About us

Who we are – Our mission – Our history – How to become a member

The principal objective of the Irish Association is the promotion of communication, understanding and co-operation between the people of Ireland, both north and south.

Follow this link for information on how and why to become a member.

Who We Are

With the help of notable members of the unionist and nationalist communities throughout the island, the Irish Association was founded in 1938. Since then the Irish Association for Cultural, Economic and Social Relations has been working to make reason and good will take the place of passion and prejudice in Ireland, North and South.

During the past seven decades, the Irish Association has made a real contribution to the growth of tolerance, reconciliation, mutual trust and human rights; the record of seminars, interactive dialogues and conferences attached indicates our capacity to sustain and develop this contribution.

We are now faced with a challenge to continuously transform and sustain the dynamism to continually recreate platforms and processes to enable new forms of relationships to emerge in Northern Ireland and on the island of Ireland.

To negotiate successfully this new, critical juncture in the island's history, an impartial forum for dialogue and debate, respected by all, is required. The delicate period ahead of social and political change demands broader and deeper analysis, debate and communication at all levels of Irish society. The Irish Association, with its established reputation of fairness and hospitality to the most diverse traditions, is ideally placed to assist in this task.

The Irish Association will continue to provide as many opportunities as possible to encourage key participants in social and political change to put forward for examination and debate their ideas on the issues that will shape the patterns of life on the island of Ireland in the years to come.

Our Mission

VISION

Reason and goodwill to take the place of passion and prejudice in Ireland, north and south.

MISSION

To make a real contribution to the growth of reconciliation, mutual trust and respect through providing an impartial arena for dialogue and debate.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES

Act as a bridge to and between cultural, economic & social issues and interests across the island;
Encourage & develop broader and deeper analysis, debate and awareness at all levels of Irish society;
Continually recreate platforms and processes to enable effective forms of cultural, economic and social relationships to emerge on the island of Ireland, north & south;
Act as an impartial and membership-driven forum for the shared concerns of the wide range of organisations and individuals involved in north-south affairs.

History

The Irish Association has always been concerned to foster good relationship between Unionists and Nationalists within Northern Ireland. In 1990's however it developed a focus on North/South relations.

This was because it was becoming clear that any settlement of the sort eventually achieved in the Good Friday Agreement would require a new model of North/South cooperation. To be blunt, there was absolutely no possibility of a purely internal solution based on power sharing alone.

The problem was that the discussion of an appropriate model for North/South cooperation was to say the least undeveloped. When the two governments published the Framework Document in the mid 1990s there was an explosion of ill-informed comment- exaggerated fear on the Unionist side, exaggerated optimism on the Nationalist side.

The Association, and those close to it, worked steadily to push the debate into calmer and more subtle contexts. This involved a precise translation of the exact meaning of the Framework Document but also some important modifications of that document. In the end the model presented in the Good Friday Agreement was widely, though cautiously, accepted. n fact the early problems in the implementation of the Agreement did not touch on the issue of North/South cooperation so much as issues such as de-commissioning and policing.

As we approach important anniversaries of achievement in the North/South field it should also be noted that the characteristic ethos of the Irish Association played its part in our history.

(Lord) Paul Bew
President, The Irish Association, 1991–1993

Become A Member

The Irish Association welcomes applications for membership from all those who may be interested in joining and are prepared to subscribe to the ideals and constitution of the association.

Membership of The Irish Association

Contributes to the funding of the wider work and mission of The Irish Association
Gives you voting rights for the election of officers
Gives you first chance to hear about events organised by The Irish Association and access to priority booking

The standard annual membership fee is £30 sterling, or €35 euro from 1st April 2024.

Membership Payment Options

For sterling and euro transactions, it is essential to include the banking details of The Irish Association and the full name and address of the new or existing member.
All members who currently pay by Standing Order and all other members are asked to set up a Standing Order for their fees. You may be able to do this through your online banking application.

To set up or alter a Standing Order, to pay your subscription by bank transfer, or to make a donation, please use the bank details below:

Euro payments

THE IRISH ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RELATIONS
AIB Bank
Sort Code: 93-13-65
Account Number: 44068059
IBAN: IE79 AIBK 9313 6544 0680 59

Sterling payments

THE IRISH ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RELATIONS
Danske Bank
Sort Code: 95-01-21
Account Number: 20331112
IBAN: GB15 DABA 9501 3311 12

Payment using the 'Sum-up' service

Payment may be made for one person (using your card) at the following link
https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QLHKZ2AE

Payment may be made for two people by card at:
https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QZHT38WW

If paying online please ensure to enter your name so that your payment can be reconciled with our records.

If you are unable to use these methods, payment by cheque or cash is still an option in exceptional cases. Please contact Eimear by email at admin@theirishassociation.org to make that arrangement.