Community Engagement Update - Looking back on 2024
December 19, 2024

We have been working hard to represent The Coventry Irish Society and to build
partnerships for the benefit of the Charity. Here are some recent pictures of just
some of the many activities we have been involved with.

 Special invitation to Cork
In recognition of the phenomenal work that our Trustee, Kay Forrest, has done to build everlasting relationships with Coventry and its twin-city, Cork, over the past decades, she was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Cork during her recent visit back to her native County Cork. (Image - header, Kay Forrest with the Lord Mayor of Cork)

Irish in Britain AGM 2024
CIS’ Caroline Brogan and Manisha O’Malley went to the Liverpool Irish Centre to represent The Coventry Irish Society at the Irish in Britain AGM. It was an excellent opportunity to build connections with other Irish organisations across Britain and to raise CIS’ profile. We were delighted that our joint motion with ICC, Manchester, and Fréa to strengthen support for survivors of Mother & Baby homes was passed unanimously.

First Pop-Up-Gaeltacht at the Irish Embassy GB

Bez Martin, Kathi Leahy, Caroline Brogan, Colette Franklin with Deputy Ambassador, Orla McBreen

Peace & Reconciliation Workshop to mark the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham Pub Bombings

CIS’ Caroline Brogan at the Peace and Reconciliation Workshop

Business conference at the Birmingham Council House, November 2024 where the Lord Mayor of Birmingham hosted a delegation of Irish businesses and civic dignitaries.

CIS’ Caroline Brogan pictured with (1) Lord Mayor of Clare and civic dignitaries (2) Chair of West Midlands Irish

Business Group, Eileen Schofield and Irish Deputy Ambassador to GB, Orla McBreen, (3) Lord Mayor of

Birmingham

Irish in Britain – Healthy Ageing Project

We are working with Irish in Britain to support their fantastic Healthy Ageing Project. We will be giving a short presentation about CIS at their Healthy Ageing Project Event in Manchester in March 2025 and will be holding various health awareness sessions at CIS.

L-R – Mina Sonariwo of Irish in Britain with CIS’ Simon McCarthy, Caroline Brogan and Manisha O’Malley

Emigrant Support Programme

We are very grateful to the Government of Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme for the vital support they provide. CIS’ Caroline Brogan was at the Irish Embassy for the announcement by Minister Seán Fleming of over £6.4 million to fund

organisations and projects supporting Irish organisations across Britain. Further details here.


World Mental Health Day

CIS’ Caroline Brogan attended a very insightful panel discussion, which included speakers from iCAP, at the Irish Embassy, to raise awareness on World Mental Health Day.

Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

CIS is a member of the CW Chamber of Commerce. We have held some productive meetings with their team to ensure that we get the best out of membership, have featured on their platforms, and have attended their networking events, such as the launch night of their Annual Awards, at The Belgrade Theatre (pictured below).

University of Warwick

Following successful meetings with the Warwick Institute of Engagement at The University of Warwick, we have met with various departments at the University, including their Law Department, and Medical School, to plan collaborative projects and events for 2025 and beyond, such as a free pop-up health check clinic at CIS and breast cancer awareness session. More details to follow shortly! Image: CIS’ Caroline Brogan with Professor Helen Wheatley, Director of the Warwick Institute of Engagement

Women In Peacebuilding & The Importance of The Good Friday Agreement - In Conversation with Hen Norton

December 10, 2025
Join us for this free event on Thursday 29 January 2026 at Coventry Irish Society. The event is free but advance booking is essential - To book, please email: cis@covirishsoc.org.uk and bring your booking confirmation reply to the event. Doors open : 6.00 pm Event discussion : 6.30 – 7.30 pm Event closure : 8.00 pm About Hen Norton: Henrietta Norton is a director, producer and writer whose work explores identity, connection and collective storytelling. Through her production company HOTFEET she develops community centred film projects across documentary, editorial and arts platforms, and is currently developing Mo & Me, a feature documentary about her late stepmother Mo Mowlam, co-produced by Underground Films and Erica Starling. Her work includes The Amber Light, which she produced and which was nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and Born and Reared, her directorial debut exploring masculinity and identity in contemporary Northern Ireland. Both films reflect her commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering understanding through story. Alongside her film work, Hen collaborates with artists, activists and community groups across the UK and Ireland. She produced The Unsung HERoes, an exhibition celebrating women peacebuilders, and founded Six Strangers, a digital discussion platform that created space for honest, human connection during Covid. Her practice centres on empathy, participation and the power of shared narratives to inspire social and cultural change. The Coventry Irish Society are proud to host this event with funding support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Reconciliation Fund.

Beginners’ Irish Language (10 Week Course) Spring 2026

December 3, 2025
Beginners’ Irish Language Spring Course 2026 with Dr Ian Malcolm Professional Irish language teacher and acclaimed Journalist, Dr Ian Malcolm, will deliver a bespoke online course in Beginners’ Irish. This course will consist of 10x classes and will take place entirely over Zoom on Saturday mornings, with Dr Ian Malcolm. Course details: Saturday 7 March 2026 - Saturday 9 May 2026 with 10x classes on Saturday mornings, delivered via Zoom from 10.30 am – 12.30 pm (including a 20 minute break). The fee for this course is £140. Course materials: The class will use the textbook, Irish For Beginners (which is in the link below). This book costs in the region of £7.00 - £10.00 and it is strongly recommended that students purchase their own copies in advance of the course. You can find details of the course textbook here. Registration closes 25 February 2026 (or when course capacity is reached). Early booking is strongly recommended. The registration form for this course can be downloaded below. Please contact us at cis@covirishsoc.org.uk to return your booking form and complete course fee payment.

Coventry Irish Society Launches Films to Secure Permanent Self Sustaining Irish Heritage Centre

October 13, 2025
Coventry Irish Society is pleased to announce the publication of 2 new promotional films about the Charity’s work with the aim of securing a permanent Irish Heritage Centre.
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