OVER the past 60 years celebrities such as Bing Crosby, Chris Evans and Dermot O’Leary, GAA legends, sporting heroes like Jack Charlton, politicians including Eamon de Valera and Enda Kenny as well as musicians such as The Pogues and Damien Dempsey have all walked through the doorway of 50-52 Camden Square.
This year the London Irish Centre (LIC), situated at its very enviable Camden Square address, celebrates its 60th anniversary.
As the oldest and largest Irish centre in Britain it’s been a home away from home to many Irish people over six decades, including Waterford-born octogenarian Mary Allen who has been working as a volunteer and using the centre for about 45 years.
“My generation built the place,” says Allen, pointing out that there was no Irish Government funding in the early years, so the centre’s survival was dependent on Camden Council and fundraising.
“We’re all getting on a bit but it’s still a great meeting place for the elderly Irish,”says Allen who along with 30-50 others attends the Irish Centre’s lunch meetings three to four times a week.
Allen emigrated in 1948, before the centre was open. “I don’t remember it then… I was married with children to rear, but my husband remembered it being opened.”
A trustee for 12 years, Allen stepped down last year. “I’ve aged darling,” she jokes, explaining she felt it was the right time to let the “young blood” take the reins.
The LIC opened in 1955, funded by the Catholic Church, with the goal of offering support to the droves of young Irish emigrants in London.
With Ireland in the decade of ‘doom and gloom’, agriculture in decline and little work for young people, Britain was a land of hope and opportunity across Irish Sea.
In the 1950s, approximately half a million people left the Irish Republic and the LIC’s records (from 1967) show a third of the 2,000 people that came to the Irish Centre that year arrived with absolutely no money. They received support, accommodation (it was approximately £2 per week for bed) and a welcome.
Current Arts Director Gary Dunne says celebrating 60 years for any organisation is a huge milestone, but the centre also has a particularly important legacy.
Today, the centre’s primary work is to assist the Irish community in London with everything from getting their National Insurance numbers to disputes with landlords, but especially providing welfare to the vulnerable, elderly and the homeless.
2013 was a record year, with 13,000 welfare clients looking for assistance.
The second prong is the centre’s role as a vibrant arts and culture venue attracting 25,000 people every year for events ranging from trad and tea dances to gigs, film and book clubs or just to watch GAA every Sunday.
In his six years as Director, Dunne’s own personal and professional highlight came in February 2012 when President Higgins made his first international visit to Britain.
“The fact that on his first international trip to London, the first door he walked through was ours, made it a proud moment,” says Dunne.
But he is honest about the challenges the centre faces too. Paramount among them is catering for the diverse needs of the Irish community in London.
“A 1950s emigrant will have very different needs to a 19-year-old who just got off a Ryanair flight,” he says.
Plus they have to offer events that appeal to Londoners and international visitors who want a taste of Irish culture too.
“Flying the Irish flag in London can mean a million different things… people have different understandings and expectations of what Irish culture is and there is no fixed answer. The challenge is to be inclusive and keep putting on quality events and to stay accessible.”
The social media era has ushered in change at the centre too with over 30,000 people “plugged in” across Facebook, Twitter and email. One recent LIC Facebook post about an elderly Galway man who died in London with no known next of kin was shared 4,000 times in a matter of hours.
As for the centre’s future, Dunne claims there is no secret to success. If people want the centre to survive another 60 years, they must get involved.
“Come to an event, donate to the charitable side of our work or join the team of 150 volunteers — there are so many ways in,” he says.
And the door is always open.
