PRESS RELEASE DATED 15^TH June 2011  

The Irish Association of Social Workers was founded in 1971. On Friday the 17^th of June we celebrate 40 years of our contribution to advocacy, representation, social justice and change in Ireland. 

Declan Coogan, spokesperson for the IASW and lecturer in social work at NUI Galway said that social work in Ireland emerged from hospital based social work where the tradition of direct responses to the needs of individuals for support in the community and at home emerged. Over the last 40 years, he said, social workers were at the forefront of empowerment and social change, deeply involved in the setting up of patient rights and advocacy groups, bereavement counselling services, client centred mental health and disability services and childcare service and legislation reform. 

Coogan added that the IASW is honoured that the speakers at the event on the 17^th of June include President Mary McAleese, the Hon. Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness, Gary Bailey, President of the International Federation of Social Workers and Noreen Kearney Past President of the Irish Association of Social Workers. Additional speakers will include Mary McDevitt, past employee who will present “A View from the Side line”, and Dr. Caroline Skehill (Queens University Belfast) who will talk on the theme of “History as a resource for the future”.  

“Although social workers will mark 40 years of achievement and commitment to the need of children, individual adults and families” Coogan said, “the Irish Association will continue to focus on the ways in which social workers can support people in need and promote social change” . 

Further Information.

The celebration will commence at the Gresham Hotel, Upper O’Connell St., Dublin at 10.00am, and will finish at 13.00. 

Further information about the event is available from Danielle McGoldrick at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 01 6774838. Information in relation to the speakers is available from Declan Coogan, Communications Co-ordinator IASW and Lecturer in Social Work at NUI Galway through This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 01 6774838