Cultural Contributions

Pogues Concert at the National, Kilburn, 4 December 1986.
© Joanne O’Brien
Pogues Concert at the National, Kilburn, 4 December 1986

Irish Cultural Heritage

Culture, encompassing music, sport, dance, literature and language, plays a central role in expressing and preserving Irish identity. It creates bridges between generations, fostering connections and driving innovation.

Across the Irish diaspora, community organisations strive to promote and celebrate Irish cultural heritage.

We have heard stories of Irish migrants reconnecting with the Irish language during lockdown, or brushing up on language skills by speaking it with their children.

Many Irish centres across Britain offer Irish dancing classes, which became particularly popular following Riverdance’s 1994 Eurovision performance. The Irish community newspapers The Irish Post and The Irish World cover GAA (Irish sports) and the organisation Comhaltas has 23 branches around Britain promoting music, song, dance and language. Many organisations promote Irish literature and drama.

The richness of Irish culture offers the wider community an invitation to see us, hear us and understand us.

Galtymore Dancehall, Cricklewood, circa 1950 - 1965.
© Photographer Unknown
Galtymore Dancehall, Cricklewood, circa 1950 - 1965

Cultural Contributions

Dancehalls

Dancehalls have held a special place in the hearts of the Irish community in Britain. They have served as a treasured haven where Irish migrants and their descendants could gather, fostering a profound sense of identity and kinship.

These venues pulsated with the melodies of showbands and traditional Irish music, inspiring joyous gatherings, building lifelong connections, friendships and romance. Besides the Galtymore in London and the Cricklewood Irish Club, other notable dance halls include the New Ardri and Astoria in Manchester.

An Irish Dance, London Irish Centre, 1985. An Irish Dance, London Irish Centre, 1985.
An Irish Dance, London Irish Centre, 1985
© Archive of the Irish in Britain, London Metropolitan University
Brian Boru Céilí band, Paddy Kelly (accordion centre), Billy Greenhall (accordion right), Jimmy Murray (Drums), Wigan, 1970s. Brian Boru Céilí band, Paddy Kelly (accordion centre), Billy Greenhall (accordion right), Jimmy Murray (Drums), Wigan, 1970s.
Brian Boru Céilí band, Paddy Kelly (accordion centre), Billy Greenhall (accordion right), Jimmy Murray (Drums), Wigan, 1970s
© Brian Boru Irish Club
Leaflet advertising the Benefit Dance at the Galtymore on Friday 1 March, year unknown. Leaflet advertising the Benefit Dance at the Galtymore on Friday 1 March, year unknown.
Leaflet advertising the Benefit Dance at the Galtymore on Friday 1 March, year unknown
© Brent Irish Advisory Service
A Couple Dancing, Kilkenny Association, circa 1970-1989. A Couple Dancing, Kilkenny Association, circa 1970-1989.
A Couple Dancing, Kilkenny Association, circa 1970-1989
© Geoffrey Rodgers
Alice Delahunty, Maureen Heaney & Patsy Jordan.
Alice Delahunty

We were so lucky to have met such a crowd of lovely people, …It was so idyllic that you could hardly explain it

Cultural Contributions

Influence on Music

The Irish have had a significant and lasting influence on British popular music. Many legendary British musicians and bands have Irish roots, contributing to the fusion of Irish sounds with folk, rock, punk, and other genres.

This dynamic cultural exchange still resonates, cementing the continuing impact of the Irish across the spectrum of British popular music. Among many others, The Beatles, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Smiths, Oasis, Kate Bush and Ed Sheeran all boast Irish heritage.

Liam Gallagher at Reading Festival, August 2017. Liam Gallagher at Reading Festival, August 2017.
Liam Gallagher at Reading Festival, August 2017
© Ralph PH
Ashton Comhaltas Group, 1978. Ashton Comhaltas Group, 1978.
Ashton Comhaltas Group, 1978
© Brian Boru Irish Club
The Siobhan Clarke School Of Irish Dancing, Brian Boru Irish Club, 2014. The Siobhan Clarke School Of Irish Dancing, Brian Boru Irish Club, 2014.
The Siobhan Clarke School Of Irish Dancing, Brian Boru Irish Club, 2014
© Brian Boru Irish Club
Dexys Midnight Runners in concert, Zurich, 1982. Dexys Midnight Runners in concert, Zurich, 1982.
Dexys Midnight Runners in concert, Zurich, 1982
© Ueli Frey
Sinéad O’Connor, Yvonne Gribben, Rita Reale, London Irish Women’s Conference, 1996. Sinéad O’Connor, Yvonne Gribben, Rita Reale, London Irish Women’s Conference, 1996.
Sinéad O’Connor, Yvonne Gribben, Rita Reale, London Irish Women’s Conference, 1996
© Sass Tuffin
Jah Wobble.
Jah Wobble

Sinéad and Johnny…they had this certain thing about them, a certain weight…a certain depth to things

Cultural Contributions

Irish Studies and the Diaspora

The creation of Irish studies programmes in British universities was a milestone in the growing recognition of Irish life in Britain.

The Polytechnic of North London (now London Metropolitan University) created a Caribbean Studies Centre and Irish Studies Centre in 1986 and the Institute of Irish Studies was founded at the University of Liverpool in 1988. They had their origins in local Irish studies and education groups around the country, set up by Irish migrants who recognised a need for greater understanding of Irish history and culture.

Irish Studies Degree, University of North London. Irish Studies Degree, University of North London.
Irish Studies Degree, University of North London
© Archive of the Irish in Britain, London Metropolitan University
Professor Frank Shovlin with Irish Studies students, University of Liverpool, 2019. Professor Frank Shovlin with Irish Studies students, University of Liverpool, 2019.
Professor Frank Shovlin with Irish Studies students, University of Liverpool, 2019
© Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool
Student reading in a seminar class, University of Liverpool, 2019. Student reading in a seminar class, University of Liverpool, 2019.
Student reading in a seminar class, University of Liverpool, 2019
© Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool
Students enrolling on the Irish Studies short course, Polytechnic of North London, 1987. Students enrolling on the Irish Studies short course, Polytechnic of North London, 1987.
Students enrolling on the Irish Studies short course, Polytechnic of North London, 1987
© Archive of the Irish in Britain, London Metropolitan University
Prof. Mary Hickman.
Professor Mary Hickman

They had some money from the old Inner London Education Authority and some of it was to set up an Irish Studies Centre and some of it was to set up a Caribbean Studies Centre

Cultural Contributions

Oral Histories

Alice Boyle O'Dowda.

Alice Boyle O'Dowda

Re-designing Irish Dancing Costumes

Alice was born in Dublin where she became a champion Irish dancer and teacher. She moved to the south coast in the 1960s and now lives in Eastleigh.

1 of 19
Ant Hanlon.

Ant Hanlon

Pride in Being Irish

Ant was born in Lancashire to Irish parents. He now lives in Leeds wherehe trained as a social worker and is the CEO of Leeds Irish Health and Homes.

2 of 19
Breda Corish.

Breda Corish

Post-Punk and Indie scene in 1980s London

Breda was born in Dublin and grew up in rural Co. Kerry and Co. Limerick and moved to London in 1987. In 2016 she became an active volunteer for the London-Irish Abortion Rights Campaign.

3 of 19
Alice Delahunty, Maureen Heaney & Patsy Jordan.

Alice Delahunty, Maureen Heaney & Patsy Jordan

Memories of Tara Club, Tyneside

Patsy was born in Felling, Gateshead. Alice was born in Co. Fermanagh and moved to England in 1951. Maureen was born in Achill Island, Co. Mayo and came to England in 1953.

4 of 19
Chris McDonagh.

Chris McDonagh

Irish Traveller Language

Chris is a Traveller activist, originally from Manchester, now living in Cardiff, Wales. He is Campaigns Officer at Friends, Families and Travellers and sits on the advisory board for The Traveller Movement.

5 of 19
Gerry Molumby.

Gerry Molumby

Setting up Triskellion Theatre Company

Gerry is the founder of Triskellion Irish Theatre Company. He moved to North London from Co. Tipperary and worked
in social housing and support. He now lives in Derbyshire.

6 of 19
Jah Wobble.

Jah Wobble

On Working With Sinéad O’Connor and John Lydon

Jah Wobble was born John Joseph Wardle in East London. He is a musician and lives in Stockport, working in community arts in addition to writing and touring.

7 of 19
Dr Maev McDaid.

Dr Maev McDaid

Playing Harp for Local Community

Maev is from Co. Derry and moved to Liverpool when she was 18. She is an academic researching Irish migrants to Britain and has volunteered with Irish in Britain for over ten years.

8 of 19
Marian Larragy.

Marian Larragy

Amach Linn and Gay Céilís

Marian was born in Dublin and moved to London in the 1970s where she worked as a bus conductor. In the 1990s she was active with Amach Linn (Out with Us), a lesbian and gay organisation.

9 of 19
Prof. Mary Hickman.

Prof. Mary Hickman

Setting up Irish Studies

Mary was the Director of the Irish Studies Centre at The Polytechnic of North London, now London Metropolitan University. She is a leading academic in the field of Irish Diaspora Studies.

10 of 19
Michael McDonagh.

Michael McDonagh

Socialising in Dancehalls, Wages in Pubs

Michael was born in rural Co. Sligo and moved to North-East England aged 16, in the mid-1960s, where he worked
on building sites.

11 of 19
Pat Salmon.

Pat Salmon

On the Galtymore

Pat was born in rural Co. Leitrim and moved to London in the 1960s. She moved to Newcastle and then Portsmouth, managing the bar at the Portsmouth Irish Centre.

12 of 19
Patrick morrison.

Patrick Morrison

Irish Dancing

Patrick was born in Liverpool to Irish parents. has worked across the Irish community in Britain, including  Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. He is a former Chair of Irish in Britain.

13 of 19
Siobhan fahey.

Siobhan Fahey

Irish Rebels

Siobhan is an Irish singer, who was born in Dublin and brought up in Scotland and England. She is a founding member of Bananarama and Shakespears Sister.

14 of 19
Stiofan o'nuallain.

Stiofán Ó Nualláin

Learning Irish

Stiofán was born in London to Irish parents and moved to Belfast in 1988 to study Irish. He now works with the Irish labour movement on anti-sectarian initiatives

15 of 19
Terry christian.

Terry Christian

Irish Music Scene

Broadcaster Terry Christian shares remarkable insights about life in Manchester within the Irish community, and the power of the Irish diaspora in the music industry.

16 of 19
Terry christian.

Terry Christian

Sinéad O'Connor, Boy George and Jay Wobble on the Word

Broadcaster Terry Christian shares remarkable insights about life in Manchester within the Irish community, and the power of the Irish diaspora in the music industry.

17 of 19
Willie Howard.

Willie Howard

Spuds & Cabbage

Willie was born in Co. Cork and first moved to London before the 2008 crash. He worked in pubs and on sites before becoming a trade union organiser.

18 of 19
Willie Howard.

Willie Howard

Golden Wonders

Willie was born in Co. Cork and first moved to London before the 2008 crash. He worked in pubs and on sites before becoming a trade union organiser.

19 of 19