The 1990s
1990 and 1991 were periods of triumph for the Irish Centre with Silver Jubilee celebrations and Presidential visits. However, the financial situation of the Irish Centre worsened and it was taken over in 1992. 127 Mount Pleasant was then closed on 19th June 1997 after the the Irish Centre Cultural Society Co-Operative Ltd went into receivership.
Inside the Irish Centre in the 1990s...
L to R Back: Tommy Walsh, Tom Redmond, Padraic Flynn T.D., Dominic Murray, John Coyne Front: Kathleen Walsh, Sadie Redmond, Dorothy Flynn, Sheila Murray
L to R Back: Tommy Walsh, Tom Redmond, Padraic Flynn T.D., Dominic Murray, John Coyne Front: Kathleen Walsh, Sadie Redmond, Dorothy Flynn, Sheila Murray
Key Events & Entertainment
in the 1990s
1990: The Irish Centre's Silver Jubilee
1990 was a very important year for the Irish Centre as it saw the Silver Jubilee. This was an opportunity for the Centre to celebrate all of its achievements, and to recognise all of the hard work and effort that had gone into creating a community hub for the Irish in Liverpool. Celebrations included a Silver Jubilee Dinner which you can see the invitation and menu for below. The Dinner was held on 3rd February 1990 to commemorate the formal opening of the Irish Centre in 1965 on St Brigid's Day 1965. The formal invitation and carefully catered menu highlight that this was an important milestone for the centre, marking 25 years of the centre’s presence and contribution in Liverpool. This event brought together members of the Irish community and local guests, reinforcing cultural identity and social bonds.
As well as the Silver Jubilee Dinner, there was also a Silver Jubilee Mass and a special booklet printed to celebrate the achievement. You can click on the booklet below to see some pages from the Silver Jubilee Booklet. You can also click here to read Patrick Gaul's 2020 blog post on what the booklet means for the current Irish Centre today.
November 1990 Nuacht
This issue of the Nuacht shows the upcoming events for November 1990 in the Irish Centre. Some traditions have continued such as Charity Dances, Benefit Nights, and concerts. There was also a commemoration dance in memory of Eamon Coyne and Albert Cruikshank, members of the All-Ireland winning Liverpool Ceili Band. There is also a note at the bottom pointing out the earlier starting and finishing time on Sunday nights.
1990 Secretary's Report
The 1990 Secretary's Report opens with the following paragraph summarising the year:
"This has been a momentous year in the life of the Irish Centre, starting off in a very busy way with talk and arrangements for our Silver Jubilee"
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The report recounts the numerous Silver Jubilee events such as a special Silver Jubilee Mass. This along with the St Patrick's Mass 'were occasions of great community spirit'.
There are hints at some new ideas developing in the Irish Centre, not all successful but attendance continued to improve. The Irish Centre also welcomed many students from Ireland especially those from Liverpool Polytechnic (Liverpool John Moores University now) and the University of Liverpool.
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At the time of the report being written, the Centre was hosting the Sealink 5-a-side tournament. There are also updates from the Tuesday Supper Céilí, the Pioneer Association, the Pipe Band, the Ladies Keep Fit classes, 'Over 60s' Club, Finn Harps, and John Mitchels G.A.A.
1991 Secretary's Report
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"This year 1991 has probably been the most eventful since our Irish Centre opened in 1964" is the opening line to the 1991 Secretary's Report. The events included major refurbishments which required the Centre to borrow money. The development plan and renovations included the renaming of the John F. Kennedy Bar, the transformation of the Claddagh Room into the Claddagh Restaurant, and an addition of a travel shop to Croc an Oir.
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Such refurbishments required an opening celebration which occurred on 8th September 1991. This had been a great success and from September, the Irish Centre 'had many big names to entertain and there has been a steady flow of people through our doors'.
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The Secretary Report also includes updates from: 'Over 60s' Club, Dancing Class, Irish Community Care, Conradh na Gaeilge, John Mitchels G.A.A., and the Irish Studies Group. Take a look and see what was happening in 1991!
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December 1991: President Mary Robinson's Visit
As part of her visit to Liverpool to accept an Honorary Law Degree, President of Ireland Mary Robinson visited the Irish Centre in Liverpool on Sunday 15th December 1991. This is an invitation that was sent out to one of the members:
1992: An Evening with Tom O'Connor
In 1992, Tom O'Connor, a Liverpool Comedian and Television Presenter, recorded an album live at the Liverpool Irish Centre which was sold as a cassette and CD. ​
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The track list includes:
1. Black Velvet Band
2. When I Was A Lad
3. Dublin '62
4. Mountains Of Mourne
5. Liverpool
6. In My Liverpool Home
7. The Ballad Of Seth Davy
8. Liverpool Lou
1992: Continuing Traditions...
The Irish Centre continued to build up its traditions. These two clips are taken from important dates in the calendar for the Irish Centre: St Patrick's Day and Crib Sunday. In 1992, St Patrick's Day was celebrated with music from Michael Coyne, dancing, and the community coming together. Crib Sunday included children taking part in the nativity, musicians from Comhaltas playing Christmas Carols, and a special visit from Father Christmas! These are just some of the traditions that have been embraced at the Liverpool Irish Centre at 6 Boundary Lane too.
1992 Onwards: The Closure of the Irish Centre
In Being Irish in Liverpool, Tommy Walsh wrote that ‘Why the Centre closed is a matter of opinion and everyone who saw it happen will have their own view of what happened and why’. There were various reasons for its closure but this is just a general overview. After 1992, there were financial issues with the Irish Centre and a Rescue Committee was appointed by Irish Centre with the sole aim of saving the Irish Centre. Ben Willoughby was the Chairman. The Rescue Committee was tasked with raising money to ensure the Centre's survival. However, the Irish Centre went into receivership and the Committee and Members lost control of 127 Mount Pleasant in 1992. It was taken over by Michael Finnegan for two years before going into Receivership again. The building was then bought by a London businessman William Demteriou who without ever occupying it, sold it onto the Irish Centre Cultural Society Co-Operative Ltd. The Co-operative then went into receivership in 1997 resulting in roof-top protests. You can read more about these protests in the Newspapers folder in the History Room. 127 Mount Pleasant officially closed its doors on 19th June 1997.
Continuing Traditions Beyond the Irish Centre
With the closure of the Irish Centre, the activity groups became spread out across Merseyside. Here are just some of the locations:
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Máirín Bolger’s Irish Dancing Class: Holy Cross Parish Centre before moving to the Eldonian Centre
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Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann: Eldonian Centre, Vauxhall
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Irish Community Care Merseyside Tuesday Club: St. Oswald’s, Old Swan, then Our Lady’s Wavertree.
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James Larkin Band: Holy Cross Church Hall
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25 card players (Fr. Jennings, Bernard Bradley, Jimmy Morin, Jimmy O’Connor): Our Lady of Mount Carmel Club in High Park Street.
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Traditions also continued beyond the Irish Centre. In 1997, the Irish community in Liverpool continued their visits to Dungarvan. The video below shows the continuing connection between the two communities, a connection that still exists today. Take a look and see if you can spot familiar faces getting off the bus or enjoying soup in the hall!
Over the next two years, the Irish community would continue to celebrate their heritage and culture in various venues across the city, until they found a new home at St Michael's Centre in 1999.