All Ireland
(Includes the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland)

Mothers' Union began in Ireland in 1887. Like the Church of Ireland, which embraces Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Mothers' Union operates in two jurisdictions, north and south of the border. There are 12 dioceses with a total of 10,500 members.

There is a strong focus on supporting family life - especially young families, in the outreach work of the members in Ireland. Every diocese has trained parenting facilitators and is reaching parents through the extended schools programme. Members run child contact centres and parent and toddler groups as well as a range of community projects. Marriage preparation, is also strong, particularly in the diocese of Cashel & Ossory, where the Marriage Awareness Course has been run successfully for over 10 years.

Other projects include

• Providing clothing and toiletries for women's refuge centres
• Preparing baby clothes and overnight bags for hospitals
• Providing knitted trauma teddies for emergency services
• Prison work
• Assisting at a school for pupils with severe learning diffficulties, and at a centre for adults with learnign difficulties
• Projects addressing homelessness
• Family days, and holidays for families who would not otherwise have that time together
• and a shoe box appeal for underprivileged children.

Throughout Ireland Mothers' Union members bring a variety of practical help and support to their parish and community, and a great sense of belonging and fellowship amongst the membership.Many dioceses are advocates of fair trade, ensuring that producers get a fair deal for their products, and are involved with various forms of social policy work.

For more information on the Ireland Province and the dioceses within it, please visit: http://www.mothersunion.ie