THE Irish Government will give £4.7million in grants to Irish groups and organisations in Britain.
Minister for the Diaspora Joe McHugh made the announcement in London today as he revealed details of this year's Emigrant Support Programme.
The grant total, going to 108 organisations, is down £100,000 on last year when £4.8 million was given to Irish groups in Britain.
Minister McHigh praised the work being done by the Irish Diaspora in Britain, while also acknowledging the difficult times ahead post-Brexit.
“I am delighted and privileged to announce the Government’s contribution to the great work being done all across Britain in support of our emigrants and the wider Irish community," he said.
"The organisations we support offer invaluable assistance to our emigrants, especially the most vulnerable, through advice and welfare programmes."
Minister McHugh said the funding was important for supporting "a vibrant and active Irish community in Britain as we face into challenging and uncertain times."
The Minister paid special tribute to the London Irish Centre, who face an ESP funding cut by £29,000 this year, and Immigration Counselling and Psychotherapy service (icap) who have had funding increased this year by £1,000.
“I have already benefited from meeting many of the incredible volunteers," the Minister said. "And have seen first-hand the enormous contribution they are making in a spirit of warmth and care for others, such as those I met in the London Irish Centre who provide such great solidarity for the elderly in their community."
"I am thinking also of the great work done by icap which I have been familiar with for many years. They work directly with many vulnerable members of the Irish community providing an invaluable service."
The Minister also spoke of meeting with membes of Conradh Na Gaeilge in Glasgow - who received a £250 increase in funding this year - and seeing their "great work to protect and promote the Irish language."
See who got what from the Irish Government this year...
A
Acton Homeless Concern Emmaus House and The Damien Centre £30,000
Age UK Hillingdon £12,500
Aisling Project £95,000
Ashford Place (formerly CHC) £143,000
B
Basingstoke Irish Society £2,000
Bell Farm Christian Centre £6,000
Benefits Advice Shop £2,500
Birmingham Irish Association £197,000
Birmingham Tardiest Ltd £3,000
Bolton Irish Community Association £5,000
Brent Centre for Young People £18,000
Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) £112,500
Brian Boru Club £19,000
C
Celtic & Irish Cultural Society £13,600
Connection at St. Martins, The £16,000
Conradh na Gaeilge, Glaschú £36,400
Corby Irish Centre £300
Corby Young At Heart Luncheon Group £6,000
Coventry Irish Society £60,500
D
Derby St. Patrick's Day Celebration £2,000
E
Edinburgh's Festival of Ireland £2,000
Emerald Centre, The £57,000
Emerald Circle Club £3,000
Emerald Senior Citizens Group £3,600
F
Feith an Cheoil School of Irish Traditional Music £4,500
Felling Irish Association £500
Friends, Families and Travellers £25,000
G
Golden Shamrock Club, The £8,500
Greenwich Irish Pensioners Association £3,500
H
Halifax and District Irish Society £4,500
Haringey Cultural and Community Centre £128,000
Haslingden IDL Club £4,000
Hibernian Society, The £15,000
Huddersfield Irish Centre £3,500
Huddersfield St. Patrick's Day Parade Association £4,000
I
IIBN Ltd (Irish International Business Network) £40,000
Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy (ICAP) £143,000
Innisfree Housing Association £5,000
Irish Arts Foundation £40,000
Irish Chaplaincy in Britain £220,000
Irish Club Warrington £8,250
Irish Community Care Manchester £125,338
Irish Community Care Merseyside £232,000
Irish Community Services £209,000
Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith £120,000
Irish Diaspora Foundation £59,000
Irish Elderly Advice Network £100,000
Irish Film London £10,000
Irish Heritage £6,500
Irish Heritage Foundation, Glasgow £44,000
Irish in Britain £398,000
Irish Literary Society £2,500
Irish Music and Dance in London £12,500
Irish Pensioners Choir £2,000
Irish Pensioners Forum of East London £5,000
Irish Repertory Theatre and Film Company £8,000
Irish Tuesday Club, Liverpool £7,500
Irish Women's Survivors Support Network £50,000
J
Jersey Irish Society £3,500
K
Kilburn Irish Pensioners £2,000
L
Lancashire Federation of IDL Clubs £2,500
Leeds Gypsy & Traveller Exchange £45,000
Leeds Irish Health & Homes £121,000
Leeds Horseshoe Throwers £1,000
Leeds St. Patrick's Day Parade & Celebrations £6,500
Leicester & Leicestershire Irish Forum £25,500
Lewisham Irish Community Centre £51,000
Lewisham Irish Pensioners Group £4,000
Liverpool Irish Festival £10,000
London Gypsy and Traveller Unit £79,500
London Irish Amateur Rugby Club £6,500
London Irish Centre £400,000
London Irish LGBT Network £3,000
Luton Irish Forum £106,500
M
Manchester Irish Education Group £1,000
Manchester Irish Language Group £500
Mansfield & Dukeries Irish Association £6,000
Maya Centre £15,000
Milton Keynes Irish Centre £10,200
Mind Yourself £50,000
Monica's Place £58,600
N
New Horizon Youth Centre £35,000
NOAH Enterprise £65,000
North Wales Irish Society £4,000
Northampton Irish Support Group £48,000
Nottingham St. Patrick's Day Parade £5,000
O
Oxford Irish Society £3,000
P
Passage, The £35,000
Portsmouth Irish Society £3,000
S
Safe Start Foundation £75,000
Sandwell Irish Society £34,500
SanKTus £24,000
Sheffield Irish Association £2,250
SIFA Fireside £15,000
Solace Women's Aid (Camden Women's Aid) £35,000
South London Irish Association, The £3,500
Southwark Irish Pensioners £127,500
Southwark Travellers Action Group £53,500
St. Michael's Irish Centre £45,500
St. Patrick's Festival Ltd. Birmingham £8,000
St. Patrick's Tuesday Luncheon Club £3,000
Street work UK £20,000
T
Teeside Irish Society £1,000
Traveller Movement, The (formerly ITMB) £120,000
Tyneside Irish Centre £14,000
Tyneside Irish Cultural Society £31,500
W
West Hampstead Women's Centre £5,000
Y
York Irish Association £3,000
