About the Charity
The charity (registered charity no. GB-NIC-109942) was founded in 2023 following Éamon’s sad death on 13 November 2022 by his wife Alice, daughter Mary Alice and granddaughter Nicole.
A board of trustees was brought together to create the charity’s founding articles and to set out the aims and objectives of the Foundation going forward.
To benefit the public in Northern Ireland by promoting the study of history as a way of fostering a deeper understanding of the past and thereby promoting reconciliation.
To facilitate the study of history through activities such as seminars grants and bursaries to examine how a divisive and traumatic past has shaped and continues to influence relationships among communities and individuals in Ireland and Great Britain.
To advance its objects as a way of upholding and advancingthe enduring legacy of Dr Éamon Phoenix, who advocated for history as a philosophy that promotes mutual understanding.
To fulfil the above objectives by seeking funding from the public and institutions who share our goals.
Ensuring the legacy of Dr Éamon Phoenix by providing public access to his complete body of work online including not only published books and articles but also radio and television interviews, recorded talks, and unpublished papers and materials.
Engaging in community-based initiatives related to local history and history education across all educational levels involving diverse educational projects and the provision of various scholarship and reward opportunities.
Encouraging candid and open dialogues on challenging historical topics, memories, and anniversaries to be achieved through publications, archives, lectures, and support for emerging historians displaying a demonstrable or potential creative use of Dr Éamon Phoenix’s legacy.
Facilitating the establishment of connections between diverse historical community groups to foster collaboration and understanding.
Professor Ferriter is Professor of Modern Irish History at University College Dublin and one of Ireland’s foremost historians, admired not only for his scholarship but for his ability to communicate complex and sensitive history with clarity, balance and humanity.
He has authored a substantial body of acclaimed publications and has held a long-standing role in Irish public debate, broadcasting and education.
His work has consistently emphasised critical engagement with sources, historical context and the dangers of simplistic narratives.
Professor Ferriter was appointed a member of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations by the Taoiseach in 2011, serving alongside Dr Éamon Phoenix.
He holds many other roles and honours including being elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy, serving on the Board of the National Library of Ireland and writing a weekly column in the Irish Times.
A retired secondary teacher, Alice taught Science and Maths and held the post of SENCO. She was on Board of Governors for over thirty years and in the last fifteen held the position of Chair. Alice was happily married to Éamon for over forty-two years.
Éamon’s granddaughter. Nicole is a student in St Mary’s University College, Belfast where she is studying for a BEd specialising in Music for Primary Education.
Éamon’s daughter. Primary school teacher, MA with a BEd. and an Med. in Children’s Literature. Mary-Alice currently teaches Primary 2 and holds the roles of Designated Teacher for Child Protection and World Around Us Co-Ordinator.
Dr Brian Lambkin was formerly Principal of Lagan College, Belfast, and Director of the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies at the Ulster-American Folk Park, Omagh. He is is currently Chair of Healing Through Remembering.
Dr Deirdre Mac Bride completed her PhD ‘Popular Memories of the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme: Northern Ireland 2016 a case study’ (2023) at the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, Queen’s University Belfast. Previously she was Programme Director Cultural Diversity with the NI Community Relations Council where she had lead responsibility for the Decade of Centenaries. Prior to joining CRC, she had worked extensively in North Belfast on housing, regeneration and interfaces.
Jim McDermott was Head of History in Corpus Christi College until his retirement from secondary school teaching in 2005. A mutual interest in Irish History led to Jim working with Éamon for many years in the Lifelong Learning Department of Stranmillis College. Jim is author of the 2001 book ‘Northern Division – The Old IRA and the Belfast Pogroms 1920-22’.
Professor Noel Purdy OBE is Director of Research and Scholarship and Director of CREU (the Centre for Research in Educational Underachievement) at Stranmillis University College, Belfast. He chaired the Expert Panel on Educational Underachievement in Northern Ireland and also chaired the DE Steering Committee in the Republic which reviewed the national Action Plan on Bullying.
Dr Francis Costello’s work spans leadership, and management roles in business, academia, and government. Dr Costello is also an accomplished writer and published scholar. With wide experience in the US, Canada, Ireland, the UK and Europe, he has lived in Belfast since 1999.
Paul Shevlin is a retired solicitor who specialised in employment and equality law, particularly working with Trade Unions. In the latter part of his career, he focused on charity law, specifically in the formation and governance of trusts. Paul is currently a trustee of a local enterprise unit and a youth centre, and he previously served as Chair of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal.
Patrick is Chairperson and Public Relations Officer for The West Belfast Historical Society and Secretary to The Belfast Civic Trust.
Éamon’s sister. Roisin is an Educationalist. She currently works at Northern Ireland’s Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment (CCEA) with responsibility for a range of Post Primary Curriculum, Examinations and Contemporary societal projects.
Muriel was an electronic product design and development engineer based at Queen’s University Belfast creating products for commercial clients. She was later a software engineering manager producing multimedia software for the education sector. Having discovered Irish traditional music as an adult, she went on to play in sessions in Belfast and was invited by Éamon to play music at his talks on the 1792 Belfast Harp Festival and 1798 Rebellion of the United Irishmen.