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23 Oct 2025
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23 Oct 2025
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Brian and Norma Rohan with children Emily, Liam and Julie at the Virginia show during the Embrace FARM tractor drive shows
Laois based charity Embrace Farm is among 24 community projects receiving financial support from Bank of Ireland’s Begin Together programme in 2024.
The charity supports farm families who suffer life changing injuries or lose family members who work on the farm.
The charity was set up by Brian and Norma Rohan from Shanahoe in Laois after Brian’s father Liam died in a farm accident in 2013. It now provides help to farm families around the country who have suffered tragedies or life changing injuries.
Through the Begin Together programme in 2024, Bank of Ireland has donated €10,000 to the charity.
In total, €500,000 is being allocated to community groups across the island of Ireland, in the fifth year of the Begin Together fund, delivered in partnership with the Community Foundation Ireland.
Chief Customer Officer, Bank of Ireland, Aine McCleary said: “Since 2020, the Begin Together Fund has been working with Community Foundation Ireland to help to make our society stronger by allocating funds to those in greatest need. We do this by identifying groups who are disproportionately impacted by some of the most critical societal issues and allocating grants to those who will benefit most.
“This year, we have prioritised projects which build capability and foster inclusion among these under-served groups. We are delighted to allocate grants to a broad range of organisations including those supporting families living in poverty, people experiencing domestic abuse, older people and those experiencing homelessness.
The groups supported include those who are disproportionately impacted by some of the most critical issues in Ireland today, as identified by Community Foundation Ireland and through ESRI data. These groups include families and individuals living in or at risk of poverty, older people, people experiencing homelessness, the LGBTQ+ community, traveller and Roma community, people experiencing domestic abuse, migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.
The current round of grants will bring the total value of Begin Together grants issued through the Community Fund to €2.5 Million, supporting 286 community projects across the island of Ireland since 2020. Initiatives will receive grants starting from €10,000 up to €80,000.
A full list of 2024 Begin Together grantees is available to view on the Bank of Ireland website: bankofireland.com/begintogetherfund
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