US fund donates €8m to Irish organisations

Eight million euro has been donated by the American Ireland Fund to over 300 charities and community organisations throughout the country.

The donations will be used to support a variety of initiatives with a particular focus on programmes that address peace and reconciliation and mental health and suicide.

Initiatives that will receive the support of the AIF include: Cork Counselling Centre, Cork - a pilot project tackling the rising trend of suicide among young people; Console, Dublin - production of educational video/DVD dealing with youth suicide prevention; Dundalk Counselling Centre, Louth - therapeutic counselling and school outreach sessions to address depression issues; Educate Together, Dublin - training for “Learn Together Curriculum” initiative to promote understanding and co-operation across religious and racial divides ; GOAL, Dublin - rehabilitation programmes including primary healthcare and repair of homes; Ardoyne Youth Club, Belfast - continuation and further development of arts programme and the Conflict Trauma Resource Centre, Belfast.

Speaking at the announcement in UCC, Kingsley Aiken, President & CEO, Worldwide Ireland Funds, said: “As a result of the generous support of our members, we are delighted to announce that the American Ireland Fund is donating over $10 million [€8m] to assist with the tremendous ongoing work being carried out by a range of charities and community groups throughout the Island of Ireland.”

AIF also announced yesterday that Cork native, and internationally acclaimed author, William Trevor, is to receive The AWB Vincent 34th American Ireland Fund Literary Award of €21,000.

The Ireland Funds is an international charitable organisation operating in 10 countries.