Irish Challenge Europe advocates from Year 1 and 2 joined other invited guests and dignitaries to celebrate the British Council’s 75th anniversary at an event in the UK Ambassador’s residence in Dublin in November. The event was also used to launch the British Council’s new strategy for collaborative working in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The strategy aims to adopt a joined-up North/South approach to the British Council’s engagement in a selection of relevant regional and global projects, including Challenge Europe which has advocates from across the island of Ireland.

Opening the celebrations, British Ambassador to Ireland, Julian King, said: “It is a great pleasure to host a reception to mark the British Council's 75th anniversary. During the past 75 years, the British Council has consistently been at the heart of developing relationships and highlighting the global challenges that we share across these islands. The next decades will present some new global challenges on issues like climate change. But they will also present new opportunities, and the work of the British Council will be more important than ever as the UK and Ireland find new and exciting ways to work together.”

The event was also addressed by Dubliner Dylan Townsend, one of Ireland’s Challenge Europe advocates in 2008-2009. Dylan spoke about his experiences of the project last year and his group’s many achievements, including the Challenge Europe Green Journey to Great Britain, showcase events in Belfast and Dublin and co-ordination of media activity for all 5 Challenge Europe projects in NI/Ireland. The evening was a tremendous success overall and a great opportunity for advocates to network with experts, as well as discuss Challenge Europe and the development of their individual project ideas.