A pioneering youth and community organisation based in West Belfast is bringing its capital fundraising campaign stateside next week with a landmark event in Rosie O’Grady’s in Manhattan on Thursday 5 June.
Glór na Mona is an award winning community organisation that has received international recognition as a vibrant, grassroots, youth-centred organisation dedicated to mainstreaming the Irish language in everyday life.
As well as pioneering Irish-medium youth-work, providing for hundreds of young people each week, Glór na Móna has also led the way on local economic development, community education and movement building, playing a key role in the successful An Dream Dearg campaign for an Irish Language Act in the north of Ireland.
The organisation will be fundraising for a new multi-purpose youth, community, family and heritage hub in West Belfast.
‘We have been successful in securing £1 ($1.3m) million of capital funds but Phase One of the building is coming in at about £1.6m so we are £600k short. The Government departments that are controlled by unionism have told us that that they have no money but we believe the funding is there if those with power and responsibility make our young people a priority. This is why we were forced to launch our own fundraising campaign to lobby and engage Irish America to help us deliver our vision for the young people of West Belfast."
‼️New York Fundraiser for Croí na Carraige‼️
See ticket price list in posters below👇🏽
🗣️Paul Maskey MP & Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin
🎶Chris Byrne & Friends
🗓️6pm, Thursday 5th June
— Glór na Móna (@GlorNaMona) May 2, 2025
📍Rosie O’Grady’s, Manhattan NYC
🎟️ Eventbrite https://t.co/bifj81TuDc#CroíNaCarraige pic.twitter.com/YWEJej5I48
In April, in an unprecedented move, the International Longshoremen's Association revealed that it had lunched a $600,000 fundraising drive among its members.
‘We are hugely indebted to the Longshoremen for supporting us in our hour of need and inspired by their generosity," added Mac Giolla Bhéin. "We are calling on the New York Irish American community to do likewise and support our cocktail party fundraising event in Rosie O’Grady’s on June 5th."
Also attending the event will be West Belfast MP, Paul Maskey and TV presenter and musician Doireann Ní Ghlacáin whilst the event will be opened by music by the famed Brooklyn musician Chris Byrne. Consul General of Ireland in New York Helena Nolan will also speak.
Some tickets are still available via Eventbrite. Among sponsors of the event are the Irish Echo and Brehon Law Society President Domhnall Ó Cathain.
