The application process for the
2016-2017 round of the Emigrant Support Program (ESP) was recently opened. The
main focus of the ESP is the welfare of Irish emigrants abroad and the majority
of funding goes to a broad coalition of emigrant support organizations.
However, a sizable portion is also allocated to organizations that focus on
Irish culture and heritage. This is because of some of the key objectives of the
ESP[1]
- celebrate, maintain and strengthen the links between Ireland and the Global Irish
- foster a more vibrant sense of community and of Irish identity
The ESP is particularly interested in
supporting projects that focus on "heritage
and community activities that promote Ireland’s identity and maintain vibrant
Irish communities abroad."[2]
The many societies across the United States and
Canada that partly or exclusively focus on Irish genealogy clearly fall under
this remit (see
my GSI map to find them all). No doubt, many of them would like to offer
more services, transcribe or digitize local genealogy documents, or expand the
ability of their members to trace their Irish ancestors. One of the main stumbling
blocks to doing this is probably funding. Therefore, I strongly encourage such
organizations to consider the ESP as a way to access such funding.
The total amount available has increased
year-on-year since 2013. The money allocated to organizations in the United
States jumped sharply in 2014, the year for which the most recent figures are available
(table 1).
Table 1:
2013-2016 Emigrant Support Programme Funding
|
||
Year
|
Total
Funding
|
Allocation to U.S.
organizations
|
2016
|
Figures not yet published
|
Figures not yet published
|
2015
|
€12,595,000[3]
|
Figures not yet published
|
2014
|
€11,595,000[4]
|
€3,058,913[5]
|
2013
|
€10,539,850[6]
|
€1,571,726[7]
|
Of that 3.058m euro that went to
U.S. organizations, just under 10% went to those in the cultural/heritage area.
However, funding for cultural/heritage organizations increased by almost 29% when
comparing 2014 to 2013.
Table 2:
U.S. Cultural/Heritage Organizations Who Received Funding in 2014[8]
|
||
Organization
|
Location
|
Amount Received
|
American Irish Historical Society
|
New York, NY
|
€49,287
|
Battery Heritage Foundation
|
New York, NY
|
€11,921
|
Irish-American Crossroads Festival
|
San Francisco, CA
|
€7,947
|
Glucksman Ireland House, New York University
|
New York, NY
|
€27,946
|
Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Foundation
|
Danbury, CT
|
€3,791
|
Hudson Valley Irish Festival
|
Peekskill, NY
|
€6,824
|
Irish American Heritage Center
|
Chicago, IL
|
€8,011
|
Irish American Heritage Museum
|
Albany, NY
|
€7,583
|
Irish Cultural Center of New England
|
Canton, MA
|
€103,557
|
Irish Heritage Centre Charitable Foundation, Inc. (Irish Heritage
Center of Greater Cincinnati)
|
Cincinnati, OH
|
€15,894
|
Irish Heritage Club
|
Seattle, WA[9]
|
€10,331
|
Irish Heritage Society of Milford
|
Milford, CT
|
€7,947
|
Society of Commodore John Barry
|
Philadelphia, PA
|
€8,972
|
The University of Montana
|
Missoula, MT
|
€27,815
|
TOTAL
|
€297,826
|
Table 3:
U.S. Cultural/Heritage Organizations Who Received Funding in 2013[10]
|
||
Organization
|
Location
|
Amount Received
|
American Irish Historical Society
|
New York, NY
|
€55,535
|
Glucksman Ireland House, New York University
|
New York, NY
|
€24,421
|
Hudson Valley Irish Festival
|
Peekskill, NY
|
€6,800
|
Irish American Heritage Museum
|
Albany, NY
|
€7,347
|
Irish Cultural Center of New England
|
Canton, MA
|
€82,863
|
Mission of our Lady of the Holy Rosary
Heritage Project at Watson House
|
New York, NY
|
€18,737
|
Society of Commodore John Barry
|
Philadelphia, PA
|
€6,759
|
The University of Montana
|
Missoula, MT
|
€28,852
|
TOTAL
|
€231,314
|
Some of the heritage centers that
received funding have occasional genealogy events. However, none of the funded
organizations have genealogy as a core part of what they do. Only two excellent examples stand out. The
Irish American Heritage Museum has a resident genealogist who is
available to assist people with their research.[11]
The Mission of our Lady of the Holy Rosary Heritage Project in New York City
digitized ledgers that are very useful for Irish genealogy research in 1880-1920
New York City and made them freely available online. They received funding in 2014.
There are two relevant categories
under which Irish genealogy groups in the U.S. and Canada can apply:[12]
- Capital - Projects involving the construction, refurbishment or purchase of capital assets. This includes projects related to website development/software acquisition.
- Heritage - Project involving the promotion and maintenance of Irish heritage and identity overseas.
Full details of how to apply are available
on the
website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
[1] Irish
Abroad Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Overview of the Emigrant Support Programme.
2016. https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/alldfawebsitemedia/ourrolesandpolicies/theirishabroad/2016-Overview-of-the-Emigrant-Support-Programme.pdf:
accessed 23 January 2016.
[2]
Ibid.
[3]
Department of Foreign Affairs. Global
Irish: Irish Diaspora Policy. 2015. p. 26.
[4]
Ibid.
[5] Dept.
of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 2014
Emigrant Grant Summary. 2015. https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/alldfawebsitemedia/ourrolesandpolicies/theirishabroad/2014-Emigrant-Support-Programme-Funding.pdf:
accessed 23 January 2016.
[6]
Dept. of Foreign Affairs. 2013 Emigrant
Grant Summary. 2014. https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/alldfawebsitemedia/ourrolesandpolicies/ESP-Funding-2013.pdf:
accessed 4 March 2015.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Dept.
of Foreign Affairs. 2014 Emigrant Grant
Summary. 2015. https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/alldfawebsitemedia/ourrolesandpolicies/theirishabroad/2014-Emigrant-Support-Programme-Funding.pdf:
accessed 23 January 2016.
[9] No
location information was provided in the Grant Summary document. The only
organization with this exact name is in Seattle, WA. There is also the 'Irish
Heritage Club of Bakersfield' in California.
[10]
Ibid.
[11]
Disclosure: this genealogist is Lisa Walsh Dougherty who has written posts for
this blog.
[12] Irish
Abroad Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Overview of the Emigrant Support Programme.
2016. https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/alldfawebsitemedia/ourrolesandpolicies/theirishabroad/2016-Overview-of-the-Emigrant-Support-Programme.pdf:
accessed 23 January 2016.
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