As you can appreciate, countless individuals have played a role in shaping the Irish Support Agency over the past 30 years. While it’s not possible to name everyone, please know that today we honour and thank each and every one of you who has contributed to our journey. It is because of your collective efforts that we stand here today. With deep gratitude in our hearts, let us now begin with the story that we do know.

Our story begins on the 29th of March, 1995, when a man from Tipperary, Frank O’Donoghue, called a meeting in Sydney. Frank came to Australia in 1958, he was a county hurler for Tipp, a businessman and proud member of the Irish Community. Frank had noticed something deeply important—a growing need within the Irish community for structured support, guidance and connection. That single meeting planted the seed for what would become the Irish Australian Welfare Bureau, which you now know as the Irish Support Agency today.  

Frank was inspired by the work of Phyllis McGrath in Melbourne who founded the IASRB in the 1970’s, the Irish Australian Support and Resource Bureau. Frank has described Phyllis as an icon of the Irish community in Melbourne and consulted her as to best practice in establishment a similar organisation here in Sydney.  

Prior to this, Frank took it upon himself to visit elderly people in hospital, in their homes when mobility was an issue, and just to be a general ear for them and a social connect. This was also whilst running a fulltime business. He knew that the organisation needed to be formalised and so, with Frank as Chairperson, a dedicated committee was formed. Their aim was simple yet powerful: to support Irish people in need—young and old, newly arrived and long settled. On 22 May 1995, the IAWB was officially incorporated, and our journey began in earnest. 

From the outset, this was a community-led organisation. A committee of nine volunteers guided its mission—people driven by compassion, by service, and by the quiet determination to look after their own. Anne, Frank’s wife was in fact, the honorary solicitor for the welfare bureau. From minutes retrieved from the 1996 AGM, the committee consisted of Frank O’Donoghue – Returning Officer and Patron, Steve Carey- Chairman, Dennis O’Flynn – Public Officer, Kathleen Aspill – Treasurer, Margaret Duggan – Secretary, Brian Hodgins, Joan Farrell, Michael Smullen, Kerry Murphy, Ellen Smullen – Committee Members.   

In the early days of the Irish Support Agency, welfare records were simple handwritten journals kept by Frank, noting the names, addresses, and regular visits to those in need. Despite the informality of the system, confidentiality was, and remains, a foundational value of the ISA’s work. 

One of the most memorable early cases for Frank was that of Margaret McCauley, a young Irish woman who had come to Sydney on a Working Holiday Visa. At the time, the Welfare Bureau had only been operating for about 12 months. Margaret was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, requiring urgent and costly treatment at Royal North Shore Hospital. 

Recognising the urgency, the Irish community rallied together to raise funds to support her care. Thanks to this collective effort, Margaret’s condition stabilised enough for her to return home to Ireland to continue her treatment. 

Frank and Anne later visited Margaret in Ireland, where she was surrounded by loved ones and celebrating her 21st birthday. Sadly, Margaret passed away shortly after. However, Frank and Anne draw deep comfort from knowing they were able to help her return home and spend her final months with her family. 

Margaret’s story left a lasting impression on both Frank and Anne. It marked their first experience with a serious crisis, at a time when they had no precedent to guide them — just compassion, determination, and community support.  

Another significant area of support during that time focused on individuals—particularly young men—who arrived seeking long-term employment but lacked any support system. Many found themselves isolated and without financial resources, often turning to alcohol to cope with their loneliness. Frank refers to this group as 'the lost generation.' In contrast, today’s young arrivals tend to come with educational backgrounds and benefit from modern technology, which greatly supports their settlement and integration. 

To promote their work in the early days, outreach was driven by grassroots efforts. They had a regular spot on local radio each Sunday, relied heavily on word of mouth, and Frank distributed more leaflets than he can recall — a true hands-on approach to spreading awareness. 

Fundraising, much like today, depended largely on the generosity of the Irish community. From donations to community events, including the occasional fundraising dance, every effort played a vital role in sustaining their work. 

In 1996, Anne and Frank travelled to Ireland to seek funding from the Irish Government’s Emigrant Support Program. Frank’s brother knew Tánaiste Dick Spring, and so with a little bit of help, their application was successful, marking the beginning of a longstanding partnership. Since then, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Emigrant Support Program have remained steadfast supporters of the Irish Support Agency, forming a crucial foundation for our work. Their backing has enabled us to grow and operate at the level we do today. Their belief in our mission and consistent advocacy have been invaluable. I'd like to take this opportunity to sincerely acknowledge the current representatives of the Irish Government, Rosie Keane and Lorraine Healy. Your unwavering support has been truly exceptional, and I’ve deeply valued our working relationship. Thank you both.  

In terms of Frank’s recollection of the growth of the organisation, he said ‘’ When I started it, it, it was a one-to-one experience. And that's what I had intended. I had not intended to build anything. But I thought, well, what is most important?  There were Irish people that had no connection or support system with their community. I knew we had to do something.’’  

In 1996, the Bureau made a profound commitment to those without family or means by purchasing 24 graves at Rookwood Cemetery. The plots were purchased for those who had no other means of being laid to rest. Today, 35 members of our community rest there, honoured and remembered. 

That same year, Phil and Catherine Plunkett extended the Bureau's reach by establishing the Australian Irish Welfare Bureau in Wollongong, serving the Illawarra district with the same spirit of care and inclusion. 

In 1998, we expanded again—this time to Penrith, where we opened a sub-branch that would become home to our outreach program for seniors, Tír na nÓg.  

Frank left the Bureau after a few years to fully enjoy his well-deserved retirement in the Southern Highlands.  

By 1998, Michael O’Sullivan had joined the bureau and firmly established himself as President who would continue to support the growth of the organisation. Pat Costello was Michael’s right hand man, Vice President. Michael oversaw the rapid growth of the organisation bolstered by increasing fundraising efforts and awareness drives.  

By the year 2000, the bureau had 246 members, which is a considerable amount of people given the lack of digitisation to spread awareness of the organisation.  

By 2005, the Bureau faced a new challenge—growth. The demand for support had outpaced the resources of our volunteers. It became clear that we needed a permanent base and professional staff to meet the community’s evolving needs. Margaret Duggan was employed as Administrator/Community Development Officer and she remained in that role until 2015.  

On 1 May 2005, the IAWB moved into temporary accommodation at St Patrick’s Presbytery in Bondi. Just four months later, we opened our first outreach centre for seniors in Paddington, which was soon relocated to Bondi in February 2006. 

Then, a major milestone—on 20 September 2006, the Irish Minister for Trade and Commerce, Michael Ahern TD, officially opened our new premises. It was a moment that marked not just the physical growth of the IAWB, but its recognition as a pillar of the Irish Australian community. 

Michael O’Sullivan concluded his remarkable tenure as President in 2008, marking years of dedicated service to the organisation. He stepped down from the committee in 2011.  

In 2007, Terence McCaughan, a young man from Ballycastle, joined the ISA Committee and became President in 2009, with Liz Kenny from Co. Offaly, serving as Vice President. Together, they formed a dynamic leadership team. Under Terence’s guidance, a minibus was purchased in 2011 to support the transport needs of our senior community. He brought fresh ideas and launched new fundraising initiatives during his 15 years of service—a truly generous contribution.  

In 2012, Liz Kenny took over as President, leading the organisation with professionalism and compassion.  

Donna McKiernan joined the committee in 2012 and, as President from 2018, would later guide us through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In 2015, Roisin Trainor joined the team as our first Outreach Worker, a role created to provide dedicated support for individuals in crisis. Following the departure of Margaret Duggan in 2016, Roisin stepped into the role of Coordinator, marking a new chapter for the organisation. Harvey James took on the role of President also this year and under both of their leadership, we rebranded as the Irish Support Agency, with the goal of engaging a more diverse audience and broadening our community reach. With a background in Health Promotion, Roisin brought a strong focus on health and wellbeing, championing a preventative approach and working to equip both the team and the wider community with tools to support their mental health. 

In 2018, Elske Slabbers took on the role of Outreach Worker, bringing warmth, empathy, and professionalism to every interaction.  

In 2019, following Roisin’s departure, Paula Cobain stepped into the role of Executive Officer during what could only be described as a baptism of fire. She led the organisation through a significant transition, overseeing the move from Bondi back to our original home at the Gaelic Club—a meaningful return to our roots.  

In 2020, Paula, alongside Elske, Donna, and the Committee, guided the Irish Support Agency through the immense challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with unwavering commitment. As a small team, this required extraordinary effort—staff clocked over 100 hours of overtime in just one week, and the Committee met almost nightly to adapt and plan. We worked closely with the Consulate, staying on top of rapidly evolving government updates and translating them into accessible information for our community. Despite the pressures, we’re proud to say that every individual who came to us in crisis received meaningful support.  

Later in 2020, the team welcomed Katerina Gillen as Outreach Worker and Una McCrossan as Project Officer. Katerina brought compassion, dedication, and a tireless commitment to ensuring that every client felt heard, respected, and genuinely cared for. Una brought fresh energy and vision to the team, demonstrating initiative, creativity, and a clear sense of what was possible as the Agency adapted to meet emerging community needs. 

As we approached the latter half of 2020, the Irish Support Agency recognised an immediate need for a community-based support network and social outlet for the many Irish diaspora who would not be making the annual trip home to Ireland at Christmas.  

baile as baile was created in consultation with the Irish Consulate’s Le Cheile workshops and the community organisations of NSW.  

Across December 2020 and January 2021, baile as baile organised, hosted and partnered on over 79 in-person and online events.  

In 2021 – we were delighted that long-standing ISA volunteer and Committee Member since 2012, Marian Schaffer, took on the role of President. Marian brought remarkable warmth and compassion to the position. She developed a wonderful relationship with our seniors over the years and genuinely cared for the welfare of our community members.  

And that brings us to today where I now have the absolute privilege to hold the role as President of the ISA. Having joined as a volunteer 4 years ago in May 2021, the ISA really resonated with me and my own desire to have, and to share a connection with my fellow Irish men and women on this in this amazing but distant land, we now call home. I also simply wanted to give back to the community, leave a mark, make a difference, so I joined the committee later in 2021 and it is only then I really understood the magic of what the ISA do, and I have never looked back. I later took on the role of Secretary and then President in January 2023 from Marian when she stepped down. 

Also today, Paula, Una, and Mairead form the core of the Irish Support Agency—a dedicated team who are, without question, the driving force behind its ongoing impact. As always, their work is strengthened by the invaluable support of our committed and passionate committee, all of whom are volunteers with busy lives and equally busy diaries but still make time for the diaspora community here in NSW by giving of their time so freely and frequently. Their collective support of each other and the staff should not go unmentioned. A heartfelt thank you from myself to the staff and committee at the ISA both today and those who lead us to today over the past 30 years. 

As we look back on the remarkable journey of the Irish Support Agency - from one man’s vision in 1995 to the thriving, community-driven organisation it is today - we are reminded that the true strength of this agency lies in its people. It is built on the kindness of volunteers, the dedication of staff, the generosity of our supporters, and the resilience of those we serve. Let us carry this legacy forward with the same compassion, commitment and sense of community that brought us here. The past 30 years have been extraordinary, and together, we look forward to the future—with pride in our history and hope in our hearts.