Outcomers one of two groups in Louth to receive funding through The Ireland Funds

The Ireland Funds, the global philanthropic network, has awarded €10,000 to two not-for-profit projects serving Louth through its Heart of the Community Fund, which each year provides critical funding to a wide range of community organisations and charities on the island of Ireland.

The Ireland Funds recognises the challenges organisations face in securing funding to build their capacity or meet their core costs, so the Heart of the Community Fund 2023 has provided grants to meet these needs.

Among the Louth recipients of this year’s Heart of the Community Fund are Outcomers CLG and Opera Collective Ireland.

Outcomers seeks to challenge inequality faced by LGBT+ people in Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan. LGBT+ people experience discrimination, and have poorer health outcomes than their non-LGBT peers. Outcomers provides support for members of the community who require it and advocates for change to reduce inequalities in the future.

Opera Collective Ireland provides mentored high-level professional performance opportunities for young opera artists at crucial stages in their career. Over the last 10 years, Opera Collective Ireland has presented annual opera productions and many of the young Irish singers have gone on to sing on some of the most prestigious stages of the world eg Royal Opera Covent Garden, Glyndebourne Festival, Vienna State Opera and many more.

The grants awarded by the Heart of the Community Fund have been made possible by philanthropic gifts and fundraising events of The Ireland Funds America, the largest of The Ireland Funds' global chapters.

This year’s grant round will provide a total of €930,000 in funding to 94 organisations in 24 counties across the island of Ireland under The Ireland Funds’ four pillars of support for Arts & Culture, Community Development, Education and Peace & Reconciliation.

Caitriona Fottrell, President and CEO of The Ireland Funds, said: "The not-for-profit sector in Ireland is the engine on the ground delivering vital services every day, in every community.

"We understand the significant challenges organisations face, in particular, to meet their core costs to keep that engine going. We believe in each organisation we fund. We believe in what they do, and how they do it. We know that by investing in them, we are positively impacting the communities they work with.

"The Heart of the Community Fund is supported by our events and our committed donors, and we are grateful their generosity will enable great work across the island of Ireland."

Colette McGahon, Artistic Director, Opera Collective Ireland, said: “Opera Collective Ireland is thrilled to be among the recipients of funding from The Ireland Funds Heart of the Community Fund. This award will help young Irish opera artists to share their love of and enthusiasm for this wonderful art form with communities the length and breadth of the country.”

The Ireland Funds is strategically positioned within the non-profit sector and has swiftly identified and prioritised vital areas of need including enhancing the quality of outcomes in education; disability support; engagement with the arts; family support services; assisting the elderly; encouraging sustainability; mental health and community support.

For more information on The Ireland Funds, please visit – irelandfunds.org