|
About The New
York Irish Center
The New York Irish Center, a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is truly an Irish place with
a
"céad míle fáilte" for the whole community. It
is accessible from every borough of New York, and from every
part of the tri-state area. Through it, every Irish and
Irish American, and every caller, can find help for a full life
and fulfill their American Dream.
Our Story
The Center is the realization of a life long dream of
many in the community who longed for a gathering place for the
Irish community throughout the New York tri-sate area. Four
Irish-born American businessmen, bought the building in 2003 and
held it until the Irish Center was in a position to purchase
it at the
original price less a large donation, in 2005. As real estate prices
had skyrocketed around the developing Long Island City
neighborhood between 2003 and 2005, this tremendous act of generosity stands as a
testament to these four men’s willingness to contribute to their
city and reward everyone, including themselves with the
permanence of the Irish Center. Father Colm Campbell was lured
back from retirement to help launch the project. Now under
Executive Director Paul Finnegan, we all believe
that the building will serve as the cultural and social hub of
New York’s Irish community.
|
Click
here for photos from the
Official Grand
Opening
of
the New York Irish Center.
|
Our Vision
The vision for The New York Irish
Center is real COMMUNITY. True
community consists of:
A sense of
solidarity. This happens when members
identify with the Center as theirs and see the other
members as people they can trust for giving and
sharing.
-
A sense of
significance. Through relationships formed
in the Center people find that they not only have
needs but have their own gifts and talents which
they can give to the benefit of others members and
society at large.
-
-
A sense of
security. People discover that the Center is
a place where people know that other members are
always there for them.
We
wanted to establish an easily identified Irish place, accessible
from everywhere, through which every Irish and Irish-American
person can find what they need for a full life in New York. We
will be an Information Center for existing resources and will
provide what is not available to meet remaining needs. In the
light of the high depression and suicide rate in the community,
it is vital that an Irish Center exists and people know they
will get any help they may want or need, day and night.
Our Location
 The New York Irish Center is located in
Long Island City, one subway
stop from Grand Central Station on the
7 train
(Vernon Blvd-Jackson Ave station). Also, it is just
around the corner from the Midtown Tunnel, straight ahead to the
59th Street Bridge and Queens Boulevard. It is beside the
entrances to the Long Island Expressway, which in linked to the
Grand Central Parkway and the Brooklyn /Queens Expressway. The
Long Island Railroad is just three blocks away.
Click
here to get directions to/from the New York Irish Center
(courtesy of Google Maps)
|
