If you’ve moved to a new country and are looking to get involved with Irish community activities, it can be hard to know where to turn. A Google search will produce results for social media pages and some websites, but unless you know specifically what to search for, you might be missing out.
But a new Diaspora Directory contains listings for 360 Irish welfare, culture, sports, business and social organisations around the world, from Cumann Gaeilge na hAstráil, to the Irish Jamaican Society in Kingston, the Irish Women’s Network Ontario in Canada, or the Irish Estonian Business Network.
The list, published by the Irish Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs, contains details of all organisations funded under the annual Emigrant Support Programme, which provides about €11.5 million to diaspora organisations every year.
The document was produced following frustrations voiced by Irish community organisations at the second Global Irish Civic Forum in Dublin in May, at the lack of a centralised database which would allow them to communicate with each other.
Minister of State for the Diaspora Ciarán Cannon said the document would “meet a real desire among our diaspora to connect better with home and with each other around the world”.
The purpose of the directory is to help diaspora organisations improve their communications and collaboration with each other, Mr Cannon said, but it will also be useful for emigrants or Irish-connected people around the world who are looking to contact or get involved with these groups.
The Diaspora Directory is available to download at dfa.ie/global-irish/staying-in-touch/diaspora-directory.
