Ervines legacy remembered in Belfast celebration
For the fourth year, friends, relatives, community activists and political leaders have gathered in memory of one of leading figures of the peace process.
David Ervine, who passed away in 2007, was remembered at a special memorial celebration evening at the Oh Yeah! centre in Belfast on Thursday, May 5, 2011.
Over £6,000 was distributed to community and voluntary groups from the David Ervine Fund, established in memory of the former leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is administered by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.
The David Ervine Fund helps support activities aimed at peace-building, education and health – matters which were close to the heart of Mr Ervine himself and the total amount of funds disbursed by the Fund so far is almost £50,000.
Belfast comedian Tim McGarry topped the bill at the event, which also featured live music and personal memories of the politician, who represented east Belfast in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Recipients of funding this year include four local football clubs from various areas of Belfast.
Sporting Cromac FC, Crusaders Strikers Women’s FC, Shankill United FC and Sirocco Youth FC will share funds aimed at encouraging cross community links and developing young people through sport.
Belfast Exposed, the community based photographic agency and gallery, also received a funding boost as will Belfast organization Arts Ekta.
North Down Community Assistance and The Brown Envelope Poetry Society complete the award recipients for 2011 and all groups received their cheques on the evening from Mr. Ervine’s widow, Jeanette and Dr. Avila Kilmurray, Director of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.
In previous years, the celebration has attracted keynote speakers like former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Good Friday talks process architect Senator George Mitchell and former Chief Constable of the PSNI, Sir Hugh Orde.
Jackie Redpath, Chair of the David Ervine Foundation says “David Ervine has left us a rich legacy of peace in Northern Ireland and the funds distributed in his name will make a huge difference to the recipients in these difficult economic times.”
