The Irish Association for Cultural, Economic and Social Relations
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The Irish Association for Cultural, Economic and Social Relations is a membership-driven forum for the shared concerns of a wide range of organisations and individuals involved in North–South Irish affairs. The current (2025) President is Evelyn Collins. [1]
The Association was founded in 1938 as an all-Ireland organisation. [2] It has long acted as a bridge to and between cultural, economic and social issues and interests across the island.
The Association's founding criterion is:[3]
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'.
The Association was created by unionists and nationalists alarmed by 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.[4]
An account of the Association's origins is provided by (Lord) Paul Bew in his 1993 book published by the Institute of Irish Studies at Queen's University Belfast.[5]
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.[6]
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) [7] and Northern Ireland's Community Relations Council.
