| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company |
| Title: | Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company Photographs |
| Dates: | 1984-2002 |
| Extent: | 0.20 linear feet (1 container) |
| Abstract: | The Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company is located in Streetsboro, Ohio, and founded to provide funds for the Irish Children's Fund, which promotes events and encourages positive relations between Catholic and Protestant children in Northern Ireland. The collection consists of 103 photographs, 16 black & white, and 87 color prints. Included are images of the Irish Children's Fund participation in Saint Patrick's Day parades, a view of the company's premises, several photos of Catholic and Protestant children interacting with one another, and social events, retreats and fundraising activities of the group in both the United States and Northern Ireland. |
| PG Number | PG 522 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
The Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company (f. 1986) was established in Illinois, by Robert and Diane O'Connor, and in latter years moved to northeast Ohio. Robert (b. 1939) was born in Dublin, Ireland, growing up during a time of much strife in Northern Ireland. His childhood experience left him with an impression that has remained with him all his life. To help ease the suffering of the children in Northern Ireland, he and his wife, Diane (nee Baron), decided to set up a fund to allow Protestant and Catholic children from the most derelict areas of Belfast and Derry, Northern Ireland, to come to the United States and spend a few weeks with a host family. The goal is to foster positive relations between the two groups, and is followed with various outings, events, and retreats back in Northern Ireland. The O'Connor's established Creative Irish Gifts Catalog company, which is based in Streetsboro, Ohio. The company provides a variety of products made in Ireland, through their catalog. Creative Irish Gifts Catalog functions as a fundraising effort to sustain The Irish Children's Fund, Inc. (f. 1982). The latter is an organization dedicated to creating lasting peace in Northern Ireland. All profits from the catalog directly support The Irish Children's Fund, and those working for the catalog originally did so in a volunteer capacity. The Irish Children's Fund, Inc. is the largest youth organization in Northern Ireland, and has received recognition by the government and civic and social service groups in the United States and Ireland. Today, it is used as a model for other international organizations that are now assisting children in troubled areas.
The Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company Photographs, 1984-2002 and undated, consist of 103 photographs, including 16 black and white photographs, and 87 color prints.
This collection is of value to those seeking illustrative materials about the Irish community in northeast Ohio. There are images of the participation of The Irish Children's Fund in St. Patrick's Day Parade, the premises belonging to Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company. This collection also includes several photographs of Catholic and Protestant children interacting with other and outlines the many social events, retreats and fundraising activities of this group, in both the United States and Northern Ireland.
None.
Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 4882 Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Records; and MS 4881 Robert O'Connor Papers.
Separated MaterialA videotape, Today is the Day, Irish Children's Fund, Inc. 1995, has been removed to the WRHS Audio-Visual Collection.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 522 Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
These photographs were removed from MS 4882 Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company Records. Gift of Robert O'Connor in 2002.
Processed by Regina Costello in 2002.
Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company Photographs 1984-2002 undated |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Northern Ireland, Fellowship House, retreat home, property of The Irish Children's Fund, located at Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland 1984 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Northern Ireland, Mary Cassidy, participant in The Irish Children's Fund, Belfast undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Northern Ireland, nightly activities at Ballyscillan Leisure Center for children by The Irish Children's Fund, located Belfast, Northern Ireland 1988 1998 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | United States, arrivals and departures of children at O'Hare International Airport, Chicago 1991 1999 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | United States, fundraising activities in Indiana, Chicago, and other cities for The Irish Children's Fund, Inc. 1986 1988 1990s | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | United States, parades, St. Patrick's Day Parade 1992 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | United States, parades, Southside Irish Parade 2000 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | United States, premises, Creative Irish Gifts Catalog Company, Streetsboro, Ohio 2002 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | United States, summer program, Chicago and Indiana 1991-1992 1994 1996-1999 2001 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | United States, teen obstacle course ca. 1985 1994 1996 2000-2001 | |||||||||