The Ireland Funds · Young Leaders Dublin

Two shores.One island.Fifty years.

Name: An Evening at Deerfield — The Ireland Funds Young Leaders Dublin
Location: Deerfield Residence

Since 1976, The Ireland Funds have raised over $750 million for peace, culture, education and community across the island of Ireland. In our 50th year, a new generation gathers in Dublin.

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1976–2026Fifty years of The Ireland FundsProgress through philanthropyYoung Leaders DublinThe 2026 Series1976–2026Fifty years of The Ireland FundsProgress through philanthropyYoung Leaders DublinThe 2026 Series1976–2026Fifty years of The Ireland FundsProgress through philanthropyYoung Leaders DublinThe 2026 Series1976–2026Fifty years of The Ireland FundsProgress through philanthropyYoung Leaders DublinThe 2026 Series

About us

A new generation
of philanthropy

The Ireland Funds Young Leaders Society cultivates an emerging generation of philanthropists while providing a networking forum and a connection with modern Ireland. From New York to Sydney, London to San Francisco, Young Leaders societies bring together professionals aged 25 to 40 who care about the future of the island of Ireland: its peace, its culture, its charities and its communities.

The Dublin Society brings that energy home. In the year The Ireland Funds turn fifty, we are convening Ireland's next generation of business leaders, creators and changemakers, raising support for outstanding causes across the island while building friendships that span the Atlantic.

President Biden speaking at The Ireland Funds National Gala — The Ireland Funds National Gala · Washington, D.C.

Connect

A peer network across twelve countries, from the Global Young Leaders Summit in New York to the gates of Deerfield, with a seat at gatherings where Ireland's future is the agenda.

Contribute

Every event supports the work of The Ireland Funds: more than $750 million raised since 1976 for thousands of organisations across the island of Ireland.

Champion

Young Leaders champion the four pillars of the Funds' mission: peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education, and community development.

The 2026 Young Leaders Series

Two evenings, one anniversary

In our 50th year, the Dublin Young Leaders present two evenings that bridge half a century: a conversation with one of Irish rugby's modern greats, and a launch night behind the gates of one of Dublin's most storied addresses.

№ 012026 Young Leaders Series

In Conversation with Andrew Trimble

SpeakerAndrew Trimble
Ireland & Ulster rugby international · Co-founder, Kairos

DateWednesday 23 September 2026
Evening reception & talk

VenueThe Merrion Hotel
Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2

An evening with one of Irish rugby's most thoughtful modern greats. Andrew Trimble won 70 caps on the wing for Ireland, lifted the 2014 Six Nations Championship and retired as Ulster's record appearance-holder. He then co-founded Kairos, the Belfast sports-technology company acquired by Teamworks in 2024. A board member of The Ireland Funds Ireland, he joins the Dublin Young Leaders amid the Georgian splendour of The Merrion to talk performance, pressure, faith and the business of the second act.

Reserve a place PosterTickets limited

№ 022026 Young Leaders Series

An Evening at Deerfield

SpeakersGary McGann
Chairman, The Ireland Funds Ireland
Edward S. Walsh
United States Ambassador to Ireland

DateDate to be announced
Strictly by invitation

VenueDeerfield Residence
Residence of the U.S. Ambassador, Phoenix Park

The launch of the refreshed Dublin Young Leaders chapter: an exclusive reception behind the gates of Deerfield, the official residence of the United States Ambassador to Ireland. Completed in 1776, the very year America declared its independence, the house was home to Ireland Funds co-founder Dan Rooney throughout his ambassadorship, and it was here that he hosted the Dublin Young Leaders in 2011. Gary McGann, Chairman of The Ireland Funds Ireland and former Group CEO of Smurfit Kappa, delivers the keynote, joined by Edward S. Walsh, United States Ambassador to Ireland, as the Funds' 50th year comes home to Dublin.

Request an invitation PosterBy invitation

2026 speakers

In conversation with

Andrew Trimble

Rugby international & technology founder

Andrew Trimble made 70 appearances for Ireland and a then-record 229 for Ulster across thirteen professional seasons, winning the 2014 Six Nations Championship, Triple Crowns in 2006 and 2007, and Players' Player of the Year in 2014. Since retiring in 2018 he has co-founded Kairos, the Belfast sports-technology platform used by elite teams worldwide and acquired by US firm Teamworks in 2024, where he is now a Senior Director. He serves on the board of The Ireland Funds Ireland.

70 Ireland caps
2014 Six Nations champion
Co-founder, Kairos
Board, The Ireland Funds Ireland

Gary McGann

Chairman, The Ireland Funds Ireland

One of the most experienced figures in Irish business, Gary McGann led Smurfit Kappa as Group CEO from 2002 to 2015, transforming it into one of Ireland's true multinationals, having previously served as Chief Executive of Aer Lingus Group and Gilbeys of Ireland. He has chaired Paddy Power Betfair (now Flutter) and serves as Chair of Sicon Ltd (Sisk Group) and Aon Ireland. As Chairman of The Ireland Funds Ireland, he is guiding the organisation into its 50th anniversary year.

Chairman, The Ireland Funds Ireland
Former Group CEO, Smurfit Kappa
Former CEO, Aer Lingus Group

1976–2026

Fifty years of progress

What began with two Pittsburgh businessmen, Tony O'Reilly and Dan Rooney, became the largest network of friends of Ireland in the world, with a simple trinity of goals: Peace, Culture and Charity.

1976

Dan Rooney and Tony O'Reilly, co-founders of The Ireland Funds

Two founders, one idea

At the height of the Troubles, Tony O'Reilly and Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney found The Ireland Fund, a constructive alternative for Irish-American giving devoted to peace, culture and charity.

1981

Early Irish press coverage of Ireland Fund grants

Educating together

The Fund supports the creation of Lagan College, Belfast's very first integrated school, and channels early grants to dozens of groups across the island. Today more than 70 integrated schools educate children of all traditions side by side.

1987

A St. Patrick's Day merger

The Ireland Fund merges with the American Irish Foundation, itself founded by President John F. Kennedy and President Éamon de Valera in 1963. President Reagan recognises the union in Washington, and The American Ireland Fund is born.

2009

Rooney goes to Deerfield

Co-founder Dan Rooney is appointed United States Ambassador to Ireland and takes residence at Deerfield in Phoenix Park. He hosted the Dublin Young Leaders there in 2011, and our 2026 launch returns to the same house.

2010

Music for a generation

The Ireland Funds and U2 help establish Music Generation, which today gives young people across Ireland more than 100,000 opportunities a year to engage with music.

2015

Promising Ireland

Launched in the depths of the recession, the Promising Ireland campaign closes at $226 million, more than double its original goal, for over 900 Irish nonprofits.

2017

Remembering Dan Rooney

Dan Rooney passes away in Pittsburgh aged 84, leaving a legacy spanning six Super Bowls, the Rooney Rule, American diplomacy and four decades of Irish philanthropy.

2024

Tony O'Reilly with Patricia and Dan Rooney

Remembering Tony O'Reilly

Sir Anthony O'Reilly, Lions legend, Heinz chairman and the driving force of Irish philanthropy worldwide, dies in Dublin aged 88.

2026

Deerfield Residence, Phoenix Park, home of the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland

Funds at 50

The Ireland Funds mark half a century of impact: over $750 million raised for thousands of organisations across twelve countries. In Dublin, the Young Leaders open the next chapter at Deerfield.

The Ireland Funds today

Philanthropy at scale

$750M+raised since 1976

3,000+organisations supported

12countries with chapters

50years of progress in 2026

The Ireland Funds' mission is to harness the power of a global philanthropic network of friends of Ireland to promote and support peace, culture, education and community development across the island of Ireland, and among Irish communities around the world.

Who we help

Where the giving goes

Every euro and dollar raised flows to outstanding organisations across the island of Ireland, north and south, through four pillars of giving.

Peace & Reconciliation

From Lagan College, Belfast's first integrated school, to cross-community projects throughout Northern Ireland, the Funds have invested in reconciliation since 1981. Today more than 70 integrated schools educate children of all traditions together.

70+ integrated schools

Education

Scholarships and access programmes such as No Mind Left Behind open doors for students who would otherwise go without, supporting hundreds of learners across the island every year.

450+ students supported in 2025

Arts & Culture

With U2, the Funds helped establish Music Generation in 2010. It now gives young people across Ireland more than 100,000 opportunities a year to perform, learn and make music.

100,000+ opportunities a year

Community Development

Grassroots organisations across the island, from rural community halls to city social enterprises. In the recession years, the Promising Ireland campaign alone delivered $226 million to more than 900 Irish nonprofits.

900+ nonprofits backed

Join us

Be part of the next fifty years

Membership of the Dublin Young Leaders is open to young professionals who care about the island of Ireland and its future. Fifty years on, this is not a milestone so much as a beginning. Join us for the 2026 series, and for everything that follows.

Join the Society