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Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company Opens Global Diaspora Forum

14th May 2013
Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company Opens Global Diaspora Forum

Ireland has an opportunity to become an example of best practice in diaspora engagement and policy. That's according to the organisers of the European strand of the Global Diaspora Forum, which is taking place in Fitzpatrick's Castle Hotel in Killiney over the next two days (14th and 15th May). Opening the conference, Gerry Dunne, CEO of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, said: "Despite its size, Ireland punches far above its weight when it comes to diaspora issues. This makes us so well-placed to be the first partner, outside of the US, to collaborate in the delivery of the Global Diaspora Forum.

The Global Diaspora Forum is a celebration of diaspora communities, and has been held annually in Washington DC since 2011. The forum is coordinated by the International Global Diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA), the US Department of State and the US Agency for International Development.

The European strand was organised by the Irish International Diaspora Centre (IIDC) Trust, which is working to deliver a world-class diaspora centre in Dublin. The Trust operates under the auspices of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company.

"Ireland's diaspora – estimated to be in the realm of 70 million – have permeated every corner of the globe and most professions, ranging from medical to political to culture and the arts. This Irish diaspora experience is an enormous untapped resource, which we are only awakening to. By reaching out to our diaspora, we can create communities centring on business, technology and the creative industries. We can share ideas and collaborate to bid for business and implement initiatives for the common good.

"However, diaspora engagement needs to be facilitated by governments," said Mr Dunne. "Given the scale and good reputation of Ireland's diaspora, we are ideally placed to become a best-practice model in terms of how we engage with our diaspora communities and how we implement policies and structures to maximise benefits.

"Issues such as voting rights for diaspora; structures for creating business linkages; and ways to help generations of diaspora connect with their roots are some of the areas that can be explored as measures to maximise the benefits of connecting with our diaspora. Of course, diaspora communities who have established themselves in Ireland in recent decades present another area from which we can garner new insights and connections.

"This Global Diaspora Forum is about exploring diaspora engagement and its benefits. Given plans by the Irish international Diaspora Trust to create a world-class diaspora centre at Dún Laoghaire Harbour, we are delighted to be in a position to host this historic event. We hope that it will be the precursor to much more proactive diaspora engagement in Ireland and at an EU level," added Mr Dunne.

Speaking ahead of his input to the forum, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore said: "I look forward to addressing and meeting the international and Irish experts who will gather in Dún Laoghaire. Ireland is extremely fortunate to possess a diaspora that makes an enormous contribution to our country. The forum allows us to share our experience and to learn from others.

"This Government believes strongly in building partnerships with our diaspora. With initiatives such as the Emigrant Support Programme, the Global Irish Network, and the third Global Irish Economic Forum which will take place this October, I want to ensure that Ireland will continue to lead the way in demonstrating how governments, the business sector and civil society can all harness and encourage the potential of our migrant communities," he said.

Highlights from the two-day conference programme include:

A keynote address by Robert Guest, Business Editor of The Economist, on the topic of 'Borderless Economics'.
A live link between the Global Diaspora Forums in Washington and Dublin, featuring a keynote address by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, and an address by US Under Secretary of State, Robert Hormats.
A panel discussion on 'Emerging Trends in Diaspora Engagement', led by Kathleen Newland, Co-Founder of the US-based Migration Policy Institute.
A panel discussion on the benefits of diaspora networks, with inputs from Sean Brown, Director of Global Alumni Relations at McKinsey, and David Leblang, Chair of the Politics Department at the University of Virginia.

Themed workshops with contributions from a wide range of leaders on diaspora matters, including: Hugo MacNeill of the Worldwide Ireland Funds; Council of State Member and Councillor in London, Sally Mulready; Deputy Damien English, Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; Nicola Cobbold, CEO of the Portland Trust; and Gidi Mark, CEO of Taglit – Birthright Israel.

Published in Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
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Dublin Bay

Dublin Bay on the east coast of Ireland stretches over seven kilometres, from Howth Head on its northern tip to Dalkey Island in the south. It's a place most Dubliners simply take for granted, and one of the capital's least visited places. But there's more going on out there than you'd imagine.

The biggest boating centre is at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the Bay's south shore that is home to over 1,500 pleasure craft, four waterfront yacht clubs and Ireland's largest marina.

The bay is rather shallow with many sandbanks and rocky outcrops, and was notorious in the past for shipwrecks, especially when the wind was from the east. Until modern times, many ships and their passengers were lost along the treacherous coastline from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, less than a kilometre from shore.

The Bay is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea and is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south. North Bull Island is situated in the northwest part of the bay, where one of two major inshore sandbanks lie, and features a 5 km long sandy beach, Dollymount Strand, fronting an internationally recognised wildfowl reserve. Many of the rivers of Dublin reach the Irish Sea at Dublin Bay: the River Liffey, with the River Dodder flow received less than 1 km inland, River Tolka, and various smaller rivers and streams.

Dublin Bay FAQs

There are approximately ten beaches and bathing spots around Dublin Bay: Dollymount Strand; Forty Foot Bathing Place; Half Moon bathing spot; Merrion Strand; Bull Wall; Sandycove Beach; Sandymount Strand; Seapoint; Shelley Banks; Sutton, Burrow Beach

There are slipways on the north side of Dublin Bay at Clontarf, Sutton and on the southside at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, and in Dalkey at Coliemore and Bulloch Harbours.

Dublin Bay is administered by a number of Government Departments, three local authorities and several statutory agencies. Dublin Port Company is in charge of navigation on the Bay.

Dublin Bay is approximately 70 sq kilometres or 7,000 hectares. The Bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and seven km in length east-west to its peak at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the southside of the Bay has an East and West Pier, each one kilometre long; this is one of the largest human-made harbours in the world. There also piers or walls at the entrance to the River Liffey at Dublin city known as the Great North and South Walls. Other harbours on the Bay include Bulloch Harbour and Coliemore Harbours both at Dalkey.

There are two marinas on Dublin Bay. Ireland's largest marina with over 800 berths is on the southern shore at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The other is at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on the River Liffey close to Dublin City.

Car and passenger Ferries operate from Dublin Port to the UK, Isle of Man and France. A passenger ferry operates from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Howth as well as providing tourist voyages around the bay.

Dublin Bay has two Islands. Bull Island at Clontarf and Dalkey Island on the southern shore of the Bay.

The River Liffey flows through Dublin city and into the Bay. Its tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac.

Dollymount, Burrow and Seapoint beaches

Approximately 1,500 boats from small dinghies to motorboats to ocean-going yachts. The vast majority, over 1,000, are moored at Dun Laoghaire Harbour which is Ireland's boating capital.

In 1981, UNESCO recognised the importance of Dublin Bay by designating North Bull Island as a Biosphere because of its rare and internationally important habitats and species of wildlife. To support sustainable development, UNESCO’s concept of a Biosphere has evolved to include not just areas of ecological value but also the areas around them and the communities that live and work within these areas. There have since been additional international and national designations, covering much of Dublin Bay, to ensure the protection of its water quality and biodiversity. To fulfil these broader management aims for the ecosystem, the Biosphere was expanded in 2015. The Biosphere now covers Dublin Bay, reflecting its significant environmental, economic, cultural and tourism importance, and extends to over 300km² to include the bay, the shore and nearby residential areas.

On the Southside at Dun Laoghaire, there is the National Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club as well as Dublin Bay Sailing Club. In the city centre, there is Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club. On the Northside of Dublin, there is Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club and Sutton Dinghy Club. While not on Dublin Bay, Howth Yacht Club is the major north Dublin Sailing centre.

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