The Australian Ireland Fund Governors Programme

To enable funding to be provided to these major projects, The Australian Ireland Fund decided to approach a number of supporters with an invitation to become Governors of the Fund, upon payment of a contribution of $10,000, which is tax deductible. The support of the Governors is acknowledged in the Annual Report of The Australian Ireland Fund and in the international publication Connect. In addition, the contribution by Governors is acknowledged in the programmes for the various Fund functions, including the annual garden party at Fairwater.

Each year there is a Governors Dinner in Sydney hosted by Sir Anthony O' Reilly AO, The Chairman of the Ireland Funds, at which the guest-of-honour is the Irish Ambassador to Australia. At that dinner, Sir Anthony O'Reilly AO and the Ambassador provide personal briefings to Governors on developments in Ireland, with particular reference to the role being played by The Ireland Funds.

In addition, special arrangements will be made for Governors who might visit Ireland involving introduction to the 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 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

Governors of The Australian Ireland Fund make a donation of $10,000 to The Fund, on a tax-deductible basis.

Governors renew their contribution each year at $10,000 per annum for the successive four years.

After five years of the programme a Governor is made a Life Governor.