b'newsUPDATES FROM ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTED BY THE IRELAND FUNDSA ROYAL VISIT TO NORTHERN IRELAND The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall made a historic visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ire-land in May, 2015. Included on his itinerary was a visit to the Corrymeela Community, an Ireland Funds-supported project which is celebrating its 50 year anniversary of peace and reconciliation efforts. John Fitzpatrick, Chairman of The American Ireland Fund and longtime Corrymeela supporter, was in attendance and praised the royal visit as a positive step forward. It is all about us looking to the future and the next generation, he said.KERRY GAELIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HOSTS RECORD-BREAKING DINNER IN NEW YORKKerry GAA held a record-breaking fundraiser in NYC in May, 2015. With many Ireland Fund supporters inattendance, a series of events in Chicago, Boston, and New York raised over $1 million for their new Centre of Excellence sporting facility in Kerry. The Voice of the GAA MichealMurchertaigh and Jimmy Deenihan, Irelands Minister for Diaspora Affairs, took to the podium in NYC in support of the GAAs efforts.QUEENS UNIVERSITY IN BELFAST HONORS SHAUN KELLY American Ireland Fund Board Director Shaun Kelly was recently recognized with an honorary DSc Econ from Queens University Belfast for his contribution to the local economy and fostering of business in Northern Ireland. Originally from west Belfast, Shaun graduated with a First Class Honors in Commerce from University College Dublin. Most recently he has served as Vice Chairman of Operations for KPMG in the United States, and Chief Operating Officer for KPMG Internationals Americas region. The award recognizes his outstanding achieve-ments and bears testimony to the high regard in which he is held by so many on both sides of the Atlantic, saidUniversity Director of Development Norma Sinte.THE IRELAND FUNDS ATTEND THE GLOBAL IRISH CIVIC FORUMIn early June, The Ireland Funds, represented by UK Board Member, Seamus McGarry; Managing Director UK, Mark Carrigan and Executive Director Canada, Jane Noonan, attended the inaugural Global Irish Civic Forum, where more than 175 organizations from 17 countries around the world came together in Dublin Castle. The event was a significant illustration of the evolving relationships between state and diaspora and within the global Irish diaspora itself.Over the two days there were panels on matters such as the challenges facing new Irish emigrants, Irish identity and heritage, the mental well-being of Irish emigrants as well as assisting emigrants return-ing to Ireland. There were also workshops in which participants shared information and experiences on practical matters of fundraising, communication and governance. Minister Deenihan announced his support for a second Civic Forum in 2017 and said that in the meantime the Government will be seeking ways to take forward some of the ideas and proposals that emerged from this inaugural gathering. Seamus McGarry, Sabina Higgins, President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, Mark CarriganTRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN HONORS DR. STANLEY QUEKDr. Stanley Quek, Chairman of The Singapore Ireland Fund, recently received an honorary degree from Trinity College Dublin. Amedical graduate of Trinity, Dr. Quek was conferred with a Doctor in Laws (LL.D). For over thirty years, he has assisted Irish universities in developing collaborations and recruiting students from Singapore to study medicine and dentistry in Ireland. This has been recognized as a great benefit to the whole island of Ireland, enabling Irish medical schools to strengthen links in Asia. Dr. Quek is founder and Executive Chairman of Region Development Pte Ltd and is widely known as a diplomat, developer and designer with business interests in Singapore, Australia and the UK. He served as Irelands Honorary Consul General in Singapore from 1994-2000. He was key to the success of the 2011 Tercentenary of the School of Medicine and helped realize the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute.REST IN PEACEJIM MCCARTHYJim McCarthy, the Irish rugby hero and esteemed businessman who was at Sir AnthonyOReillys side when he co-founded The Ireland Fund with Amb. Dan Rooney, passed away at the age of 90 in in April, 2015. He was a star of the Munster and Lions teams and played 28 times for Ireland. Jim was at the heart of the activities of The Ireland Funds in Ireland. His unique humor and goodwill were treasured and will be greatly missed.connect2015 | 48'