1960's
The Start of the Irish Centre
The creation & establishment of the Liverpool Irish Centre
The Liverpool Irish Centre had been planned since 1961. To help establish a Centre dedicated for the Irish in Liverpool, the Irish Centre Committee and the Irish Centre Building Fund were created. Money was raised through Irish concerts, dances and aid from His Lordship, Bishop Lucey. The purpose of the Centre was to "create a premises which the Irish can call their own," with the building being a welfare and social centre.
![Irish Centre Building Fund - Irish Celebrity Concert [Screenshot].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/cdba4c_fa5cb9eb088940c5ae5e08b7732a16fa~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_258,h_372,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Irish%20Centre%20Building%20Fund%20-%20Irish%20Celebrity%20Concert%20%5BScreenshot%5D.png)
![Irish Centre Building Fund Found Location [Screenshot].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/cdba4c_5cadb489a65d4050b2eb09a477aea952~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_353,h_364,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Irish%20Centre%20Building%20Fund%20Found%20Location%20%5BScreenshot%5D.png)
The Liverpool Irish Centre was officially opened by Eire Minister for External Affairs, Frank Aiken, at 127 Mount Pleasant on February 1st, 1965. The building, formerly known as the ‘Wellington Rooms’, were dubbed “the Mecca for Liverpool’s social and cultural life” by the Liverpool Echo & Evening Press. Aiken stated during the opening of the Centre he ‘hoped that trade between Ireland and Liverpool would expand’. The Lord Mayor also declared that, “some people spoke of Liverpool as being the capital of Ireland.”
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*The opening of the Irish Centre was covered in various newspapers which cannot be published here due to copyright. If you are interested in seeing these articles for personal/research purposes, please contact the Irish Centre.
Leon O'Kennedy's Exhibition
During the winter of 1967, leading landscape artist and cousin to former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Leon O'Kennedy, held his first ever exhibition in Liverpool, at the Irish Centre. For three weeks, paintings of the landscapes and mountains of Ireland were on display. Reportedly, Merseyside’s Irish community ‘flocked’ to see the exhibition, resulting in many of the paintings being bought. In total, Leon O’Kennedy presented 31 works of Irish country. One painting in particular was of the Kennedy family homestead in Wexford. Ultimately, O'Kennedy was reportedly delighted with the public interest shown in his exhibition.
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Secretary Rosemary Spiby and Centre Manager Tommy Walsh at the O'Kennedy exhibition, Irish Centre, 1967.
'Adopt an Irishman for Christmas'
In December 1967, hundreds of Irish men and women were unable to return home, as boats and flights were cancelled for Christmas due to the 'foot in mouth' outbreak. The 'Adopt an Irishman for Christmas' scheme was operated by the Irish Centre, where local Liverpool families of Irish and other origins, invited those stranded to have Christmas Day or weekend with them. The scheme was very successful, so much so that the Irish Centre reportedly had nothing to do regarding hospitality on Christmas Day.
Original Interior
The Croc An Óir shop at the original Irish Centre.
The exterior of the original Irish Centre at 127 Mount Pleasant.
The Croc An Óir shop officially opened on Wednesday 12th March, 1964, by Kevin Rush, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Irish Embassy. The press release stated that the shop will 'sell only Irish made goods of top quality.'
The Claddagh Room.
Entertainment
Advertisement for The Antelopes.
Advertisement for Big John & The Emerald Stars.