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About the Humanist Association of Ireland

Board of Directors

• Honorary President: Justin Keating
• Chairperson: Catherine O'Brien
• Vice Chairperson: Dick Spicer
• Secretary: Ann James
• Director of Finance: Muiris ÓConchúir
• Director of Membership: Ann James
• Ceremonies co-ordinator: Brian Whiteside
• Directors:
• David Godden, Nicolas Johnson, Brendan Sheeran, Jane Donnelly, Bob Rees.

The Humanist Association of Ireland

The Humanist Association of Ireland (HAI) is a company limited by guarantee without having share capital ('tax exempt', CHY 16550), and with an elected Board of Directors.

Available for download:

Memorandum of Association

Articles of Association

The HAI is a member organisation of the European Humanist Federation and is affiliated to the International Humanist and Ethical Union.

Aims and Objectives

The HAI grew from and replaced the Association of Irish Humanists (AIH), a voluntary body founded in 1993 which was renamed in 2004. It continues to promote the ideals and values of Humanism: an ethical philosophy of life, based on a concern for humanity in general, and for human individuals in particular.

Humanism is a view of life that combines reason with compassion. It is for those people who base their interpretation of existence on the evidence of the natural world and its evolution, and not on belief in a supernatural power. In this, Humanism continues a tradition which has existed for over 2,500 years and which still flourishes today. Humanism encompasses atheists and agnostics, but is an active philosophy in its own right and not simply a negative response to religion.

A Humanist believes that the happiness of individuals and of humankind depends on people, rather than on religion and dogma. We encourage open-minded enquiry into matters relevant to human co-existence and well-being and believe that people can and will continue to find solutions to the world's problems so that quality of life can be improved for everyone. As Humanists we are committed to the application of reason and science, to the understanding of the universe and to the solving of human problems.

Both in personal and social terms we believe in the common moral decencies: altruism, integrity, honesty, truthfulness and responsibility. Moreover, our ethics are amenable to critical, rational guidance. It follows from such commitments and beliefs that we are concerned with securing justice and fairness in society and with the elimination of discrimination and intolerance. We support the axiom that a separation of Church and State will facilitate the achieving of a society that is open, tolerant and pluralist.

In pursuance of these ideals, the HAI provides support and representation to people who seek to live full responsible lives without religion, assisting in the provision of secular ceremonies (see also below) of births, weddings and funerals, publishing a quarterly journal The Irish Humanist, maintaining an informative website and making constant endeavours to voice the Humanist and secular viewpoint in both the print and broadcast media. In addition, the HAI makes appropriate submissions to Government, organises seminars and workshops and contributes to cultural life. In short, Humanists are positive, gaining inspiration from our lives, art and culture, and a rich natural world. It is worthy of note that those who do not avow any religion now form the largest ethical minority within the country, greater in fact than the other four minority Christian denominations combined - Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Orthodox and Methodist (National Census 2002).

Monthly Meetings, Dublin

The HAI hosts an open meeting for Humanists on the first Sunday of every month in Dublin. The meetings begin at 4 p.m. and end at about 6 p.m. Each meeting is an informal gathering and an opportunity to meet fellow Humanists in a relaxed atmosphere, with on occasion, a guest speaker. Please feel free to drop in and join us.

The next meeting will be one of the meeting rooms in Buswell's Hotel at the corner of Kildare Street and Molesworth Street in Dublin 2 (opposite Leinster House).

Previous speakers:

• Professor Ivana Bacik, Trinity College Dublin
• Paul O'Donoghue, Irish Skeptics Society
• Proinsias De Rossa MEP
• Brendan Sheeran
• Prof. Terry Eagleton
• Dr. John De Courcy Ireland
• Dr. Helena Sheehan

Humanist Ceremonies

Humanists world-wide have evolved secular ceremonies to mark the rites of passage through life, most importantly those of birth, marriage and death. The Humanist Association of Ireland can put you in touch with accredited officiants. More information on ceremonies (including contact information) is available here.