b'DAy ThREE FRIDAYDelegates gathered for an afternoon of insightful discussions of Niederauer, Chief Executive of the New York Stock Exchange; the state of The Ireland Funds and the unique nature of Northern AngelaMoore,ManagingDirectorofRavensdale;andBill Ireland. Having now seen first-hand a selection of projects inMcKiernan,FounderofCyberSourceandTheIrelandFunds the area, delegates came with questions and comments for theBusiness Plan Competition. The Ireland Funds were acknowledgedafternoons Plenary session. as facilitators of investment in Northern Ireland and in particu-KieranMcLoughlin,President&CEOofTheWorldwidelar, the Financial Services and IT sectors in Northern Ireland wereIreland Funds,first spoke to the group on the restructured Grant noted as beneficiaries of US Investment. Belfast was identified asRound, Young Leaders growth, Board renewal, and an overview of an excellent investment and source of labor. The importance of jobthe state of The Ireland Funds including endowment and growth development at the local level and the role of women were alsoof chapters. He also highlighted the 4-star rating of The American highlighted. Questions were answered around micro-economics,Ireland Fund in recognition of its governance, efficiency and the corporate tax rate, indigenous industry, and foreign direct transparency. He shared that $172 million had been raised so far investment.towards the $200 million goal of the Promising Ireland Campaign The Plenary Session ended and a first-ever World Leadershipand the organization had tripled the amount of grants awarded Luncheon was held with Directors and Chairs of each internationalduring the course of the Campaign.chapter represented.The participants approved a program to buildCaitriona Fottrell, Director Ireland, then spoke about the and bring closer together all chapters, each of which is growing.grantmaking process of The Ireland Funds. She explained the state Pat Tully and Caitlin Duffy presented to the Young Leadersof the nonprofit sector in Ireland and the enormous challenges gathered at the Conference on the accomplishments of the Youngfaced by nonprofits due to the economy, the closing of the other Leaders Society over the past year and gave a city-by-city summarytwolargestgrantmakingorganizations,andtherigorousbutof what each chapter was doing.welcomed standards of accountability now being demanded. She Thatevening,theGalawasheldatthestunningTitanic explained the structure of grantmaking of The Ireland FundsBelfast. An Tnaiste Eamon Gilmore was recognized by Kieranand how examples such as Music Generation are able to translate McLoughlin at the podium for his final visit to Northern Irelanda philanthropic investment into public good through government inhiscurrentrole.OutgoingIrelandFundsChairmanHugo partnership.MacNeill was honored with the Bird and Bell Award, the highestThemeetingthenfocusedonNorthernIrelandandthehonor of The Ireland Funds, for his service as Chairman of Theextraordinary transformation that has taken place in the society Ireland Funds in Ireland. Kieran McLoughlin and John Fitzpatrickfrom the founding of The Ireland Funds in 1976 to present. Kieran alternately addressed those gathered and thanked not only theMcLoughlin noted the remarkable devolved government that was Conference delegates, but the many special guests representing6now in place but that the Peace Process was ongoing. The Peace Government, the arts, and the many local organizations supportedWalls across Belfast have grown in height and length and only 7% by the profound generosity of so many donors in the room. It wasof children are attending Integrated Education schools. These are announced to great applause that a $1 million grant was to be madetheopportunitiesthatIrelandFundsupporterscanaddress to the advance the work of Co-operation Ireland. The gift will through their support and he reminded donors that the move fromenable the organization to advance peace and reconciliation inPeacekeeping to Peace making to Peace Building is a process,hard to reach communities of Northern Ireland.notanevent.TwopanelsspokeonthePoliticalandSocialLegendaryentertainerPhilCoulterperformedforthe Developments of Northern Ireland and Economy and the Peace captivated crowd who sang along, many with tears in their eyes, toDividend of Northern Ireland.songs such as The Old Man and his trademark The Town I LovedThefirstpanelconsistedofDr.MauriceHayes,formerSo Well. For many, the song now had new meaning and contextNorthern Ireland Ombudsman; Peter Sheridan of Co-operation after their brief time in Belfast. Ireland; Baroness May Blood, patron of Integrated Education The night also marked the 42nd Annual American IrelandFund; and Ireland Funds Board Director Trevor Ringland. They FundAWBVincentLiteraryAward.TheAwardwasgivento spoke about the impact of The Ireland Funds work over thecelebrated poet Leontia Flynn who spoke eloquently about theyears in Northern Ireland and how engaging communities and meaning of the award and her awareness of the contributions toGovernment to reach beyond their own interests is key. An open literaturemadebyawardwinnersbeforeher.Theaward microphone session of questions followed where panelists an- recognizedheraccomplishmentsinmodernIrishliteratureswered questions from the audience around integrated education, throughherthreecritically-acclaimedcollectionsofpoetry sectarianism, the role of the churches, and the Peace Walls. Sup- to-date: These Days, Drives, and Profit and Loss. porters came away with increased insight thanks to the members TheeveningcontinuedbackattheCullodenwithan of the panel and their unique understanding of Northern Ireland. after-party that went until the early morning hours. It was filledThe panel on the Economy and the Peace Dividend consisted with song, camaraderie and the craic that is a hallmark at The ofAlistairHamiltonfromInvestNorthernIreland;DuncanIreland Funds Annual Conference.connect2014 | 56'