Kilcooley Womne’s Centre were delighted to be invited to a meeting at the historic Iveagh House in Dublin, where Alison Blayney met with Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee TD to formally recognise the Centre’s successful Strategic Partnership bid with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). This landmark investment, part of the government’s Reconciliation Fund, and the first under the Department’s new strategy, will support the organisation’s strategic peace, good relations, and female empowerment programme over the next three years.

A Transformative Investment for Ards and North Down

The three-year funding, amounting to €107,400, has been hailed as a “game changer” by the Centre’s Chief Executive, Alison Blayney. The award is among the first to be made under the Irish government’s new Reconciliation Fund Strategy. Speaking about the impact of the funding, Ms Blayney emphasised that it will allow the Centre to “broaden our reach into more urban and rural communities across the Ards and North Down region, supporting the most vulnerable women who often do not engage with traditional good relations or peace-building programmes”. This strategic partnership will enable the Centre to “do things better, more consistently, and for longer periods of time, strengthening women’s leadership and cross-community connections right across our borough, Northern Ireland and across the Island as a whole”.

The PEARL Project: At the Heart of the New Strategy

The funding will support KWC’s PEARL project, which aims to embed peacebuilding in local communities, nurture all-island connections, and support women through leadership, mentoring and community development. The project aligns perfectly with the new Reconciliation Fund Strategy’s aims to highlight the critical role of women in peacebuilding, tackle violence against women and girls, address gendered impacts of the conflict, and promote women’s leadership in civic life.

Minister McEntee, who met with groups supported by the fund at Iveagh House, said that dealing with violence against women and girls was a “key priority”. She noted that “it was clear from speaking to Women’s Aid and other representative groups in the North that violence and sexual violence against women was used as a weapon during the Troubles”. She stressed: “I believe we must support women affected by abuse if we are to see stronger cohesion in Northern Ireland”. The Minister also acknowledged the “vital role” civil society organisations played during recent disorder in Belfast, stating that “some of the groups that I met today were on the ground working directly to reduce tensions, keeping young people from harm and supporting migrant families who had been displaced due to the unrest”.

A Two-Decade-Long Partnership

The Strategic Partnership represents a significant milestone in a relationship that has been cultivated for over two decades. Reflecting on this enduring connection, Ms Blaney remarked: “We have been privileged to enjoy a positive and supportive relationship with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for more than 20 years”. She added: “Their commitment through the Reconciliation Fund has been fundamental to our work, especially during challenging times when other sources of support were uncertain. That consistency has allowed us to keep our doors open, to innovate, and to stay focused on the women and families we serve”.

Since its establishment in 1982, the Reconciliation Fund has provided more than €67 million to over 3,200 projects in Northern Ireland. The new strategy represents a renewed commitment, with €7 million from the Department’s Reconciliation Fund going to 30 strategic partners over three years.

Understanding Local Challenges

During the meeting, Minister McEntee was keen to learn of the current challenges faced by women in the Ards and North Down region and to discuss future plans and strategic opportunities for growth as a result of the investment. The Centre has been at the forefront of addressing these challenges, which include the need for sustainable funding, the impact of violence against women and girls, and the importance of community-based education and support. The Centre has also been actively involved in conducting a Training Needs Analysis to design bespoke training programmes that empower women working in community roles across the region.

A Shared Vision for the Future

Ms Blayney expressed deep gratitude for the ongoing support, stating: “We are deeply grateful for the ongoing support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and for the confidence placed in us through this strategic partnership under the new strategy. Together we can continue to build the relationships, skills and opportunities that women need to lead change in their own communities and beyond”.

She concluded with a powerful reflection on the nature of this work: “This is what lasting peace looks like on the ground – patient, practical, and powered by the women who live it every day”.

Minister McEntee echoed this sentiment, describing the funding as “an investment in those organisations and in the people who work every day to build trust, strengthen relationships and create a more peaceful and shared future across Northern Ireland”. She noted that “their work often happens quietly, but its impact is lasting, helping to build understanding across divides and ensuring that progress towards reconciliation continues”.

The meeting at Iveagh House marked not just the formal recognition of a successful strategic partnership bid, but a celebration of a relationship  built on mutual respect, shared values, and a common desire to see lasting peace and equality take root in every community. As Kilcooley Women’s Centre embarks on this new chapter with DFAT, the opportunities to grow the organisation looks brighter than ever resulting in better outcomes for the women and families of Ards and North Down.