The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland, Brian Cowen T.D., has announced the allocation of grants totaling Euro 675,270 from the Department of Foreign Affairs' Reconciliation Fund. The grants are being made to 28 organizations involved in a range of cross-community and cross-border outreach and reconciliation programs.

Announcing the grants, Minister Cowen said:

"The commitment and dedication of so many individuals and groups working in local communities to bring about positive change is recognized and deeply appreciated by the Irish Government. Confidence in the strength of the Good Friday Agreement is reinforced by the constant and unwavering efforts of such large numbers of people devoted to fostering reconciliation and building partnership and mutual respect.

These values are at the core of the Good Friday Agreement and need and deserve our ongoing support and encouragement. I am delighted to be able to announce today (Aug. 6, 2003) grant support totaling Euro 675,270 from my Department's Reconciliation Fund, which seeks to recognize the important work being carried out by 28 organizations in the area of community building and outreach to others."

The Reconciliation Fund, established in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1982, provides assistance to organizations involved in reconciliation work and creating better understanding between people in both parts of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain. Over the last four years, the Department of Foreign Affairs has made grants totaling more than 10 million to more than 300 groups involved in a wide range of cross-community and cross-border reconciliation and outreach activities. The grants announced are the final part of the first tranche of the overall allocation for 2003, bringing to Euro 1,537,770 the amount spent thus far this year. Recipients of the grants announced by the Minister today include:

The Glencree Centre for Reconciliation is an association of individuals who subscribe to the object of fostering mutual respect, tolerance and understanding between individuals and groups in conflict, with a view to building peace and reconciliation within the island of Ireland, between Ireland and Britain and beyond. Allocated: 150,000

The Federation of Irish Societies is an umbrella body that provides support and representation for the Irish community in Britain. The group wishes to increase its capacity to contribute to reconciliation by forging new links between the Irish community in Britain and the British and Irish Governments, as well as promoting a positive image of the Irish community in Britain. Allocated: 150,000

Encounter is an organization established by the Irish and British Governments to contribute to the improvement of relations between their peoples. The organization organizes conferences and roundtable discussions to develop East-West contacts. Allocated: 75,000

The Irish Peace Institute (Limerick) is an established charitable organization that aims to serve communities on both sides of the border. The IPI has been involved in a number of projects with the objective of peacebuilding. The focus of the work is to promote understanding and mutual respect among the people of Ireland, North and South. Funding is awarded for the Institute's 'Inclusive Peacemaking' program, which focuses on improving cross-border and cross-community understanding through a series of activities that develop contacts between Ireland, North and South, and between Ireland and Britain. Allocated: 40,000

New Border Generation (Co. Louth) aims to develop and promote Carlingford and the greater peninsula as an area where people from both sides of the border can interact, with a view to increasing understanding, facilitating dialogue and building trust and confidence across traditional divides. Allocated: 35,000

The Tim Parry/Jonathan Ball Trust (Warrington) is an educational peace
charity that aims to inspire and empower people to lead more peaceful lives by helping them to understand the nature, causes and resolution of conflict. The Trust aims to reduce the potential for conflict and violence in individual lives and communities by creating and developing personal tools and techniques to facilitate tolerance, conflict avoidance, resilience and reconciliation. Funding is awarded to develop new Anglo-Irish exchange programs. Allocated: 25,000

The North/South Cross Community Project is one of the 21 major projects of the Westgate Foundation. The group aims to promote relationships with and between Irish communities, North and South, particularly among older people and the socially excluded. They also carry out work with British communities. The Project organizes North/South exchanges, cross-community work, education and training, peace and reconciliation work and counseling services. Allocated: 25,000

West Tyrone Voice (Co. Tyrone) was set up to provide support for individuals who have been affected by the conflict of the last thirty years. The group aims to provide a range of support services, as well as training and education programs. Funding is awarded for the group's reconciliation programs, as well as to develop the cross-border links that the group has been cultivating. Allocated: 20,000

The British Irish Association is a voluntary organization that aims to resolve differences, promote mutual understanding and develop creative thinking about the relationship between Britain and Ireland, between Ireland, North and South, and between the two communities in Northern Ireland. Funding is awarded towards the Association's annual three-day conference. Allocated: 20,000

The Centre for Peace and Development Studies (Limerick) is a research center with a primary remit to supply objective and reliable data and information for those engaged in the fostering of peace and reconciliation in Ireland. Allocated: 20,000

Cosite na nIarchimí is an umbrella organization encompassing groups and individuals working for the social, economic and emotional well-being of current and former republican prisoners and their families. Allocated: 20,000

Cultures of Ireland (Dublin) is an independent and voluntary association of individuals that seeks to stimulate awareness of the ways in which knowledge of different cultures in Ireland can encourage mutual understanding. Allocated: 10,000

The Ramelton and District Ulster-Scots Association (Co. Donegal) aims to promote a better understanding of cultural diversity on the island of Ireland, and between Ireland and Britain, through education and dialogue. Funding is awarded towards the Association's development of the Old Scots Manse, Ramelton. Allocated: 10,000

The Rasharkin Community Association (Co. Antrim) was established to help alleviate social and economic disadvantage in the Rasharkin area on a cross-community basis. In particular, they aim to provide training and educational classes and advice and information services. Allocated: 10,000

Northern Ireland Children's Enterprises (NICE) aims to enable young people and adults to come together to explore ways of reconciling their differences. Programs take a holistic approach based around schools, youth, parents and volunteers and aim to involve local communities in community relations work. Funding is awarded to develop a community relations program for youth volunteers, which encourages young people to become involved with the local community, as well as enhancing personal development. Allocated: 7,500

The Billyhill Accordion Band (Co. Cavan) is a group of amateur musicians in the marching band tradition. The group aims to promote music within the community, to develop community cohesion, and to work with young people in the area through the medium of music. Allocated: 7,500

The Clontibret Pipe Band (Co. Monaghan) provides music at community functions in the local and wider district. It hopes to provide a social and musical outlet for young people in the area, as well as promoting positive
cross-community relations. Allocated: 7,500

 The Doohat Accordion Band (Co. Cavan) is a group of amateur musicians in the marching-band tradition. The group aims to promote accordion music in the local community, while maintaining their musical heritage and providing a social and musical outlet for young people in the area. Allocated: 7,500

The Damien House (Co. Cavan) project is comprised of local, cross-community volunteers who run the facility as a short-term respite and self-catering holiday home for families and individuals affected by violence. Allocated: 7,500

Comhcoiste na Gaeilge Aontroim Thuaidh (Co. Antrim) works to promote Irish language and culture in the North Antrim area. Funding is awarded for 'An Cheardlann - The Workshop', a craft program that aims to increase skills and create a neutral environment for members of both communities to access Irish language and culture. Allocated: 5,000

Families Against Crime by Terrorism (F.A.C.T.) (Co. Antrim) is made up of individuals and families who have been affected by the violence of the last thirty years. F.A.C.T. aims to provide practical advice and assistance to these individuals, as well as acting as a voice for them in the area. Allocated: 5,000

The Scallywag Playgroup (Co. Derry) is a rural cross-community playgroup that promotes voluntary and community involvement. Funding is awarded to organize a number of cross-community trips with a group from a neighboring community, as well as to improve the group's facilities. Allocated: 5,000

The Malahide and District Pipe Band aim to promote the Irish/Scottish tradition of Celtic music through performing at a variety of events and through teaching young people in the local area. Funding is awarded towards the annual Malahide Festival of Piping and Drumming. Allocated: 3,000

The Institute for British-Irish Studies/Department of Politics UCD (Dublin) runs an MA in Politics (British-Irish Studies). The program examines long-term political change in the island of Ireland, focusing on the relationship between the nationalist and unionist communities. Allocated: 2,500

The Limerick International Band Festival (Limerick) develops cross-border activities and encourages bands from various traditions in Northern Ireland to visit Limerick. Allocated: 2,500

The Lunúla Project is a collaboration between the Lunúla Singers in Cork and the Lunúla singers in Omagh. The group's main aim is the development of cross-border and cross-community co-operation, mutual understanding and respect through social and musical interaction. The group organizes vocal and drama workshops and a cross-border exchange program. Allocated: 2,000

The Tipperary Peace Convention (Co. Tipperary) aims to promote the concept of peace and reconciliation through, discussion, debate, music and song. It also rewards annually a person who has made a noteworthy contribution to the peace-making process with its International Peace Award, as well as hosting the Tipperary International Song of Peace Contest. Allocated: 1,500

The Parishes of Ballyroan-Drumcree Friendship Group aims to bring children from the Drumcree parish to Dublin during the marching season in Portadown. The trip hopes to offer respite to both the children and their families at a time of heightened tension. Allocated: 1,270