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Gateway Ireland awarded €23,000 as DFA announces funding to Irish organisations
By Noreen Bowden | August 16, 2010
Gateway Ireland, the internet diaspora outreach project announced at last September’s Global Irish Economic Forum at Farmleigh, has been awarded €23,000 by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The award was part of a number of grants announced today to seven Irish-based organisations, totalling €728,000, to promote the welfare of Irish emigrants and greater engagement between Ireland and the global Irish community.
Gateway Ireland held an introductory seminar on May 26th in Dublin Castle, where it was announced that the website would be aimed at reaching out to the Irish diaspora as it promoted Ireland as a destination for business, tourism, culture and education. The idea of the website was proposed by John McColgan, who has been spearheading the project. McColgan has said that several multinational companies have expressed interest in funding the project.
The Department of Foreign Affair reported the rest of today’s funding allotments went to the following Irish-based organisations:
- Safe Home, which assists elderly Irish emigrants to return to live in Ireland, was granted €255,000.
- The Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas’ Maynooth office received €96,919 for its advocacy and visitation work on Irish citizens imprisoned outside of Britain and Ireland.
- The Football Association of Ireland received €42,000, which is half the cost of the FAI’s UK-based welfare officer; the welfare officer provides supports to young footballers and their parents, ensuring that the players’ welfare and education needs are addressed.
- Glór na nGael Global Gaeilge competition has received €39,000 for its global work with Irish speakers.
- The South East Galway Diaspora Project received €56,700. While the DFA says that the initiative was born out of discussions at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh last September, it offers no further details and I can find nothing online on this project.
It had been announced in the last budget that funding to organisations working with emigrants was being cut by 14% in 2010, even as emigration rose significantly.
Topics: Latest News | 3 Comments »
August 19th, 2010 at 10:09 am
Bit of a mystery the South East Galway Diaspora Project? Can’t find anything either, and whilst Gateway-Ireland was a central part of the Farmleigh output there’s no apparent reference to this particular initiative.
Interesting that it was allocated more than twice the GW Ireland award – i’m wondering if it’s associated with some offshoot NUI Galway research or similar – currently out of sight in academia somewhere?
Prize for the first one to get the lowdown?
August 26th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Yes, I am super-curious. I’ve asked all the likely suspects and no one has a clue what this is. The DFA has actually changed the press release however! Now the “South East Galway Diaspora Project” is referred to as “SE Galway Diaspora Project/Ireland Reaching Out”. Of course there seems to be no other reference to this in existence either. I am super curious!
Do say hello, SE Galway Diaspora Project, people!
October 27th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Hi Noreen, mystery solved…
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/harnessing-diaspora-will-help-us-rebuild-economy-2395839.html
Very interesting initiative.
All the best,
Mick.