FORAS (football supporters' trust)
Encyclopedia
FORAS is an Irish
Industrial and Provident Society
established in 2007 to act as a Cork City Football Club supporters' trust
. FORAS now operate Cork City, Cork's League of Ireland
side. The name is both the Irish language
word for development and an acronym
of Friends Of (the) Rebel Army Society.
process through the Irish courts. Members of the trust include former Lord Mayor of Cork
, councillor Brian Bermingham, Sinn Féin
TD
Jonathan O'Brien
and several other local politicians. Since its establishment, a significant sum of money has been raised via membership fees and donations.
Soon after formation, the club announced appointments for the reborn club, with Éanna Buckley and Kevin Mullen (both employees of the previous ownership) hired to administrative positions.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
Industrial and Provident Society
Industrial and Provident Society
An industrial and provident society is a legal entity for a trading business or voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and New Zealand...
established in 2007 to act as a Cork City Football Club supporters' trust
Supporters' trust
In British sports, a supporters' trust is a formal, democratic and not-for-profit organisation of fans who attempt to strengthen the influence of supporters over the running of the club they support...
. FORAS now operate Cork City, Cork's League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
side. The name is both the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
word for development and an acronym
Acronym and initialism
Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations formed from the initial components in a phrase or a word. These components may be individual letters or parts of words . There is no universal agreement on the precise definition of the various terms , nor on written usage...
of Friends Of (the) Rebel Army Society.
Trust formation
A major recruitment drive was launched in September 2008, in the wake of revelations that the club was to enter the examinershipExaminership
Examinership is a process in Irish law whereby the protection of the Court is obtained to assist the survival of a company. It allows a company to restructure with the approval of the High Court....
process through the Irish courts. Members of the trust include former Lord Mayor of Cork
Lord Mayor of Cork
The Lord Mayor of Cork is the honorific title of the Chairman of Cork City Council which is the local government body for the city of Cork in Ireland. The incumbent is Terry Shannon of Fianna Fáil. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the Council.-History of office:In 1199 there...
, councillor Brian Bermingham, Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
TD
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
Jonathan O'Brien
Jonathan O'Brien
Jonathan O'Brien is an Irish Sinn Féin politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Cork North Central constituency at the 2011 general election, topping the poll. He is Sinn Féin's Dáil spokesperson on Justice, Equality & Defence....
and several other local politicians. Since its establishment, a significant sum of money has been raised via membership fees and donations.
Resurrection of the club
On 23 February 2010, following the winding up and denial of a League of Ireland licence to Cork City Investments Fc Ltd (Cork City FC's holding company), FORAS were granted a First Division licence. They entered under the temporary name Cork City FORAS Co-Op. On the 1st of June 2010 the club completed the purchase and restoration of the Cork City FC name and history from Cork City Investments FC Ltd's liquator. The team continued to compete in the League as Cork City FORAS Co-op but the supporters, the club and most Irish media returned to referring to the club as Cork City FCSoon after formation, the club announced appointments for the reborn club, with Éanna Buckley and Kevin Mullen (both employees of the previous ownership) hired to administrative positions.