The Irish Association for Cultural, Economic and Social Relations
The Irish Association (more fully The Irish Association for Cultural, Economic and Social Relations) is a membership-driven forum for the shared concerns of a wide range of organisations and individuals involved in North-South affairs.
The Association was founded in 1938 as an all-Ireland organisation.[1] It has long acted as a bridge to and between cultural, economic & social issues and interests across the island.
Creation
Its founding criterion is stated as follows:
"The principal objective of The Irish Association is the promotion of communication, understanding and co-operation between all people of Ireland both North and South. The Association is a non-party political and non-sectarian body with the aim 'to make reason and goodwill take the place of passion and prejudice in Ireland, North and South'"[1]
The Association was created by unionists and nationalists alarmed growing divisions across the island in the decade after the creation of the two new jurisdictions on the island and was a deliberate attempt to prevent ever more bitter relations. [2] A good account of the Association's origins is provided by (Lord) Paul Bew in his 1993 book published by the Institute of Irish Studies at QUB. [3]
In a memoir by the son of an early President John Johnston (served 1946-1954) there is a further elaboration of the circumstances in which the Association was founded and an illuminating account of important meetings held in the 1960s. [4]
Vision: Reason and goodwill to take the place of passion and prejudice in Ireland, North and South.
Mission: To make a real contribution to the growth of reconciliation, mutual trust and respect through providing an impartial forum for dialogue and debate.
Current Work
In 2013 the association celebrated 75 years of working for better relations across the island with a closer collaboration with History Ireland and an extensive series of 'hedge schools' reached new audiences and helped foster better relations. [5] The anniversary year culminated with a dinner in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings (Northern Ireland).
The Association's President from 2015-7 was Cllr Dr. Chris McGimpsey [6] and in December 2017 the distinguished public servant and former Director General of Raidió Teilifís Éireann Bob Collins assumed the presidency. Mr Collins has involved himself in public affairs in Belfast since leaving RTE in 2006. [7]
More recently the association has been alive to the issues thrown up by the UK's pro-Brexit vote and the concomitant risk of widening the gulf between the people of both jurisdictions on the island. To that end it has worked with other organisations to provide a platform for discussion, reflection and debate most significantly in 2015 when Charles Flanagan TD spoke alongside Arlene Foster at QUB at a seminar co-organised by the association and Institute of International and European Affairs. [8]
Support
The Irish Association receives support and additional resources from a variety of funders including local authorities across the island, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Ireland) [9] and Northern Ireland's Community Relations Council.[10]
Past Presidents
1938-1946 James Caulfeild, 8th Viscount Charlemont
1946-1954 Professor Joseph Johnston
1954-1963 Sir Graham Larmour
1963-1966 J.F.Dempsey LLD
1967-1970 Martin Wallace
1970-1973 Edmond Grace
1973-1976 William Marshall
1976-1978 Donal Barrington SC
1978-1980 ASJ O'Neill [11]
1980-1982 Senator Trevor West
1982-1984 Lewis Semple
1984-1986 Una O'Higgins O'Malley
1986-1988 Brian Garrett
1988-1991 Professor Enda McDonagh
1991-1993 Paul Bew
1993-1995 John Bowman
1995-1997 Prof Bernard Cullen
1997-1999 Senator Mary Henry (doctor)
1999-2000 Dr Dennis Campbell Kennedy
2000-2002 Terry Stewart [12]
2003-2004 Paul McErlean [13]
2004-2006 Dr Jean Whyte
2006- 2009 Professor Pauline Murphy
2009-2014 Rev Brian Kennaway [14]
2014-2016 Daithí Ó Ceallaigh[15]
2016-2017 Cllr. Chris McGimpsey
References
- 1 2 "Official website". The Irish Association for Cultural, Economic and Social Relations. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
- ↑ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RX3lXMWRkx8C&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=%22The+Irish+Association+for+Cultural,+Economic+and+Social+Relations%22&source=bl&ots=t3h307_-X1&sig=j9dnEOFA4-M3c2zMiCezk8Mc0AM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwikoKHdn8LaAhVqCMAKHYwAAVo4ChDoAQgxMAI#v=onepage&q=%22The%20Irish%20Association%20for%20Cultural%2C%20Economic%20and%20Social%20Relations%22&f=false
- ↑ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2153254.Passion_and_Prejudice
- ↑ https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=D07FBjetYM0C&pg=PA499&lpg=PA499&dq=%22The+Irish+Association%22++Belfast+Dublin&source=bl&ots=D05W3yYmrk&sig=qVK1u2hcd0Pl7MEmdhjaww_Itn8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9_Yqp-JXYAhUoCMAKHU8WCjkQ6AEITjAH#v=onepage&q=%22The%20Irish%20Association%22%20%20Belfast%20Dublin&f=false
- ↑ http://www.historyireland.com/podcasts-channel/history-irelands-20th-anniversary-hedge-school/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/Alderman-Dr-Chris-Mcgimpsey-284952464992528/
- ↑ https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/bob-collins-26407728.html
- ↑ https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press-releases/press-release-archive/2015/november/minister-flanagan-qub-symposium-brexit/
- ↑ https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/alldfawebsitemedia/aboutus/Grants-Awarded-under-Reconciliation-Fund-2013.pdf
- ↑ https://www.community-relations.org.uk/
- ↑ https://www.lilliputpress.ie/author_post/berrie-oneill
- ↑ https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/a-promoter-of-ireland-s-role-in-europe-1.574768
- ↑ http://www.mcepublicrelations.com/paul-mcerlean/
- ↑ http://www.irish-association.org/Brian_Kennaway.asp
- ↑ https://www.ulster.ac.uk/news/2017/july/honorary-graduate-dr-daithi-oceallaigh