1st December, 2015

The Ireland Funds Young Leaders Annual Christmas Reception 2015

On 1 December, The Ireland Funds Young Leaders officially kicked off Christmas festivities at a Reception in the US Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. O’Malley’s, residence in the Phoenix Park.

Guests arrived to the lyrical soundings of Music Generation’s ‘Laois Harp Ensemble’. The players, who ranged in age from ten to sixteen years old, receive tuition in both classical and Irish harp through Music Generation’s music education programme, which is proudly supported by The Ireland Funds.

Ambassador O’Malley began the reception by welcoming the Young Leaders to his home, with a special word of appreciation for the young harpists. He spoke about the variety of organisations supported by The Ireland Funds, and their impact in Ireland.

The highlight of the reception was when Caitriona Fottrell took to the podium to officially announce the 2015 Flagship Grantees: Atlantic Corridor, Irish Wheelchair Association, PeacePlayers International NI, Move4Parkinsons, My Mind, and Science Gallery Dublin. Caitriona spoke of their outstanding work and how The Ireland Funds looked forward to working with them in the year ahead. She discussed The Ireland Funds 2014 Flagship Grantees, and their significant impact within the not for profit sector. She then introduced Trevor White, Director of The Little Museum of Dublin, to speak about its experience as an Ireland Funds grantee.

Trevor White spoke eloquently and humorously about the grant, and the assistance, The Little Museum of Dublin received from The Ireland Funds. He highlighted what an endorsement a grant from the Ireland Funds was, and wittily commented that, philanthropy is the graffiti of the rich and Ireland is a large canvas.
The presentation was concluded by Siobhán Gallagher who spoke about the global Young Leader network, and how it, supports the work of the Worldwide Ireland Funds, while at the same time is an outstanding network of friends across the world.

From the Ambassador’s Residence guests moved to Residence Members’ Club, where Christmas cheer and goodwill abounded!

Contact

Siobhán Gallagher

Director

The Ireland Funds

Denshaw House, 121-122 Baggot Street Lower Dublin 2 Ireland

T - +353-1-662-7878

E - sgallagher@irelandfunds.org

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