Tánaiste visits London Irish Centre and pays tribute to Irish community

Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, has visited the London Irish Centre. The Tánaiste met staff and representatives of Irish community organisations in London and took the opportunity to recognise the tireless work of Irish community organisations in supporting Irish people across London.

The Tánaiste said:

"The tireless work that the staff of the London Irish Centre do - alongside the different Irish Community Organisations -with some of our most vulnerable in London, and the resilience they've shown in facing successive crises, is worthy of special acknowledgement.

"History will reflect that, at a time when those most in need in our diaspora communities sought help, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the extended Irish community in London who answered this call. We owe them a great debt of gratitude.

"Since it opened almost seventy years ago, the London Irish Centre has been at the heart of the Irish community in London. It has seen many changes over the decades, as the Irish community has evolved and matured, but the centre itself has remained a constant in the lives of countless Irish emigrants to London.

"I last visited the centre in 2008 when I had the honour of officially opening the newly-refurbished Day Centre. It is a real privilege to return and see that the vibrancy and commitment that was in evidence then has in no way dimmed over the years."

Through the Government of Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme, administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs, both the London Irish Centre and Irish community organisations receive significant financial support for services and projects supporting the Irish community in Great Britain.

The Tánaiste was in London ahead of his attendance at the British Irish Association conference in Oxford this weekend.

Notes

The London Irish Centre opened in 1955 to serve the needs of Irish emigrants living in and around the Camden area. The centre has grown significantly over the years and now provides a wide range of personal and community services for Irish people based in London and beyond. Many of these services are supported by funding from the government’s Emigrant Support Programme.

Since its inception in 2004, the Irish Government’s Emigrant Support Programme has assisted over 530 organisations in some 37 countries with grants totalling over €220 million. Irish organisations based in Great Britain have received over €131 million through the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP).