Newry Woman’s Legacy lives on through £16,000 grants to community organisations

13 Mar 2019

The Ann McGeeney Charitable Trust which was established to support women working on peace building in and across communities throughout Ireland, is open for 2019 fund applications until April 8th.

The Trust, which also supports the integration of ethnic minorities into communities as well as women working to strengthen their communities, was established in recognition of the life and work of Ann McGeeney, a former Community activist from outside Newry who passed away in 2014. Since the fund was established in 2015, it has awarded almost £16,000 to local community organisations including cross border initiatives.
Some of the organisations which benefited from the Trust in 2018, which is managed by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, include Du Dance (NI) which delivered a workshop programme to bring migrant women and women from host families together leading for local public performances exploring identity and life experiences; La Dolce Vita which received funding for an eight week programme of confidence building and self esteem workshops to empower and support women impacted by domestic and sexual violence; Friends of Knockagin ran an eight week shared gardening project as a means of peacebuilding across communities and Dundonald Sea Cadets who were successful in the application for funding for their women’s Coach Development Programme & girls’ rowing and kayak team.

Jimmy Murray, Trustee of the Ann McGeeney Charitable Trust said, “Anne was busy, active and involved in life, family and work right up until she died. She spent her life making a difference to the people who she worked with, so it is fitting that her Trust reflects those values and recognises them in the organisations who benefit from the fund.

In addition, we remember Ann every year through ‘Ann’s Memorial Walk’, a fundraising walk which takes place close to Newry. To find out more or to get involved in the walk, email annmcgeeneytrustfund@hotmail.com ”

Individuals and organisations wishing to apply for funding from the Ann McGeeney Charitable Trust should visit
https://www.communityfoundationni.org/the-ann-mcgeeney-fund