Mike Feerick

The challenge

The continuing economic difficulties being experienced in Ireland make us reflect on our country's assets. The Irish Diaspora is recognised as a very significant asset. Huge value is placed by those connected with Ireland to ties with its land and people. That relationship has often been an unrequited one, and one poorly exploited to date.

The vision

Ireland Reaching Out wants to address this problem, connecting people of Irish heritage around the world in a way that will enrich all of our lives for the economic, social, and cultural benefit of Irish people everywhere. Ireland Reaching Out (Ireland XO) is based on a simple idea: instead of waiting for people of Irish descent to return to 'trace their roots', we enable local communities through largely volunteer effort and technology, to proactively engage with their Diaspora abroad - tracing their parish's descendants worldwide and establishing life-long relationships.