About the Ireland Canada University Foundation

A picture of the inaugural meeting of the Board of ICUF, Beachy Cove, Newfoundland 1993. Pictured above from left to right: Professor Noel Walsh (Psychiatry UCD), Dr Patrick Hillery (former President of Ireland), Dr Craig Dobbin O.C. (Chairman and CEO CHC - Canadian Helicopter Corporation), Inset: Mrs Elaine Dobbin, Professor Ken Ozmon ( President of St Marys University Halifax Nova Scotia), Antoin Mac Unfraidh (Irish Ambassador to Canada), Michael Wadsworth (Canadian Ambassador to Ireland), Professor John Kelly (Registrar University College Dublin)

The Ireland Canada University Foundation is a non-profit making organisation established in 1993 for the purpose of encouraging and facilitating links between scholars in Ireland and institutions and scholars in Canada. Its concern is particularly focused upon emerging scholars, and its operation is primarily directed towards the provision of scholarships covering travel costs and short-term visits.

The scholarly exchanges between Ireland and Canada are rooted in a long tradition of inter linkage between the two countries, and ongoing experiences of both a shared and comparable nature. At the time of Canadian Confederation in 1867, the Irish ethnic group was second only to the French Canadians in terms of numerical strength, and close and enduring links have been founded upon that basis. Historically, many political and social events and personalities have contributed to the trans- Atlantic bonds. The Ontario school system, for example, was developed upon the model of the Irish National School system, and it is, of course, well remembered that it was in Ottawa in 1948 that the then Taoiseach (Prime Minsister) John A. Costello, announced the intention to declare the Irish State a republic. Later that same year the Republic of Ireland Act was passed by the Oireachtas (Legislature).

Relations between Ireland and Canada are underpinned by substantial trade and investment flows, and by a shared commitment to democracy and human rights. The question of language rights, the acknowledgement of respective identities and the requirements of differing traditions are common to both our countries. Such issues - and possible responses to them - can be elucidated, explored and enhanced by comparative studies.

The Ireland Canada University Foundation is chaired jointly by Professor Seamus Smyth, President Emeritus, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and by Mr. Mark Dobbin, Chairman of the CHC Helicopter Corporation, and is administered by Professor John Kelly, Registrar Emeritus of University College Dublin. In Canada, the Foundation's programme is assisted by the Ireland Fund of Canada from their office in Toronto. Short-term visiting scholarships are awarded each year for scholars from Ireland to visit Canada and from Canada to visit Ireland. Scholars must be currently engaged in research relating to both countries and can be in such diverse academic fields as economics, law, business studies, political sciences, humanities and the physical sciences. This years awards (2009) for visits to Canada were generously sponsored by AGF International Advisors Company Limited, Atlantic Corridor Ireland, Canada Life (Ireland) and CRH plc.. The sponsors for the awards to visit Ireland were sponsored by CHC Helicopter Corporation, Elaine Dobbin, Robert & Julia Foster, The Sprott Foundation and Professor William R Waters.

The Ireland Canada Foundation enjoys charitable status in Ireland, Registered Charity CHY 11280.

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