The Ireland Funds Great Britain marks 35 years of philanthropy.
The Ireland Funds Great Britain (IFGB) celebrated its 35th anniversary on 17th May with a dinner for donors and friends at the Embassy of Ireland, graciously hosted by HE Ambassador Martin Fraser and his wife Deirdre.
The dinner at the Embassy, which has become a much-anticipated event in The Ireland Funds annual events calendar, began with a champagne reception in the Salon, followed by dinner in the stunning Ballroom. Guests were welcomed by Ambassador Fraser, and Katie Jemmett, Executive Director of IFGB, gave a short address, remarking how in its 35-year history, IFGB has given millions of pounds to hundreds of organisations and helped tens of thousands of people across Great Britain and Ireland. Guests were given a copy of IFGB’s latest impact report, which details the impact of the funding delivered by IFGB in the last year, all of which has been possible only with the support of generous donors. Over 50 organisations received funding totalling £550,000 in 2022.
Following dinner, Ambassador Fraser made his way back to the lectern, and discussed the changing relationship between Ireland and Britain and took a selection of interesting questions from the audience.
The evening closed with a delightful performance by harpist Maria McNamee and violinist Gregory Scotland. Their traditional Irish tunes rounded off an enjoyable evening.
The Ireland Funds was delighted to use the occasion to honour retiring Trustee, Seamus McGarry, who steps down from the Board of IFGB after 34 years. Seamus was presented with a letter of thanks from An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, and a first edition copy of Seamus Heaney’s District & Circle, in honour of a lifetime of service to Ireland and the Irish diaspora.
Photos: Noel Mullen
