Welcome to Co-operation Ireland’s 40th Anniversary

Cork celebrating 40 years of Peace Building In 1979 Brendan O’Regan founded what was to be known as Co-operation North until it was renamed as Co-operation Ireland in 1998 Civic-Link Students present Founder Brendan O Regan with Peace Dove in 2001 A Historical Journey Our Vision

A peaceful and stable island where people of all backgrounds live and work together for a better future 1979 2019 For 40 years Co-operation Ireland has been working to promote and encourage interaction, dialogue, and practical collaboration between the peoples of and between Northern Ireland and the .

Co-operation Ireland in Cork The Cork Committee of Co-operation Ireland was also set up in 1979 to support and promote the work of the organisation in the region, building positive relationships between schools, youth clubs, community groups, business and statutory organisations in the region and in Northern Ireland. Work of the Local Cork Committee of Co-operation Ireland 1979 – 1989 1989 – 1999 1999-2009 2009 - 2019 School Exchanges between 1992 Team from Cork 1999 Civic-Link – All Island 2009 - 2014 All Island School schools in Cork and NI participate in the Celtic Education Programme Choir Regional Heat held in Games in Launched. the Cork School of Music Music links between the Belfast & Cork orchestras Visit of staff from Belfast 2001 US Ambassador Jim 2010 & 2013 Presentation School of Music to Cork Kenny visits Civic-Link Group Secondary School, Committee set up planning in Glanmire Community Ballyphehane win the All meeting to explore the Education Links between College Island School Choir potential for further Cork VEC & the South East Competition meaningful links Library Board linking schools 2004 Lunala Legacy Concert in both regions between Cork & Omagh 2012 Cork Belfast Link Beyond Borders – 2005 Lagan to Lee – community exchanges Collaboration between Cork 2011 Ocean to City and & Belfast on artistic and Meitheal Mara Signing of the Good cultural projects Friday/Belfast Peace 2011 Historic visit by Queen Agreement 2008 Beyond Borders link II to Cork with Mayfield Community Education Network & Belfast 2013 Cork Youth Leadership Southcity Programme launched 1992 “Celtic Games “ Cork Team who Participated in Belfast including Tom Daly Cork Committee, Michel Martin Lord Mayor and Liam Burke Dublin, Derek Nolan 1993 Belfast School of Music Choir to Cork Robin Hewitt Head, Conductor Lord Mayor John Murray & Clayton Love Snr Cork Committee Co-operation Ireland 1993 Visit to city Hall by Belfast School of Music Staff Tom Daly, Clayton Love Jnr, Lord Mayor John Murray, Robert Hewitt Head of School 1999 Civic-Link Education Programme is launched by Micheál Martin Minister for Education & Skills, John McFall Minister for Education Northern Ireland and US Education Secretary Richard Riley.

Cork schools involved are: Davis College Mallow, Colaiste Choilm Ballincollig, Glanmire Community College, Mercy Heights Skibbereen, St. Mary’s Secondary School Macroom. Ashton School and School of the Divine Child Ballintemple. In 2000 Cork Schools join other Civic-Link schools from across the Island on Thursday 3 September to hear President Clinton, Prime Minister Tony Blair, First Minister Designate of the NI Assembly David Trimble and his deputy Seamus Mallon As part of the Civic-Link Programme an international partnerships is set up with Rhode Island and then Idaho in the US. This partnership involves teacher exchanges between ROI/NI and the US 2001 US Ambassador Jim Kenny visits the Civic-Link Group in Glanmire Community College 2010 Launch in Beamish & Crawford Derek Nolan, Alf Smiddy, Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe, Ted Owens and Tom Daly 2010 Partnership between Cork’s Lifelong Learning Festival and Belfast Feile na Pobail Mural Project 2011

The All Island School Choir Competition is launched in 2009 delivered by Co-operation Ireland in association with RTE, with one of the regional final hosted by the Cork School of Music Presentation Secondary School Ballyphehane Winners in 2010 & 2013 2013 Cork Committee and Valerie Mulcahy Promote Border Trek 2017 Cork Committee visit Co-operation Ireland Projects in Belfast 2018 Young People From Bishopstown Foroige Group participate in an All Island Brexit Project – making presentations in Stormond, Dail Eireann, Westminster and Brussels Cork/Belfast Youth Leadership 2013 – 2019… Youth Leadership 2019

2014 Cork/Belfast Youth Leadership Youth Leadership visit the Titanic Centre in Cobh

Youth Leadership Graduation in Vertigo County Hall 2015 Welcome reception for young people from Colin Glen and Monkstown Boxing Club

Annual Co-operation Ireland Golf Classic

Young People Making a Difference Sports Stars supporting the Young People New Challenges and working together From all in Co-operation Ireland we would like to thank • All those who have participated in our programmes over the last 40 years. • Those who are delivered those programmes locally in partnership with us. • The funders who have made this work possible. • The businesses and individuals who have supported our many sporting and corporate events over the years • The members, past & present, of the Cork committee of Co-operation Ireland for their support, time and encouragement.