From:Department of the Taoiseach

Ambassadors, Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, a chairde,

It is my great pleasure to welcome and join such esteemed company in Dublin Castle this evening, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of a truly special institution, the Ireland Funds.

What a milestone! It is a remarkable achievement to be celebrating half a century of philanthropy.

50 years of supporting peace and reconciliation, the arts and culture, education, and community development.

50 years of partnership with organisations that support and indeed transform lives across the island of Ireland.

50 years of connection, friendship and generosity.

In 1976, against the backdrop of conflict and division and lack of opportunity on this island, few would have had the vision to see a path to a brighter future.

But Dan Rooney and Tony O’Reilly shared such a vision, and just as importantly, they had the determination, drive and depth of connections to make it a reality.

They demonstrated a careful consideration that has become a hallmark of the Ireland Funds’ work. Their vision was non-partisan and very deliberately designed to be cross-community in all respects.

It was a model that grew and was adopted by Irish communities and friends of Ireland around the world.

Today, with no fewer than 12 global chapters, The Ireland Funds’ presence is felt around the world, raising a staggering three quarters of a billion dollars over the past 50 years.

Tony and Dan left a remarkable legacy; a legacy that has been taken forward and enriched by new generations of leaders over the decades, many of whom are with us tonight.

One of the unique strengths of the Ireland Funds has been its ability to connect friends of Ireland scattered across the globe, harness the power of these connections, and transform that into tangible investment into our island’s future.

I have always been impressed by the energy you bring to your work, and your enduring commitment to the founding vision of this great initiative.

Across many cities and countries, I have borne witness to this energy. And perhaps nowhere more so than in the excitement and anticipation around the annual gala dinner in Washington DC’s National Building Museum.

The prominence this event lends to our national story every year, in the heart of one of the world’s great centres of power and influence, is itself an important achievement.

All around the world, your events celebrate connections. Yours is a global network of vision and generosity.

Philanthropy and ties to home are celebrated at these joyous events, but it is in the quiet moments, away from the lights, on the ground here in Ireland and in Irish communities around the world, where we see the even greater impact of The Ireland Funds.

As any of you who know me will already know, the central importance of education has been one of the foundational principles of my entire political life.

I have therefore always admired the centrality of education to your approach.

The Ireland Funds has also always recognised the driving role that education plays in creating opportunity and supporting reconciliation from the ground up.

You have championed integrated education in Northern Ireland since day one. I think of your support for the creation of the very first integrated school in Lagan College, Belfast back in 1981.

I think also of the No Mind Left Behind Scholarship that supports over 350 students every year with crucial assistance to reach to their true potential.

And more broadly through community development with voluntary organisations like the Belvedere Youth Club, a haven for young people at the heart of Dublin’s North East Inner City where they gain confidence and develop skills in a safe and supportive environment.

I’m also pleased that the work of the Ireland Funds also complements the Government’s Shared Island Initiative.

The Shared Island Initiative, which I established when I first became Taoiseach in 2020, is the most consequential North-South investment, development and research programme in the island’s history.

By the end of next week, I am confident that we will have agreed the allocation of more than €1 Billion of our Shared Island Fund on projects that actually change lives across our island; projects that improve connectivity, that bring people together, that give us a greater insight into the reality of life on our island than at any time since Partition.

That represents more than half of a total funding commitment of €2 billion out to 2035, supporting dozens of projects deepening cooperation and connections across the island and, like the Ireland Funds, working to deliver the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement..

Today, the Ireland Funds has become the largest and most impactful global philanthropic organisation for the benefit of our island and our communities.

This generosity has changed the lives of the people of Ireland, north and south, and in Irish communities around the world.

I have seen this impact first-hand many times. One example is in my home county of Cork, in Ovens, where your Heart of the Community Fund is supporting the Crann Centre, - a pioneering Irish charity which provides life-long, life-changing solutions for children, adults, and families living with neuro-physical disabilities.

It is remarkable work, and I thank you for it.

Working with innovators and creators is at the heart of what you do.

This evening, one element of the talent on display is being provided by the musicians of Music Generation.

For the vanishingly small number of you who don’t know what that is, Music Generation is a national music education programme, co-funded by The Ireland Funds, U2, and the Government of Ireland.

Every year, it provides more than 100,000 opportunities for young people to engage with the wonderfully enriching world of music, operating across 29 regional hubs nationwide.

Central to the growth and success of the programme has been U2, one of our country’s greatest ever creative partnerships, who serve not just as donors, but as global advocates, championing the belief that music tuition is a fundamental right for every young person in Ireland. I may have another word or two to say about this in due course.

In the meantime, I also wish to recognise the trailblazing work the Ireland Funds has done to support Women in Leadership, an important initiative which supports women’s involvement in politics, business and education.

In a world where obstacles towards attaining true equality persist, support from the Ireland Funds has been significant and sustained.

It is no secret or surprise that the Ireland Funds has benefited from the leadership and direction of many great female figures.

One of those is of course,Chair EmeritaLoretta Brennan Glucksman, who has made an extraordinary contribution to our country’s cultural heritage, educational advancement, and peace building over decades.

I had the honour of presenting Loretta with the TK Whitaker Award at the end of last year, where I described her as “a dear, faithful and true friend of Ireland”. In this place and in this context, I am delighted to have the opportunity to repeat it.

I also want to acknowledge and pay tribute to my friend, CEO Caitríona Fottrell, for her excellent leadership, and indeed all the women who have made outstanding contributions to the Ireland Funds over the past five decades.

I also wish to recognise and congratulate a literary leader who joins us tonight, whose work is enjoying international acclaim and has, in turn, provided a platform for international success for other Irish artists, Derry’s own Maggie O’Farrell.

As we reflect and show our appreciation tonight for the incredible achievements of the first 50 years of the Ireland Funds, we are equally obliged to think about the half-century to come.

For my part, I am confident that the Ireland Funds will continue with the mission; will continue to translate its donors’ characteristic goodwill and commitment into impactful outcomes.

Through your Young Leaders programme, you are introducing new generations to this legacy and ensuring that the Ireland Funds remains at the heart of our evolving diaspora.

I am reminded of Tony O’Reilly’s comments in 1992 that:

“We will not achieve our goals of peace, culture, and charity in our lifetimes, but we will have passed to future generations our vision of a truly noble and inspiring Ireland. We must continue.”

Today, through your generosity and commitment, you have helped support the achievement of peace and prosperity.

I want to take this opportunity to reassure you that the Government will continue to work with you.

And finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your commitment to this Island and our global communities and to the connections and generosity that are at the heart of the Ireland Funds’ work.

As an island, we have made remarkable progress over the last 50 years.

The Ireland Funds has been there every step of the way and can take great pride in the role your friendship and generosity has played in this transformation.

Yes, challenges remain and we should never take progress for granted, but I am quite confident that the Ireland Funds will continue to be by our side for the next 50 years and beyond.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.