate Governor Programme providing companies with the opportunity to support these important projects in Northern Ireland.

There are three levels of a Corporate Governor contribution:

Gold $50,000

Silver $25,000

Bronze$15,000

Corporate Governors of The Australian Ireland Fund make donations to The Fund, on a tax deductible basis.
Corporate Governors renew their contribution each year at $50,000,
$25,000 or $15,000 per annum for the successive four years.
(After five years of the programme, a Corporate Governor is made a
Life Corporate Governor)

$50,000 Gold Corporate Governor

Invitation to Corporate Governors Dinner with special guests Sir Anthony O’Reilly AO and the Irish Ambassador to Australia. Presentation of eight of the Governor Suite stemware each year for first four years. On the fifth year presentation of The Ireland Fund Peace Trophy Ringside table of 10 at each of the Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne Gala Luncheons A donation in your name will be directed to a specially chosen project in Ireland A full colour page ad in “Connect” the Ireland Fund Worldwide Publication Recognition in all invitations and programmes printed by the Australian Ireland Fund Special arrangements made for you in Ireland including introductions to key civic and political leaders, inspection tours of the work being conducted by The Ireland Funds or assistance with golf or other activities.

$25,000 Silver Corporate Governor

Invitation to Corporate Governors Dinner with special guests Sir Anthony O’Reilly AO and the Irish Ambassador to Australia. Presentation of eight of the Governor Suite stemware each year for first four years. On the fifth year presentation of The Ireland Fund Peace Trophy Ringside table of 10 at our Gala Luncheon in your home city• A donation in your name will be directed to a specially chosen project in Ireland Recognition in all invitations and programmes printed by the Australian Ireland Fund Special arrangements made for you in Ireland including introductions to key civic and political leaders, inspection tours of the work being conducted by The Ireland Funds or assistance with golf or other activities.

$15,000 Bronze Corporate Governor

Invitation to Corporate Governors Dinner with special guests Sir Anthony O’Reilly AO and the Irish Ambassador to Australia. Presentation of eight of the Governor Suite stemware each year for first four years. On the fifth year presentation of The Ireland Fund Peace Trophy Recognition in all invitations and programmes printed by the Australian Ireland Fund Special arrangements made for you in Ireland including introductions to key civic and political leaders, inspection tours of the work being conducted by The Ireland Funds or assistance with golf or other activities.

The support of the Corporate Governors is acknowledged in the Annual Report of The Australian Ireland Fund and in the international publication Connect. In addition, the contribution by our Corporate Governors will be acknowledged in programmes printed for each of the Fund functions, including the annual Sydney garden party at Fairwater.

Each year there will be a Corporate Governors Dinner in Sydney, when possible, hosted by Sir Anthony O’Reilly AO, the Chairman of the Ireland Funds, at which the guest-of-honour will be the Irish Ambassador to Australia. At that dinner, Sir Anthony and the Ambassador will provide personal briefings to our Corporate Governors on developments in Ireland, with particular reference to the role being played by The Ireland Funds. In addition, special arrangements can be made for Corporate Governors who might visit Ireland involving introductions to key civic and political leaders and inspection tours of the work being conducted by The Ireland Funds. Also, our friends and associates would be very happy to assist Corporate Governors with golf, sightseeing or other recreational activities in Ireland.

As a gesture of our thanks to Governors we commissioned Waterford Wedgwood to design and dedicate a suite of Waterford Crystal to our Governors, aptly named 'The Governor Suite". The Governor Suite of crystal is unique in that it cannot be purchased; it can only be owned by a Governor of The Australian Ireland Fund. The Suite consists of eight stemware items for the first four years i.e. Champagne Flute, Tumbler, Claret, Goblet and for the 5th year an Ireland Fund Peace Trophy. These items are presented to the Governor at a Governors Dinner or other special occasion.

The Directors of The Australian Ireland Fund and our grant recipients are most grateful for the generous support provided by our Governors.

The Governors Suite is an exclusive suite of crystal commissioned by The Australian Ireland Fund.

There are five items in the suite:
Flute Champagne
Tumbler
Wine
Goblet
Ireland Fund Peace Trophy.

As a gesture of thanks it has been the practice of The Fund to present eight of the above stemware items to each Governor during each year of Governorships.

In the fifth year, the Governor is made a Life Governor of The Australian Ireland Fund and is duly presented with The Ireland Fund Peace Trophy.

Ireland Fund Peace Trophy

The Ireland Fund Peace Trophy is a classic Waterford Crystal Centrepiece which has been created to feature the exclusive design taken from The Governors Suite. The Conetrepiece like The Governors Suite had been recorded in the archives at Waterford Crystal as exclusive to The Australian Ireland Fund.

The First presentation of The Ireland Fund Peace Trophy was to Charles Curran AO in November 1998. The presentation of the Peace Trophy was made by Dr. O'Reilly (now Sir Anthony) in his capacity as Chairman.

The first inscription was:
Presented To Charles Curran AO
Life Governor The Australian Ireland Fund
By
Dr. A.J.F. O'Reilly AO
Chairman
The Ireland Funds
November 1998

For more information on the Corporate Governor Programme
Teresa Keating
Executive Director, The Australian Ireland Fund
Ireland House, Level 30, 40 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000,
Australia tel:
T - 02 8233 6225
E - tkeating@irlfunds.org