The Honourable The Irish Society

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £266,000 (2023/24)
• Number of Grants: 146 grants annually
• Decision Time: 3 rounds per year (February, June, October)
• Grant Range: £250 - £2,000
• Geographic Focus: County Londonderry and Northern Ireland

Contact Details

Address: Cutts House, 54 Castleroe Road, Coleraine BT51 3RL

Website: www.honourableirishsociety.org.uk

Email: office@irishsociety.co.uk

Phone: 028 7034 4796

Overview

Founded in 1613 by Royal Charter, The Honourable The Irish Society is a grant-giving charity working for the benefit of County Londonderry and neighbouring areas. The Society applies income derived from its properties in Londonderry and Coleraine, fisheries of the River Bann, and its investment portfolio to support approximately 100 small grants annually on a cross-community basis. The charity celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2013, coinciding with Derry-Londonderry being UK City of Culture. The Society distributed £266,000 across 146 grants in 2023/24, entirely on the basis of need, to voluntary sector organisations including community groups, sports clubs, schools, and individuals.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

North West Fund (County Londonderry)

• Individuals: Up to £250
• Community Groups/Clubs/Associations: Up to £1,000
• Funded by The Irish Society and administered on behalf of The Drapers' Company
• Open to all community organisations within County Londonderry
• Occasional exceptions to grant amounts may be made

Northern Ireland Fund (Outside County Londonderry)

• Grant Range: £1,000 - £2,000
• Operated in association with The Clothworkers' Foundation
• Limited to approximately 10-12 grants per year
• For charitable organisations with annual operating income below £250,000
• Preference given to capital items rather than running costs

Priority Areas

All requests must fall within at least one of these charitable purposes:

• Advancement of education
• Advancement of citizenship or community development
• Advancement of arts, culture, heritage or science
• Advancement of amateur sport
• Advancement of environmental protection or improvement
• Relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage

Northern Ireland Fund Priority Groups:

• Alcohol and substance misuse support
• Elderly people
• Disabled people
• Homelessness services
• Disadvantaged minority communities
• Prisoners and ex-offenders
• Disadvantaged young people
• Visual impairment support
• Domestic and sexual violence services

What They Don't Fund

North West Fund exclusions:

• Individuals seeking welfare grants
• Groups outside County Londonderry
• Political parties or lobbying activities
• Statutory bodies
• Religious activities
• Retrospective/completed projects
• Repeat grants within 3 years to same recipient
• Celebration events
• Travel costs
• Marching bands

Northern Ireland Fund exclusions:

• Retrospective funding
• Third-party applications
• Feasibility studies
• Research activities
• Political or religious activities
• Replacement of statutory funding
• Non-charitable activities

Ready to write a winning application for The Honourable The Irish Society?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The Court of The Honourable The Irish Society functions as a Board of Trustees, comprising 15 members following a 2012 Supplemental Charter (reduced from 25). The Court is chaired by the Governor, traditionally a former Lord Mayor of London.

Current Leadership:

• Governor: Alderman Vincent Keaveny, CBE
• Deputy Governor: Dawn Linsey Wright (appointed 2025, 2-year term)
• Secretary & Chief Executive: Duane Farrell (appointed 2023/24, succeeding Edward Montgomery MBE DL)

Duane Farrell is currently Chief Executive of Relate NI, serves as a Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, and as trustee and treasurer of the Children's Law Centre.

Grants Committee: An elected cross-party committee of councillors and officers from Causeway Coast & Glens Borough, Derry City & Strabane District, and Mid-Ulster District Councils plays the main role in assessing applications and allocating funds.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications require:

• Completed application form (available on website)
• Brief description of organisation and its activities
• 6 months of bank statements or relevant financial information
• Quotations for costs
• Details of other funding applied for or already secured

Applications should be submitted to:

The Honourable The Irish Society

Cutts House, 54 Castleroe Road

Coleraine BT51 3RL

Email: theirishsociety@btconnect.com

Decision Timeline

Grant applications are considered three times per year by the Local Advisory Committee:

• February meeting: Deadline typically 31st December
• June meeting: Deadline typically 30th April
• October meeting: Deadline typically 29th August

Applicants are advised to apply well in advance of deadlines. Due to high application volumes, some applications may be deferred to the next meeting.

Successful applicants must provide evidence of expenditure within 6 months of receiving the grant.

Success Rates

With approximately 146 grants distributed annually from a total fund of £266,000, the Society maintains an active grant-making programme. However, specific success rate percentages are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Important restriction: Grants to any single organisation will not normally be made at less than five-year intervals for North West Fund recipients within County Londonderry.

Unsuccessful repeat applications: The North West Fund guidelines specify they will not support “repeat applications within 3 years.”

Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to contact the Society for feedback and may reapply in subsequent funding rounds, though the five-year rule applies to successful recipients.

Application Success Factors

Key considerations:

• The Society makes grants “entirely on the basis of need” - clearly demonstrate the need your project addresses
• Cross-community work is valued
• Capital items are preferred over running costs (especially for Northern Ireland Fund)
• Applications are assessed by local councillors who understand community needs
• Clear quotations and evidence of other funding sources strengthen applications

Recent funded projects include:

• North West Regional College: £1,000 scholarships for seven traineeship students
• St Mary's Primary School, Draperstown: Nurture Nook community learning space
• Jazzlife Alliance: Jazz Juniors Programme supporting young musicians
• All Saints Caring Association: Community services delivery
• Ardmore Cricket Club: Sports development projects

Required documentation is essential:

• Missing bank statements or quotations will weaken applications
• Evidence of charitable purpose alignment is critical
• Demonstrating community benefit and need is paramount

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Understand the geographic boundaries: North West Fund is strictly County Londonderry; Northern Ireland Fund excludes County Londonderry
• Apply early: Three annual deadlines provide multiple opportunities, but high volumes may cause deferrals
• Small grants, broad impact: Maximum £2,000 means projects should be appropriately scaled
• Demonstrate need clearly: All grants are made “entirely on the basis of need” - this is the primary criterion
• Capital items preferred: Especially for Northern Ireland Fund - equipment, facilities, improvements
• Plan for the long term: Five-year reapplication restriction means successful organisations cannot return quickly
• Partnership funding matters: The Society works with Drapers' Company and Clothworkers' Foundation, showing collaborative funding approach
• Local assessment: Cross-party local council committee involvement means community knowledge is valued

References

• The Honourable The Irish Society official website - Charitable Grants section: https://honourableirishsociety.org.uk/charitable-grants/
• Application Overview: https://honourableirishsociety.org.uk/charitable-grants/application-overview/
• North West Fund Guidelines: https://honourableirishsociety.org.uk/charitable-grants/guidelines-north-west-fund/
• Northern Ireland Fund Guidelines: https://honourableirishsociety.org.uk/charitable-grants/guidelines-northern-ireland-fund/
• Organisation & Structure: https://honourableirishsociety.org.uk/about-us/organisation-structure/
• Recent Grants: https://honourableirishsociety.org.uk/recent-grants/
• What We Do: https://honourableirishsociety.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/
• UK Charity Commission Register - Charity 1150776: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5035010
• Funders Forum for Northern Ireland: https://fundersforumni.org/members/honourable-irish-society/