The City Greenlights Construction of a New Irish Center
After nearly twenty months navigating the city’s planning procedures, our blueprint to reconstruct the Irish Center was officially endorsed at City Hall by the board of supervisors on Tuesday, December 12, 2023
A celebratory milestone was marked at the Center on Saturday, December 16th, with Mayor London Breed gracing us with her presence for a ceremony that sealed the deal to progress with the new building plans.
What initially began as an exploration to modernize the facility in the spring of 2021 has now culminated in the approval of a splendid new building. This state-of-the-art establishment will house a diverse range of event spaces, a museum, library, exhibition areas, and will serve as a hub for the numerous cultural and educational initiatives we envision for the future.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who has contributed to propelling us to this stage in the development process. Our donors, supporters, and the members of the new building team—specifically Leo Cassidy, Mark Conroe, Redmond Lyons, and Michael Coleman—have played pivotal roles in this achievement.
Today, we stand at a significant juncture in the narrative of our Irish-American journey in the western region. More than fifty years ago, a passionate alliance of individuals from diverse backgrounds united to establish a haven for the Irish community.
Those who came before us didn’t just construct a center; they forged a legacy and strengthened a community. As we face the challenge of reimagining and rejuvenating this cherished space, we require that same collective spirit.
Your participation isn’t merely welcomed; it’s imperative. The reality is, the success of this vital project hinges on your support. We implore you to be part of this new chapter in our center’s legacy, one that will ensure our traditions and stories thrive for generations.
Whether you can offer time, expertise, or financial backing, your involvement will be the bedrock of our future. This is a rallying call to all who hold dear our Irish-American heritage and the power of a unified community.
Join us in this monumental endeavor. Together, we can craft a future as luminous and enduring as the legacy we’ve inherited. Your support is the linchpin to transforming our vision into reality.
For more information on how you can contribute, please reach out to us. Each show of support brings us closer to our objective.
Thank you for being an indispensable part of shaping our community’s future.
Line Dancing Anyone? — Whether you are an avid fan of line dancing or want to keep fit over the Winter – classes are now expanding to two sessions per month. Sign up online for classes on January 12th and 25th.
Winter Féile — Join us for the Winter Féile! The John and Maureen Kennelly Memorial Feis sets the stage for a lively weekend of Irish music, song, and dance from Friday, January 12, to Sunday, January 14. The festivities kick off as we reopen the pub for 2024 at 5pm on January 12, featuring the musical talents of the Kavanaugh Brothers from 7pm onwards.
Our two-day Féis starts at 8am and keeps the energy going until 6pm each day. Plus, there’s a special fundraiser hosted by local Irish musicians supporting a humanitarian kids’ charity starting at 4pm in the pub. And for a thrilling night, don’t miss The Hooks, a local rock band, as they pay tribute to The Pogues in a concert starting at 8:30pm.
As the Féis comes to a close upstairs in the St. Patrick’s room, the music continues with The Shams performing from 2pm to 4pm in the pub. It’s a celebration not to be missed!
Annual Appeal Thanks — Many thanks to all those who have supported our end of year appeal with a contribution that will be used to support our Irish cultural programming this year. A portion of this years appeal will help support our three week summer camp and the youth music classes at the Center.
St. Brigids Festival — The festival of St. Brigid will be honored on Saturday February 3rd with a cross weaving workshop. Registration closes on February 2nd.
Kids Library Program — During the Winter Féile weekend, Ms. Nancy’s read Aloud runs from 10:15am-10:45am in the library. Musical instruments and storytelling, sign up online.
Sean’s Puppet Show — Our kids Programming continues to expand with a puppet show on Sunday February 4th with Sean Powers. Don’t miss it! Sign up online.
Happy New Year! — I want to wish all those in the UICC community a safe and prosperous new year!
New Building Signing Ceremony
Front row: Liam Reidy, UICC President, Mayor London Breed, Consul General Michéal Smith Back Row: Myrna Melgar, District 7 Supervisor, Jonathan Goldberg, Joel Engardio’s District 4 Office, Redmond Lyons and Leo Cassidy.
Liam Reidy, President
lreidy@irishcentersf.org