'If I Can Reach Out Through Hockey,
Then It's All the Better for Everyone'
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
TCo-operation Ireland was founded in 1979 in the midst of the Troubles by the businessman and entrepreneur Dr. Brendan O'Regan. It was originally called Co-operation North.
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| CALGARY BUSINESSMAN Jim Yaworski is one of the owners of the Belfast Giants Hockey Team. |
At the time of Co-operation Ireland's establishment, the violence in Northern Ireland had been continuing for almost a decade. In Northern Ireland relations between the Catholic and Protestant communities were at an all time low.
In the Republic of Ireland very few travelled to Northern Ireland or understood the complexity of the situation. Many courageous people protested and urged an end to the violence, but too many had become resigned to the continuing conflict as a way of life.
It is in this context that Co-operation Ireland was founded. Its objective was to promote peace in a new and practical way. The charity would work to develop understanding and contact between the two parts of the island.
Since then, it has grown to be the largest peace charity on the island of Ireland. Every year, thousands of young people, community workers, and business people take part in the programs and in doing so learn more about each other.
Co-operation Ireland's joint patrons are Her Majesty the Queen and her Excellency, Mary McAleese, the President of Ireland.
The Belfast Giants Hockey Team, whose roster is mostly made up of Canadian hockey players are also doing their part to help in Co-operation Ireland. I recently spoke with Belfast Giant owner, Jim Yaworski, about the work that he and his team are doing with Co-operation Ireland. Jim lives in Calgary, Alberta, but he makes monthly trips to Belfast.
"We have an agreement with Co-operation Ireland," said Jim, "where I donate a lot of tickets for every game to Co-operation Ireland. What they do is go into some of the real tough areas of Belfast and some of the other parts of the community, and they distribute these tickets in both communities to the kids.
"The kids get to go to the games. They sit interspersed and they really have a lot of fun. It's a way to help these kids and a great way to promote the game of hockey."
Jim got involved with Co-operation Ireland after he was invited to the Co-operation Ireland St. Patrick's dinner in New York City last year. He met some of the members and found out about the work that Co-operation Ireland is doing in Belfast.
He also had the opportunity to meet former mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani, and other high-profile members from the New York Irish community. He was very impressed with what they were doing and he saw it as a way of getting direct access to the poorest kids in Belfast.
Yaworski said, "I grew up in North end Winnipeg and I'm still involved in charity work for the kids in the core area there. If I can reach out to kids through hockey, then it's all the better for everyone."
This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who would like to be part in some way in the peace process in Ireland and at the same time help the poorest children of Belfast. Jim encourages anyone in Canada or the United States who would like to take part in Co-operation Ireland, to do so through the Belfast Giants Hockey Club by buying seasons tickets or a 10-game pack and donating them to Co-operation Ireland.
Tickets can be bought through the team, and all they need to do is ask for the Co-operation Ireland form. The tickets go directly to Co-operation Ireland and they will issue the purchaser with a receipt. The best way to reach the Belfast Giants office is through their website at: www.belfastgiants.com.
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