Stay up-to-date with Trócaire's work overseas, get news on key global social justice issues, and find out about our latest campaigns in Ireland and how you can get involved.
Evelyn (36) from Uganda is mother of Patricia who featured on the 2019 Trócaire box.
Trócaire is the overseas development agency of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. We were established by the Bishops’ Conference as “an official channel through which Irish Catholics can express their commitment on an ongoing basis to the needs of the Third World”. The pastoral letter establishing Trócaire stated:
“The aim of Trócaire will be two-fold. Abroad, it will give whatever help lies within its resources to the areas of greatest need among the developing counties. At home, it will try to make us all more aware of the needs of these countries and of our duties towards them. These duties are no longer a matter of charity but of simple justice.”
We support the most vulnerable people in the developing world. This support is offered to people of all faiths. We work without prejudice to express the support of the Catholic Church in Ireland for the most vulnerable people.
Our work is grounded in Catholic Social Teaching and is in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church. For example, we do not fund or promote abortion.
Trócaire’s work is funded by parishes across Ireland. We also receive grants from large institutions. We do not accept money from any organisation whose primary mission runs contrary to Catholic Social Teaching.
While we engage with many networks and partners, we do not always agree with positions taken by those networks and partners.
The Trustees of Trócaire are appointed by the Catholic Church’s Episcopal Conference.
The seven Trustees of Trócaire are:
Archbishop Eamon Martin was ordained a priest for the diocese of Derry in 1987. He became Archbishop of Armagh in September 2014. Archbishop Martin is President of the Bishops’ Conference.
Dermot Farrell was conferred by the Pontifical University, Maynooth, with Licence in Theology in 1981. In 1988 he was awarded a Doctoral Degree from the Gregorian University in Rome. Appointed as Bishop of Ossory in January 2018, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop-elect Dermot Farrell as Archbishop of Dublin on 29 December 2020. He is a former President of St. Patrick’s College.
Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly was ordained in June 1978. He became Archbishop of Cashel and Emly in January 2015. He is a member of various bodies, including the Episcopal Commission for Social Issues and International Affairs.
Bishop William Crean was ordained in 1976. He has been Chair of Trócaire since March 2013. He is also a member of the Episcopal Commission for Social Issues and International Affairs.
Archbishop Francis studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth and was ordained a priest for the diocese of Kilmore on 20 June 1982 in Saint Mogue’s Church, Bawnboy, Co Cavan by Bishop Francis MacKiernan. After completing the Higher Diploma in Education, he taught in St. Patrick’s College, Cavan, for eleven years. Then, after two years of postgraduate studies, he was appointed principal of Fatima and Felim’s Secondary School, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim in 1996.
After twelve years as principal, Archbishop Francis was appointed Diocesan Secretary and Financial Administrator and Chancellor of the Diocese of Kilmore. During that time he was resident priest in the parish of Laragh, Co Cavan. On 17 July 2013 he was appointed by Pope Francis as Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois with his episcopal ordination taking place on 6 October 2013 at Saint Mary’s Church, Athlone. He served as Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois for eight years until his appointment as Archbishop of Tuam on 10 November 2021. Archbishop Francis was installed as Archbishop of Tuam in the Cathedral of the Assumption on Sunday, 9 January 2022.
Bishop Alan McGuckian is a member of the Standing Committee, Irish Episcopal Conference representative to ICEL; Chairman of the Council for Justice and Peace/NICCOSA, Member of the Council for Pastoral Renewal and Adult Faith development, Liaison Bishop with Pax Christi Ireland.
