8th March, 2013

Dublin – The Ireland Fund of France Franco-Irish Rugby Match Event 2013

The Ireland Fund of France Franco-Irish Rugby Match Dinner took place on March 8th in the beautiful surroundings of The Royal Irish Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire.  The dinner was attended by French Ambassador to Ireland HE Emmanuelle d'Achon and Irish Ambassador to France HE Paul Kavanagh.  The evening provided the opportunity to inaugurate the new Ireland Fund of France Heritage Craft Foundation, a bursary scheme for Irish trainees to master the skill of classic yacht building.

The yachting world represents a new audience for The Ireland Funds. The night began with a Jameson Whiskey reception accompanied by a harpist, an excellent five course dinner was served. The dinner was also attended by Raymond Floch, Sous-Prefet of Nice-Montagne, where a non-profit classic yacht school is planned to sister a similar new school in Ireland involving the local community and those interested in seeing the revival of wooden racing yacht construction. This is a fine craft enjoying new growth in France, but is all but lost in Ireland.