The Ireland Fund of Canada Year in Review : Jan 6, 2006

Much to be Thankful for…

By Eleanor McGrath, Executive Director

Did you dance the night away on October 29th? Did “Little Arrows” pierce through memories of nights in Ireland’s band halls? It was a magical night at the Fairmont Royal York for all guests at The Ireland Fund of Canada’s 23rd Emerald Ball

The celebrities and dignitaries celebrated The Ireland Fund of Canada’s commitment to peace and reconciliation and the community of those who want to preserve Irish heritage in Canada and Ireland. Policing Oversight Commissioner and Canadian, Al Hutchinson gave a most interesting talk on his experiences during these final stages of the peace process in Northern Ireland. The Irish Ambassador Martin Burke and Mrs. Mary Burke, Deputy British Consul General Mike Upton and Mrs. Susan Upton, Police Chief Bill Blair and Mrs. Susan Blair ( celebrating their 28 th wedding anniversary), Colm and Deirdre Wilkinson, Ted Murphy, Honourary Chair of the WineGeese Society and Director of Chateau de La Ligne, France and Mrs. Garry Murphy, John Doyle, critic for the Globe and Mail and author, Miss World Canada 2005 Ramona Rena Amir were all in attendance and added to the elegance and cultural cache of the evening.

And of course, it was Cork’s own Brendan O’Brien of the Dixie’s with our own Trisha and Aideen O’Brien and Paul Noonan who closed the evening with a full dance floor! A tremendous and most successful gala raising over $137,000 due to the generosity of our corporate sponsors: CIBC, Chateau de La Ligne, Diageo Canada Inc., Jameson’s Irish Whiskey Shorcan Brokers Limited, Tourism Ireland. Our wonderful Committee of volunteers chaired by Susan Storey closed the year with a beautiful celebration of all that the Irish and Ireland have to offer.

This report to you our community of friends, our donors, our many guests at our fund raising events in Edmonton, Ottawa and Toronto is one of success and desire for continued growth and support as we enter a new year and hope to support more worthy causes both here and in Ireland. Your kindness and generosity this year was overwhelming – THANK YOU! We are most proud of the work that the following organizations are undertaking and with confidence know that your financial support is making a great difference both here and in Ireland:

• “Bring a Kid to Camp in Canada 2005” was so well received by all involved with the programme. From the three Irish organizations operating and selecting the young people to our Canadian host, Muskoka Woods Sports Resorts that provided the beautiful backdrop to a vigorous peace and leadership programme for 20 youth – it continues to build and foster peace and reconciliation in North and South Ireland.
• Tara Counselling and Personal Development Centre in Northern Ireland provides a holistic approach to issues of mental health and was founded out of the Omagh tragedy to provide greater support and awareness for the community. The grant was made to assist counselors in their work with those impacted by the bombing and assist with young people suffering with mental health issues from the years of troubles.
• Holy Child Community School, Sallynoggin, Co. Dublin, Republic of Ireland is a community school in a economically deprived area that is working with parents of mentally and physically challenged to keep their children in the mainstream education programme. The grant was made to assist the school develop their programme in special needs and a library upgrade was funded for the entire school body.
• St. Patrick’s Day Parade Toronto is organized by a dedicated group of volunteers keeping the celebration of St. Patrick alive in the city. The Ireland Fund of Canada is proud of its 5-year commitment.
• Edmonton Feiss celebrates the Irish culture in our Western provinces by gathering both amateur/professional dancers and musicians annually in the early spring. The Fund has provided grants for 3 years consecutively through our Chapter.
• Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Ottawa Convention this past March 2005 brought together Irish academics, artists and musicians dedicated to the continued support and development of Irish heritage in North America. The Fund was a proud lead sponsor of this conference.
• St. Michael’s College Celtic Studies Programme has been a natural fit for The Ireland Fund of Canada in supporting the core work of the programme through our Annual Day at the Races and in addition through our successful $100,000 Capital Campaign.

For more info on grants disbursed >

We are most thankful to Bill Neill who led The Ireland Fund of Canada for over six successful years cumulating in 2003 and 2004 when for the first time in the 25-year history of the Fund we raised consecutively over $1 million. He stepped down from the role of Chair in June and his outstanding commitment to the Fund helped to strengthen and grow its reach. We remain honoured that he will continue as a Director and work as Chair of the Nominating Committee.

Our new Chair, Susan Storey who professionally is Managing Director, World Markets for CIBC and Past Chair, Children’s Aid Society Foundation. As Chair, Sue Storey brings many talents and strengths in her new capacity and as well her own passion for Ireland as a native Dublin citizen. We congratulate Susan Storey on her new role with the Fund and know that there will be much to celebrate in the coming months and years under her leadership.

The Ireland Fund of Canada continues to operate with minimal staffing to ensure low administrative costs and maximize on the ability to grant to the worthy programmes, which seek our support annually. Without the local Irish Media hosts – Frankie Benson, Eamonn O’Loghlin and Hugo Straney our voice would be much quieter – thank you for the publication of our events, great interviews and always available to guide us to the next Irish happening!

We are most thankful for the dedication of our core of volunteers who work on our event committees keeping our thinking current and assisting in reaching a broader public. We would at this opportunity also like to thank our office administrative volunteers for their weekly contribution – Eileen Power and Edward Dunphy.

It is most appropriate to conclude this update with my personal gratitude to the Board of Directors who volunteer their talents and are available to me in my role by phone, person and have made this job most fun and gratifying as I, like many fellow Canadians, have connected in a new powerful way to my Irish heritage -- Thank you to Philip Armstrong, Mark Brennan, Doodie Cahill, Daithi Connaughton, Patrick Devaney, Mark Dowds, James Egan, Eithne Heffernan, John Kearney, Patrick Murray, Bill Neill, Cathal O’Connor, Mark Purdy, Sheila O’Gorman and Susan Storey.

Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you would like to become involved in our events, Chapters, Committee work -- 416-367-8311

Wishing you and your families a most beautiful and happy holiday season and the very best in 2006! Looking forward to seeing you on Friday, March 10 th 2006 for the World’s Largest St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon at the Metro Convention Centre!