With
over 100 events annually in 39 cities around the
world
attended by 40,000 people raising over $300 million since 1976,
The Ireland Funds are the largest organisation helping Ireland in the world |
"Thank
you for what you have done, and the way
in which you have done it "
-Mary McAleese, President of Ireland addresses The Ireland Funds
Conference |
"I
salute your vision, commitment, generosity
and enthusiasm. The support of The Ireland
Funds is converting affection for Ireland
worldwide into actual benefit"
-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern,
Prime Minister of Ireland |
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History of The Ireland Funds
On the occasion
of his visit to Ireland in 1963, President
John F. Kennedy joined with Irish
President Eamonn de Valera to
form The American Irish Foundation.
The mission of this organization was to foster connections between Americans
of Irish descent and the country of their ancestry.
In 1976, Dr. Anthony J.F. O'Reilly, former President, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of H.J. Heinz Co., created The Ireland Fund with friend and fellow
Pittsburgh businessman Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers football
team. With a trinity of goals--Peace, Culture and Charity--The Ireland Fund
appealed for support for Ireland and its people from all Americans, and especially
those of Irish descent.
Over the following
decade, The Ireland Fund formed a thriving
fundraising network of chapters in cities
across the United States.
• AIF map >
On St. Patrick's
Day 1987, The Ireland Fund and the American
Irish Foundation merged at a White House
ceremony to form The American Ireland Fund
and became the nation's and the world's
largest private organization funding constructive
change throughout the island of Ireland
Today, The Ireland Funds are an international
network. Ireland Funds in Australia, Canada,
France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland,
New Zealand, Japan, Monaco, China and The
United States are uniting the aspirations
of the Irish diaspora, a global community
of more than 70 million people.
• Worldwide
map >
Presently,The Ireland Funds host over 100 events annually in 39 cities around the world attended by more than 40,000 people. Thus far, The Ireland Funds have been a leading voice for constructive change throughout the island of Ireland-North and South.
The Ireland Funds have raised over $300 million to support thousands of worthy causes which promote peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, and education and community development. The Ireland Funds are working hard to address prejudice, exclusion and inequality and is reaching out to those untouched by recent economic gains. |
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Timeline
1963-2008
1963
President John F.
Kennedy joined with Irish President Eamonn de Valera to form
The American Irish Foundation.
1976
The Ireland Fund is founded
in Pittsburgh by Tony O'Reilly and Dan Rooney.
1978
Ireland Fund of Canada is founded
by Hilary Weston in Toronto.
1987
The Ireland Fund and The American
Irish Foundation announce their merger to form The American Ireland
Fund at a St. Patrick's Day Reception hosted by President Ronald
Reagan at the White House.
The Australian Ireland Fund is established.
1988
The Ireland Fund of Great Britain
is launched in London.
1990
The Ireland Fund of France is founded
in Paris.
1992
The Ireland Fund of New Zealand
is founded.
1993
The Ireland Fund of Germany is founded.
The Ireland Fund of Japan is founded
with the first annual Emerald Ball in Tokyo.
1994
The Ireland Funds set up World Headquarters
in Boston
1998
The Ireland Fund of China is established
The Ireland Fund of Monaco is set
up in Monte Carlo.
1999
The Ireland Funds in Dublin opens
new headquarters at No. 5 Foster Place.
2005
The Ireland Fund of China is launched. Prime Minister of
Ireland attends.
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The way we were...
Although the website has always been
updated, we have from time to time redesigned it. There
have been four incarnations since it was first launched in 1996.
The versions in the document below are from 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006
and 2007.
• download
> (1.2Mb .pdf)
These are screenshots from a web archive and may not represent the
colors of items such as links and text faithfully |
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