The Irish Association for Cultural, Economic and Social Relations

The Association's founding criterion is:

"The principal objective of The Irish Association is the promotion of communication, understanding and co-operation between all people of Ireland both North and South. The Association is a non-party political and non-sectarian body with the aim 'to make reason and goodwill take the place of passion and prejudice in Ireland, North and South'"[1]

The Association was created by unionists and nationalists alarmed growing divisions across the island in the decade after the creation of the two new jurisdictions on the island and was a deliberate attempt to prevent ever more bitter relations.[2] A good account of the Association's origins is provided by (Lord) Paul Bew in his 1993 book published by the Institute of Irish Studies at QUB.[3]

In a memoir by the son of an early President John Johnston (served 1946-1954) there is a further elaboration of the circumstances in which the Association was founded and an illuminating account of important meetings held in the 1960s.[4]

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 forum for dialogue and debate.

The Irish Association receives support from a variety of funders including local authorities across the island, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Ireland) [12] and Northern Ireland's Community Relations Council.[13]

In 2013 the Association celebrated 75 years of working for better relations across the island with a closer collaboration with History Ireland and an extensive series of 'hedge schools' reached new audiences and helped foster better relations.[5] The anniversary year culminated with a dinner in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings (Northern Ireland).

The Association's President from 2015-7 was Cllr Dr. Chris McGimpsey [6] and in December 2017 the distinguished public servant and former Director General of Raidió Teilifís Éireann Bob Collins assumed the presidency. Mr Collins has involved himself in public affairs in Belfast since leaving RTE in 2006.[7]

More recently the Association has been alive to the issues thrown up by the UK's pro-Brexit vote and the concomitant risk of widening the gulf between the people of both jurisdictions on the island. To that end it has worked with other organisations to provide a platform for discussion, reflection and debate most significantly in 2015 when Charles Flanagan TD spoke alongside Arlene Foster at QUB at a seminar co-organised by the association and Institute of International and European Affairs.[8]

In July 2019 the Association organised an event at the Royal Irish Academy on the theme of 'Belief in the Future' posing the question that while religion has long been seen as a marker of identity – and division – across the island of Ireland, is a good time to explore the role that religion plays and could or should play in the future, in our changing societies on the island.[9] At the event, the former Green Party (Ireland) leader, Rev Trevor Sargent criticised religion in Ireland for focusing so much on issues of personal morality, He criticised religion in Ireland for focusing so much on issues of personal morality, “whether we get into discussions about divorce, abortion, sexuality" and that “the amount of column inches that occupy those elements of religious activity and religious belief and conviction are hugely unbalanced compared to an equally strong biblical code which values social justice, human rights, intergenerational responsibility and the humility that come with asking God’s help in stewarding this wonderful creation.” [10]

In 2019 the President, Bob Collins took part in a panel discussion at the Ulster Museum on Border Polls, Referendums and Democracy noting that "to the extent any real discussions are happening about a border poll, they’re one sided. He feels that “there needs to be clarity about what that change would look like”.[11]

1938-1946 James Caulfeild, 8th Viscount Charlemont

1946-1954 Professor Joseph Johnston [12]

1954-1963 Sir Graham Larmour

1963-1966 J.F.Dempsey LLD

1967-1970 Martin Wallace

1970-1973 Edmond Grace

1973-1976 William Marshall

1976-1978 Donal Barrington SC

1978-1980 ASJ O'Neill [13]

1980-1982 Senator Trevor West

1982-1984 Lewis Semple

1984-1986 Una O'Higgins O'Malley [14]

1986-1988 Brian Garrett

1988-1991 Professor Enda McDonagh

1991-1993 Paul Bew

1993-1995 John Bowman

1995-1997 Prof Bernard Cullen

1997-1999 Senator Mary Henry (doctor)

1999-2000 Dr Dennis Campbell Kennedy

2000-2002 Terry Stewart [15]

2003-2004 Paul McErlean [16]

2004-2006 Dr Jean Whyte [17]

2006-2009 Professor Pauline Murphy

2009-2014 Rev Brian Kennaway [18]

2014-2016 Dáithí O'Ceallaigh[19]

2016-2017 Cllr. Chris McGimpsey

2017 - current Bob Collins [20]