Ireland Reaching Out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ireland Reaching Out (Ireland XO) project is based on a simple idea instead of waiting for Irish-Americans and their global counterparts to come to ireland to trace there roots, we go their way. Working through voluntary effort at parish level, we identify who left and trace them and their descendants worldwide, proactively engaging with them and inviting them to become part of an extended "virtual" community with their place of origin.

In this way the entire Irish Diaspora can be systematically reunified online and invited back or to engage with their ancestral parish for the benefit for all. This will have significant economic, social, and cultural benefits for Bruff, Grange and Meanus people both at home and abroad. We have signed up for the programme through Ballyhoura Development.

This project has three phases (i)Research (ii)Outreach and (iii)The Gathering.

The first step is to record detials of emigrants from each townland using a survey form to initiate what can become a longlife relation, We will then extend an invitation to The Gathering which will be held in Bruff, Grange and Meanus from 1st to the 7th  of july 2013 with the objective of attracting approx 25-30 people back to the parish in the programmes first year. We need volunteers to help us research and connect with people from the parish who are abroad. The success of this project is dependant on the active involvement of all in Bruff, Grange and Meanus parish.