News

International Fund for Ireland’s contribution to peace captured in new book

Thursday 9 October 2008

‘A Fund of Goodwill’, which has been written by award winning local author Alf McCreary, documents the IFI’s history from its inception in 1986, as well as focusing on some of its specific interventions, showing the human impact of its work.

The book records the Fund’s work in promoting peacebuilding and delivering on its initial aims of aims of promoting contact, dialogue and reconciliation between unionists and nationalists on the island of Ireland and economic and social advance.

In addition to this historical record, chapters are devoted to the story behind some of the IFI’s most notable interventions including its support for peace building on the Stewartstown Road in Belfast; its work with communities coping with the aftermath of violence in Greysteel and Poyntzpass and its contribution to building cross border relationships through such major initiatives as the Shannon Erne Waterway and the Wider Horizons Programme which has brought together young people from both communities, North and South.

Welcoming the book’s publication, Denis Rooney, Chairman of the International Fund, said: “A Fund of Goodwill’ is more than a history of the International Fund – it provides a unique insight into our social history, highlighting very poignantly, the changes and challenges which Northern Ireland and the border counties have faced over the last twenty years.”

“The International Fund was never intended to be a permanent intervention and it is appropriate that its experiences over the last two decades are captured as we move into our final years, not least in the hope that they may be of value to other regions coping with conflict. It is also a fitting testament to the contribution and support of our international donors – the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.”

The book’s author Alf McCreary said: “The International Fund’s story is one of co-operation on many levels, not only politically and economically, but also across the divides within communities and across the border. It is a complex story but also an inspiring story of how so many people committed themselves to doing their best in the worst of times.”

“It is my hope that this book has done justice to the story, and that it leaves an important record of a remarkable institution which emerged from a period of sustained conflict and which has played a part in helping to create an atmosphere of co-operation in which peace could blossom”.

‘A Fund of Goodwill’ will be launched also at events in Dublin and London. The publication will be officially presented to the Fund’s donors in Brussels, Washington and Ottawa.

Notes to editors:

Both Denis Rooney, Chairman, International Fund for Ireland and Alf McCreary, author of ‘A Fund of Goodwill’ are available for interview on request. To request an interview or a review copy of ‘A Fund of Goodwill’, please contact Smarts Sarah Young or Pamela Beatty at Smarts.

Sarah Young               Pamela Beatty

Smarts                       Smarts

028 9039 5511            028 90395510

07834 924 975            07867 901646

sarah.young@smarts.co.uk

pamela.beatty@smarts.co.uk

The International Fund for Ireland is an international organisation established by the Irish and British Governments in 1986 with the objectives of promoting economic and social advance and of encouraging contact, dialogue and reconciliation between unionists and nationalists throughout Ireland. Contributors to the Fund are the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Since its inception, the Fund has committed more than £ 589 m/EUR 845 m to a wide variety of projects in Northern Ireland and the Southern border counties.

The Fund’s budget for 2008 is £ 33million/EUR 48million. Funding priorities include grassroots level reconciliation and cross-community projects. In addition, the Fund seeks to address the root causes of deprivation in the most disadvantaged areas by using shared economic concerns as a platform for regeneration and cross-community activity. The Fund will also continue its pioneering work with children and young people throughout the North and the Southern border counties.