Campaign for Our Future —
Preserving Our History, Ensuring Our Future
Who We Are
Innovation for the Irish of Tomorrow began fifty years ago with a dream. Since 1975, the United Irish Cultural Center (UICC) has been committed to celebrating, promoting, and preserving the rich culture and heritage of the global Irish community. As the only center of its kind on the West Coast, the UICC’s diverse programs offer opportunities for connection, growth, and learning for everyone.
As the UICC celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, we look to the future and the opportunities for even more dynamic and vibrant programming. The Campaign for Our Future will allow us to broaden our reach and further our impact in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.


Capital Campaign
In December 2023, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of new building plans for a complete redevelopment of the existing Irish Center on 45th Avenue in the city’s Sunset District.
Six stories above ground with two subterranean levels for parking and an aquatics center, our reimagined Irish Center boasts a spacious lobby that welcomes visitors to experience a host of activities. The heartbeat of the Center will be its extensive library, museum, and digital gallery with educational resources, interactive exhibits, and scholarly research available to everyone. The Center will feature multi-use event space, pubs and fine food offerings, a gym, theater, and office and meeting spaces.
At Our Core
Cultural Preservation
Celebrating and maintaining Irish traditions, arts, and language.
Community Engagement
Serving as a gathering place for the Irish and the Irish-American community and fostering a sense of belonging across generations.
Inclusivity
Welcoming people of all backgrounds who are interested in learning about and insuring the richness of Irish culture.
Education
Offering educational programs and events related to Irish history, education, arts, language, culture, and innovation.
Service & Support
Providing a space for community-focused events, social services, and cultural engagements.
Legacy & Heritage
Honoring the contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants in the U.S.
Expression of Irish Cultural
The United Irish Cultural Center serves as a focal point for the expression of Irish culture through a variety of activities, events, and programs, which promote and showcase Irish culture in the San Francisco Bay Area.
We aim to cultivate and expand the cultural bonds of Ireland throughout the west coast of the United States through our commitment to providing excellence in cultural programming in areas that include music, theater, literature, and language. Through creating and maintaining community partnerships with other Irish oriented organizations, individual artists and performers, and educational and cultural institutions, the Irish Cultural Center will continue to broaden its offerings and its networks.
The UICC is a permanently chartered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that relies on private, corporate, and grant support.

Our Beginning
As the first Irish center in the United States built entirely by volunteer labor and community contributions, the United Irish Cultural Center embraces and honors the traditions of earlier Irish organizations, dating back to the Gold Rush era. As a treasured “Home of the Irish” community and all those who support it, we promote and preserve Irish culture in the City by the Bay.
Since our founding, the Center has been sustained by its members, supporters, and the larger Irish community. The City of San Francisco has been and continues to foster a place of belonging for generations of Irish immigrants and Irish Americans. Our building has played host to countless public and private celebrations, events, and special community engagements, and has forged valued partnerships that reflect the depth and pride of Irish culture in San Francisco.
Our storied past inspires our bright future!

Cornerstone of the Community
The Irish are known for their hospitality and sense of welcome. We are eager hosts and great neighbors! Our new state-of-the-art building will allow for more inclusiveness and community engagement.

Source of Cultural Pride
The UICC is a place where Irish and Irish Americans can draw from their ancestral well.

Hub for Heritage, Discovery, & Connection
Learning and sharing the fruits of one’s knowledge are bedrocks of thriving communities such as the UICC. Hospitality and welcome breathe life into the words of the famous Irish poet, WB Yeats: “There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t yet met.”

Library Guestbook
The library’s guestbooks chronicle visits by people from all around the world, including several distinguished people such as Tip O’Neill, former speaker of the United States House of Representatives; Albert Reynolds, Prime Minister of Ireland; and Mary Robinson, President of Ireland. Gerry Adams, Member of Parliament and President of Sinn Fein; the late Senator Edward Kennedy; and filmmaker Maurice Fitzpatrick, scriptwriter and co-producer of the documentary Boys of St. Columb’s.
Innovation for the Irish of Tomorrow IS Today —
Making the Case for a $75M Building
Our current 1970s-era building no longer meets the diverse needs of our growing and evolving community. To remain welcoming, impactful, and innovative, we are ready to expand and modernize our physical presence. The next chapter of the UICC story will see expansion in its role in cultural preservation, education, and social engagement by providing modern, accessible spaces that embody the spirit of Ireland and Irish culture, while addressing future needs. Our redevelopment is more than a transformation of our building—it is a commitment to the Irish community’s continued vibrancy and resilience, and to the contributions of our supporters and friends in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
Broad Support for our Plan
With the unanimous support we have received from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, our new building will triple the existing square footage of our location on 45th Avenue and transform the UICC into a six-story center with two subterranean levels, creating a modern and multifaceted space dedicated to culture, connection, and community.
Library, Museum & Digital Gallery
Spaces for interactive exhibits, Irish history research, and digital galleries, enriching our community’s understanding of its heritage.
Multi-Use Event Spaces
Flexible rooms to host concerts, conferences, Irish dance events, cultural festivals, educational seminars, and community gatherings.
Dining & Hospitality Options
An inviting pub and fine dining spaces will create social centers where members can enjoy authentic Irish food and refreshments.
Fitness & Recreation Facilities
A gym, theater, and aquatics center for health, wellness, and recreation, promoting both physical and mental well-being for members and their families.
Office & Meeting Rooms
Adaptable mixed-use spaces to accommodate classes, community meetings, and administrative functions, enhancing our ability to serve the community effectively.
“The Center will feature multi-use event space, pubs and fine food offerings, a gym, theater, and office and meeting spaces. “We want to exemplify the best of both the future and the past,” says Liam Reidy, UICC Board President, “sharing our history and traditions and continuing to build relationships with all of the cultures in San Francisco with whom the Irish have been partnering since the 1800s.”
“Let us join hands and hearts in this remarkable journey to keep our culture alive and thriving. Together, we can create a lasting legacy that will inspire and unite our community for years to come,” says Reidy. “It’s a great day for the Irish of the Bay Area to celebrate our history and our future.”
INNOVATION through MODERN STORY-TELLING
Our Campaign for Our Future makes way for a venerable hub for research and preservation in a dedicated space which will house the first Irish library in the west with more than 5,000 titles, including rare books and Irish language books. The archive and library will be a sought-after haven for researchers, genealogy enthusiasts, lovers of Irish art and literature, and anyone seeking inspiration from and the delight in Irish ephemera and artifacts. A multi-media gallery space that will position the UICC as a destination to view world-class art, share and contribute stories of the Irish diaspora, and utilize emerging technologies to deepen cultural connections.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Writers and Creative Thinkers
Through robust programming in well-appointed spaces, the new UICC will provide resources to hone skills, discover new talents, and be the best ambassadors for the Irish community.

Emerging Technologies
Harnessing the power of AI and other technologies, guests can access the content that matters most to them. We will deliver a dynamic user experience to attract and engage a diverse audience.

Celebrating the Irish Diaspora
Learn more about the contributions of the Irish across all sectors of society through an expanding collection of stories.

Protecting Cultural Assets
With an eye to the highest standards in museum-quality preservation techniques and standards, our facility will safely preserve original source materials and treasured ephemera for the enjoyment of future generations
INNOVATION through CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Our Campaign for Our Future will provide the latest in design in technology for a performance hall, classrooms, and studios.
With seating for up to 500 guests, UICC’s new performance hall will host a flexible, modern space for concerts, theater productions, dance performances, film screenings, and more.
Dedicated spaces for music, dance, art, and science and STEM classes, equipped with the latest technology, will also enhance learning and creativity for visitors to the UICC of all ages.

Attracting Top Talent
The UICC aims to be the premier west coast destination for performing and teaching artists—Irish and otherwise.

Facilitating Learning; Fostering Creativity
Adaptable spaces that accommodate a variety of creative outlets allows for collaboration and community building.

Enhancing the Guest Experience
Ticket sales will generate critical, sustainable revenue for the new UICC, with upgrades to our guest experience including audio/visual, lighting, accessibility, and comfort.

Nurturing Mind, Body, and Spirit
Facilities for fitness, dance, yoga, and more will promote health, wellness, and recreation for physical and mental well-being for members and their guests.
INNOVATION through HOSPITALITY & FÁILTE
In the Irish language, Céad Míle Fáilte—a hundred thousand welcomes—is a very common phrase and fond sentiment. Our Campaign for Our Future will create space for and encourage the signature Irish hospitality and sense of welcome throughout the building. All are welcome, and there is always room for another seat at the table!
The design and architecture contain many symbols and meanings that underscore a sense of belonging. A pub, restaurant, café, and rooftop garden offer plenty of opportunities to tempt the palate and delight the senses.

You’re Very Welcome
From the moment you step foot into our grand lobby, members and guests alike will feel at home. Ireland and a culture of hospitality are inextricably linked.

Promote Irish Cuisine
We aim to bring the best of Irish culinary highlights to the Bay Area, calling upon the Irish’s history of farm-to-table and sustainable dining.

Know Your Name
Whether a member or a friend we just haven’t met yet, the UICC will be a place that fosters community and relationships better than ever before and serves as true community center in every sense.
Honoring our Past, Securing Our Future
The new UICC will allow for greater financial stability, sustainability, and scalability while adapting to the ever-evolving needs of our diverse community. Critical campaign-specific support is needed to realize our new home.

Ongoing Investment in UICC
The new UICC will generate sustainable income opportunities through its hospitality offerings, ticket sales, venue rentals, educational offerings, robust membership program, and naming opportunities for select spaces.

Community Centered, Globally Focused
The new UICC will be perfectly positioned to welcome the world to San Francisco and to our state-of-the art building. Available for convening and gatherings of various sizes, the new UICC will expand our presence at key times throughout the year in San Francisco, including Dreamforce, JPM Healthcare Conference, and more.
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The Center is a largely volunteer-run organization and we can always use some able hands and new ideas. Please consider signing onto our volunteer list and help when and where you can. This is YOUR Center!