The Ireland Funds · Young Leaders Dublin

Two shores.One island.Fifty years.

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 St Stephen's Green, 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.

Young Leaders Dublin · Autumn 2026

Two evenings, one anniversary

In our 50th year, the Dublin Young Leaders present two evenings that bridge half a century: a launch evening at The Little Museum of Dublin on St Stephen's Green, and the first evening of a new Leadership Series, with Gary McGann, Chairman of The Ireland Funds Ireland.

№ 01Young Leaders Dublin · 2026

Young Leaders Launch Evening

FormatAn evening of connection, conversation and impact
Light refreshments will be served

DateThursday 15 October 2026
6.00pm – 8.00pm

VenueThe Little Museum of Dublin
15 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, D02 Y066

The Dublin Young Leaders launch in the year The Ireland Funds turn fifty, at The Little Museum of Dublin, the Georgian townhouse on the north side of St Stephen's Green that tells the story of the city. Reopened in 2025 after a two-year refurbishment, the museum counts The Ireland Funds among its patrons and sits a short walk along the Green from the Funds' own Dublin home. Remarks from Gary McGann, Chairman of The Ireland Funds Ireland, and from the founding committee, with a performance by a Music Generation student. Come and meet the chapter, and each other.

RSVP PosterRSVP by email

№ 02The Leadership Series · First evening

An Evening with Gary McGann

SpeakerGary McGann
Chairman, The Ireland Funds Ireland · Former Group CEO, Smurfit Kappa

DateWednesday 11 November 2026
Evening · Format to be confirmed

VenueTo be confirmed
Details to follow

The Leadership Series opens with one of the most experienced figures in Irish business. Gary McGann has run Gilbeys of Ireland, Aer Lingus Group and Smurfit Kappa, chaired Paddy Power Betfair, now Flutter, and today chairs Sicon, the Sisk Group holding company, and Aon Ireland, as well as The Ireland Funds Ireland. He joins the Dublin Young Leaders for the first evening of the series: leadership, judgement and the long game, from someone who has played it at the highest level. Venue and format to be confirmed; register your interest and we will send details as soon as they are set.

The year ahead

Programme of activities

Thought leadership, philanthropy in action, the wider Ireland Funds network and one night to give back. Dates and venues will be confirmed to members as each event is set.

Thursday 15 October 2026Young Leaders Launch EveningThe Little Museum of Dublin. Remarks, networking and the start of the chapter.RSVP open
Wednesday 11 November 2026Leadership Series · Gary McGannThe first of three in-conversation evenings with leading business and civic figures, hosted by companies in the Funds' network.Venue to be confirmed
January 2027Philanthropy in ActionA guided visit to an Ireland Funds-supported project in Dublin, to hear from programme leaders and meet the people the Funds support.
January 2027Leadership Series · Colin HuntThe second boardroom-style conversation of the series.Venue to be confirmed
Friday 12 March 2027The Ireland Funds Rugby LunchYoung Leaders take tables at one of the Funds' flagship fundraising events, alongside the wider Ireland Funds network.
March 2027Leadership Series · Third eveningSpeaker to be announced.
April 2027Impact EveningA ticketed fundraising evening for a designated Ireland Funds project, with the presentation of the inaugural Young Leaders Award.
July 2027Summer SocialAn informal gathering to mark the chapter's first year and thank its supporters.

Speakers · The Leadership Series

The Leadership Series

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. He opens the Dublin Young Leaders' Leadership Series on Wednesday 11 November 2026.

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

Colin Hunt

Chief Executive, AIB Group

Colin Hunt has led AIB Group since March 2019, having returned to the bank in 2016 as Managing Director of Corporate, Institutional and Business Banking. An economist by training, he began at NatWest in London and Bank of Ireland Group Treasury, spent six years at Goodbody as Chief Economist and then Research Director, served as a special adviser in two government departments, and established Macquarie Capital's Irish operation, which he ran for nine years. A past President of the Institute of Banking, he joins the Dublin Young Leaders for the second evening of the Leadership Series in January 2027.

Chief Executive, AIB Group, since 2019
Founded Macquarie Capital in Ireland
Former Chief Economist, Goodbody

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

President Reagan receives the St. Patrick's Day shamrock from Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald in the White House Rose Garden, 1986

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 at the White House on St. Patrick's Day, and The American Ireland Fund is born.

1995

A president at College Green

Two years after addressing The American Ireland Fund's dinner in Washington, President Clinton becomes the first serving U.S. president to visit Northern Ireland and speaks to a vast crowd at College Green in Dublin. He returns to the Fund's dinner in 2000 to be honoured for his part in the peace.

2009

Rooney goes to Deerfield

Co-founder Dan Rooney is appointed United States Ambassador to Ireland by President Obama and takes residence at Deerfield in Phoenix Park. He hosted the Dublin Young Leaders there in 2011.

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

The Ireland Funds National Gala at the National Building Museum, Washington, D.C.

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

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton honours Ambassador Dan Rooney at a flag ceremony in Washington, January 2013

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

The Little Museum of Dublin, 15 St Stephen's Green

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 on St Stephen's Green.

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