The Collective Irish Challenge
A Message From Hugo MacNeill, Chairman of The Ireland Funds

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May I first pay tribute to my predecessor, Dr. Maurice Hayes, who has been our guide and compass for so long. As the guns fell silent and then were put away in Northern Ireland, much praise and thanks were rightly given to those outside Ireland—particularly in the United States—whose practical support had helped bring us to this place. Maurice was central in ensuring that the considerable support brought by The Worldwide Ireland Funds went exactly where it was most needed and could have the greatest impact. We are delighted Maurice continues to play a leading role on our Irish Board.

President Mary McAleese has been an inspiration during her term in office and has been generous with her praise regarding the vital work The Ireland Funds have done and, most importantly, continue to do to make a lasting impact on this island. In two speeches to the Funds, she highlighted themes that I think are vital as we plan the future course of the Funds.

At last year’s New York Dinner, she both thanked those who had helped bring us to where we were both North and South and urged our supporters abroad to stay with us as there remained much to do. The guns are quiet in Northern Ireland but, as Maurice highlighted in his corresponding piece in the last Connect Magazine there remains widespread division and sectarianism. Emigration amongst the North’s young people remains very high; most don’t return. We are very proud of Trevor Ringland (my former Irish rugby teammate and current Irish Board member) for receiving the 2007 Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his work with PeacePlayers International in Northern Ireland. Through his ‘One Small Step’ campaign (which The Ireland Funds have supported) he and his colleagues continue to combat the sectarianism and division that are the legacy of many decades of division and conflict. In this regard, the Funds have backed the integrated education movement, which plays a vital and central role in building a new Northern Ireland that will provide a stable home for all its people.

In the South we have seen huge change in recent years, much of it very positive. But there are many who have been left behind in the wonderful, but often chaotic, Celtic Tiger Ireland. There remains huge disadvantage, especially amongst our young people. There are many damaged lives, inflicting violence on others or themselves. The sheer pace of social change has left our poets and our writers trying to catch up and explain it all.

We in Ireland join President McAleese in thanking those abroad. But we in Ireland have to help too. In a speech she made to The Worldwide Ireland Funds’ Conference some years ago at Kilmainham, she spoke about the international perception that the Irish have been downbeat. “Ceann faoi” (literally the 'head below’).That had shifted in recent history to a head that was raised and looking around confidently, on par with and equal to anyone it met. That has been fine as far as it goes. Our collective Irish challenge now is for that head to look around and see who has been left behind, and to do something about it ourselves as well, not just waiting for help from the Diaspora. Charity has had a long history in Ireland. We have traditionally responded well to famine and disaster around the world.

Philanthropy and strategic giving are new. But the time is now. It will not happen overnight but it’s starting now. The Ireland Funds, because of their history, their real impact and the moral authority that they have earned, are in a unique position to play a leadership role at this exciting time. Philanthropy can play a central role in a new patriotism for Ireland, a patriotism that is internal and inclusive.

We have strengthened the Irish Board to enable us to respond to this new challenge. We had a terrific meeting with the other Boards at The Worldwide Ireland Funds’ Conference in Kenmare last June. A number of new initiatives are afoot. Former Irish rugby captain and legend Keith Wood, together with the great Terry Wogan, cohosted a magnificent golf tournament at Doonbeg in September that was a great success. At the Funds’ dinner in Dublin before the historic rugby international against England at Croke Park, Peter Sutherland (Chairman of The Ireland Fund of Great Britain) spoke movingly about the Forgotten Irish Campaign, which the Fund had launched in Great Britain. A number of significant donations were made on the night. At last year’s New York dinner, $500,000 of the evening’s proceeds came from Ireland.

Some years ago, in addressing the Worldwide Conference, Seamus Heaney likened the work of the Funds to his own artistic process. He proceeded, he explained, from impulse. That impulse found direction and shape until eventually something special happened. It appeared to him that what The Ireland Funds did was similar. It took the impulse of many who had feelings for Ireland to give this shape and direction until the impact was made and something special happened.

It seems to me that this brilliant, succinct and perceptive description is as apt now as when first written. The exact context and specific challenges will continue to change. The Irish at home will also help to carry the baton that has been so magnificently carried by the Irish abroad. But the basic message remains the same. The same heartbeat continues beating.

It’s a very exciting time. Together the Irish family abroad and the Irish family at home can do great things.