Ireland Fellows Programme

We worked with the Irish Council for International Students and Irish Aid on this multi-faceted project to celebrate 50 years of the Ireland Fellows Programme (a scholarship programme for students from third countries to come to Ireland to study). We spoke with students from all over the world who have completed the programme, creating a book with their stories, a film and an exhibition installation.

The visual identity was inspired by the gifts given to ICOS by the programme participants over the years, in particular the large number of woven gifts and wall hangings in the collection. It reflects the cross-pollination enabled by the activities of Irish Aid with the traditional Irish green gracefully weaving into new colours and patterns, hinting at the vibrant cultures of partner countries around the globe. The book is a coffee table style book featuring interviews with current fellows, alumni and staff, with archive imagery from ICOS sitting alongside portrait photography by Ste Murray. A central section divides the book the in half, featuring further photography of a selection of gifts, with the middle pages displaying a map of all the countries participants have hailed from. This map was replicated in a larger exhibition format at the celebration event in Iveagh House, and displayed alongside some of the physical objects, gifts and documents from the collection. The film, shot and edited by The Reelists, was screened at this event and shorter edits were made for social channels.