About the Nottingham Irish Centre

In the early 1960s a number of Irish people decided they needed a social centre as a focus for the Irish community and acquired premises in Derby Road opposite St Barnabas Cathedral in 1964. This was the original Nottingham Irish Centre in two rooms for which the committee later acquired an alcohol license. As the Irish community grew throughout the next decade the need for larger premises became obvious.

In 1973 the Irish Centre was relocated to No. 2 Wilford Street (the present Members’ Bar) and the following year acquired No. 4 which was then a fireplace showroom for the builders merchants, John A Stephens. Both buildings were renovated and improved by members of the Irish community who gave of their time willingly and freely.

In the 1970s and 80s the Irish Centre became a staple of Nottingham’s night life, not just for the Irish Community but for a whole generation of Nottingham people who fondly remember the dances and discos that became a regular part of their weekend social life.

However, like many Irish clubs around the country, an aging Irish community and a more diverse social scene meant that over the last fifteen years Nottingham Irish Centre has struggled to survive. But a hardworking committee has begun to turn the tide. In 2018 the Irish Centre became a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) which means, amongst other advantages, that the Centre now has charitable status. The financial viability of the organisation has been ensured through letting the premises under a fixed term lease, although we have an agreement which allows us to use the Members’ Bar for community activities. In the coming year we hope to expand our Irish cultural activities including a monthly Film Club and an Irish history course. The Irish Centre also hosts weekly traditional Irish music classes under the auspices of Comhaltas Ceoltórí Éireann, and is also the venue for a weekly social and lunch club for Irish elders – the Golden Shamrocks.
In 2024 we received a substantial grant from the National Lottery Community Fund which, in additon to support from the Irish Government’s Emigrant support Programmes, has enabled us to expand our welfare programme and to appoint an office manager.