Where it all began: Junior Chamber International

Brief History of JCI (Junior Chamber International) Ireland

Junior Chambers Cork and Dublin formed Junior Chamber Ireland on the 14th of May 1957 in 27, South Mall, Cork in the presence of the World President, Ira Kaye (USA) and R. Goldberg (Belgium) JCI VP. While the organisation was, at first, treated with great suspicion, after the opportunity given to its first members of explaining the ideals of the organisation it was fully accepted by the community.

JCI Ireland was affiliated to Junior Chamber International in 1958 and has provided the international organisation with three World Presidents, Joe Murphy in 1984, Kevin Cullinnane in 2005 and Graham Hanlon in 2008, a number of other international officers, hosted World Congress in Dublin in 1970, three European Conferences, in Dun Laoghaire in 1959, Killarney in 1975, Wexford in 1981 and European Presidents meeting in Wexford in 1990.  

In the fifty years that have passed since its foundation, JCI Ireland has provided opportunities to many thousands of young Irish business people, entrepreneurs and leaders. It’s alumni include Government Ministers, Judges, CEO’s of Semi-State bodies and captains of industry. While Ireland has changed much since 1957 the ethos of the organisation, to provide opportunities in the areas of community, business, individual development and internationalism to young people between the ages of 18 and 40 remains the same.

At its peak in the 1970’s and 1980’s, JCI Ireland had over sixty branches and 2,500 members all over the state and while it may be less influential now than it once was, the opportunities which it provides to its members remain the same and the national organisation remains committed to creating a better future by creating better leaders.