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The Oldest Credit Union In Ireland

Donore Credit Union Limited, Dublin is the longest established credit union in Ireland today.

The seedling of Donore Credit Union was sown when two sisters from Donore parish, Eileen and Angela Ni Bhrion attended the Daonscoil in Red Island and became interested in Credit Unions. Miss Therese McGeehan, also interested in credit unions kindly invited some people including the ni Bhrion sisters to her home at No. 7, Harcourt Terrace, to discuss the matter in more detail. This was the beginning of a series of “fireside chats” so named after the idea of the founder of Muintir na Tire, where people could learn more about the subject under relaxed conditions.

Eventually, Eileen and Angela decided they would try to interest their neighbours to the idea, so they invited some people to their home at 35, Hamilton Street. Here the idea was discussed and this was the start of many meetings of small groups held in different houses throughout the parish.

Many people from inside and outside the parish gave help and encouragement in those early days. Miss Nora Herlihy was a member of the National Co-operative Council who made a particular study of the Credit Union idea and she with others of that group, helped a lot in the initial stages. Father Delahunt, an Irish Dominican Priest working on the Missions in Trinidad who had a wide experience of the credit union movement in his missionary country, gave much help and advice when he came home on holidays. One or two people from CUNA, the American based body engaged in world wide promotion of the idea, either visited or corresponded with the group in Donore. They also communicated with and got advice from the University of Antigonish in Nova Scotia, in Canada.

Donore Credit Union was officially registered as a Friendly Society entitled “Cumann Muintir Dun Oir” with registered office at 35, Hamilton Street, in August 1958.

The inaugural meeting of Cumann Muintir Dun Oir was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Lawless, 38, Hamilton Street. Lewis was the first Chairman, Oliver Hogan the first Treasurer and Angela ni Bhrion the first Secretary. The first weekly collection of money was £7 approximately.

Donore Credit Union has grown from 94 members in 1958 to 4653 today. In their 50 years they have grown to €27m in savings.