Press Articles About the New York Irish Center

The following articles appeared in the Irish Echo, Irish Voice and New York Times newspapers...

The New York Times - "Long Island City Plans Irish Cultural Center", March 2005

The Irish Echo - "A Center Sprouts in Queens", March 2005

The Irish Voice - "Irish Center Saves Seniors", April 2005

The Irish Voice - "Suicide Group Setup", June 2005

The Irish Echo - "Echo Profile: An Unbelievable Gift", July 2005

Long Island City Plans Irish Cultural Center (by Jeff Vandam)

(This article was published in the issue of March 22, 2005. 2005(c) New York Times)

All day every day last week, including the one belonging to St. Patrick, workers cemented floors, laid carpet and moved heavy furniture inside a sun-soaked red-brick building on Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens. Soft brogues filled the air as everyone pushed to get the place ready for Friday, when the Irish minister for education and science would arrive to start things.

Outside, the building was bedecked with a long white-and-green banner reading "New York Irish Center." The founders say that while the city has had ad hoc Irish centers and specialized ones for, say, immigration, as far as they know this place is the first official one for the people of Ireland's 32 counties to socialize and take language and other classes.

"It's the Irish custom of keepin' a light in the window, so if a stranger calls, there's a welcome," said the Rev. Colm Campbell, a longtime presence in the Irish community who is overseeing the birth of the center. "Because it's Irish, it's open to anybody."

The motivation for the center is not that the Irish population is growing; it is more that New York Irish are scattered throughout several neighborhoods, like Maspeth and Woodside in Queens, and Woodlawn in the Bronx.

"Philadelphia, Boston - everywhere has an Irish center but here," said Mary Meegan, a member of the center's board. In addition, the basement of the building will house something called the Pub With No Beer, an alcohol-free space where people can watch hurling, football or rugby. The construction is being largely volunteered by local companies.

"This is the Irish version of 'Extreme Makeover,' " said Matt Forde, the center's president, as he led a visitor through a hallway filled with hammering. "Will we be cookin' tomorrow?" he asked the workers in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day. "A nice Irish breakfast?"

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A Center Sprouts in Queens (by Ailbhe Jordan)

(This article was published in the issue of March 23-29, 2005. (c) 2005 Irish Echo Newspaper Corp.)

The aroma of brown scones mingled with the scent of fresh paint inside 10-40 Jackson Ave. in Long Island City, Queens, last Friday, heralding the beginning of something new and Irish. A big crowd gathered to witness the opening of New York's newest Irish center, and those who had seen the building in its derelict state nine months ago could not believe their eyes.

"I've seen it every step of the way," volunteer Regina Robinson said of the New York Irish Center site. "Nine months ago this building was not really in working order. This time last week there were 10 workmen in here. It's fabulous."

Dr. Arthur Weisenseel kicked off the opening with an emotional performance of "Fields of Athenry." "It's very meaningful for me to come here," said Weisenseel, a cardiologist and former president of the Irish-American Medical Association of New York. "My granny left Ireland aged 12 and never returned."

Ireland's minister for education, Mary Hanafin, was guest of honor at the event. "This is one of the more special events during my stay here," she said. "It's the people and the activities that will make this center a real success."

"This is extreme makeover, Irish style," said Matt Forde, chairman of the center. "We're grateful for the work everyone has done and for their energy, which is contagious and will bring us even further."

With a haon, a dó, a trí, it was time to cut the green ribbon before handing over the stage to Donegal duo Dave Harper on guitar and Tony De Marco on fiddle.

Funded partly by an anonymous consortium of businessmen, the Irish center will run a host of community services, including a social club for the elderly. "We're very happy that the center is opening; I'm looking forward to the senior center lunches and bus rides," said Lorretta Markunas, who plans to make regular trips to the senior citizen's club from her home in Green Point.

The center will also run Irish dance and céili classes, with rehearsal space available for dance and theater groups. "Any Irish artists that are in town, hopefully we'll be able to twist a few arms and get them over here to play," said artistic consultant Alice Farrell, who is keen to make use of the center's fully functional sound system.

At basement level, guests will find an Internet café and a pub, though this one is strictly non-alcoholic.

"New York doesn't have a proper center for Irish people like there is in Boston in Chicago, and I think that's disgraceful," one woman said. "We need a place for young Irish people, like a hostel to encourage them to come here. The whole Irish culture over here is so well respected, we should keep it that way."

"It's going to be great for all the Irish people in the area," said Fine Gael Councilor John O'Malley, who was in New York with members of Mayo County Council for St. Patrick's celebrations. "I came here in 1972 and lived for a couple of years, but I found it hard to meet Irish people. I'm delighted to see something like this on my return."

For one man, the opening represented the fulfillment of both a personal vision and an acute need for Irish people in New York. "I feel this was absolutely necessary for Irish people over here," said Fr. Colm Campbell, founder of the Irish Center. "We want to direct people toward, as well as providing, services. We're doing our best to get the word out; word of mouth is very strong in the Irish community. But it's not just for the Irish community. The very fact that this place says 'Irish' on the door means its open to anyone."

The New York Irish Center is in Long Island City, one stop from Grand Central Terminal. For information or advice about the center, call 1 (800) IRISH HELP.  To write a letter to the editor, click here. Please include your name, address and a day-time phone number for verification.

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Irish Center Saves Seniors (by Georgina Brennan)

(This article was published in the issue of April 20, 2005. (c) 2005 Irish Voice Newspaper Corp.)

The New York Irish Center in Long Island City, already open a month, launched one of its key programs - a seniors afternoon club - last week. GEORGINA BRENNAN went along.

The New Irish Center in Long Island City couldn’t have come at a better time. Not if you ask Virginia Sheehan. “I used to go to the other senior centers, but I never felt like I fit in. I never felt like I had a voice. They were always doing things for the other people. Now I have a voice, now I have somewhere to go. This center, at least it’s all Irish, so we know it will cater to our needs,” said Sheehan who came in from Greenpoint last Wednesday for the opening of the senior’s afternoon club.

Sheehan was joined by over fifty over fifty-year olds to launch a club that, everyone said was sorely needed. “There really was never anything like this before, there were other clubs, but none just for us,” said Patricia Riordan as she started a to-do list for the club.

The New York Irish center at 1040 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, just one stop from Grand Central Station on the 7 train, is a community center for everyone in the Irish community. “We did not want to replicate anything that was already here,” said one of the champions of the center, Father Colm Campbell, the former immigrant chaplain who is a beloved figure in the Irish community.

“The proposal for this was simple. The Irish community needed a resource, which served as the cultural and social hub of the New York Irish American community. This center will be an entity that brings together the many hard-working existing community organizations to more effectively serve the entire community. It will be a true community center that is planned, organized and owned by the community in a highly cooperative effort,” he told the Irish Voice. “Besides, there’s too much talk going on here for it to be limited to one or two gatherings a week,” he laughed.

The seniors who had come to the first club had come to be a part of the organization. “We really had nothing before. I would say that 90 per cent of the women here are widows. We had the Irish American dances and associations as well as our coffee evenings, but look at my face, don’t I look bored, ” said Lilly Osobo, a mature woman who admitted the only thing the senior club was lacking was a few eligible young bachelors. “Seriously, around age 28,” she winked.

With fun the name of the game, the group began bargaining about the activities they should include as part of their club. “ I would like to have yoga for seniors,” said Patty at the Greenpoint Girls table. “ We are the golden girls from under the golden bridge and we need to keep in shape,” she laughed. “Yeah, aerobics for seniors,” shouted another. “And old time dancing,” said Jim Flynn who is offering his teaching skills. Flynn who is a counselor and therapist in Manhattan who learned kitchen dancing from his parents who hail from County Cork. “We are trying to organize one night a week to have as an old time dancing night, where anybody could come, not just the seniors, but they seem to be interested in coming already,” he told the Irish Voice.

With shouts of movie nights, outings to landmarks and even casinos, poker classics, sing-a-longs, book readings, diet classes from a nutritionist, free health screenings and health and fitness discussions, the room was erupting. “Cunas, le do thóil,” said one woman calling for quiet in Gaelic. Everyone laughed. I think we should pass around a piece of paper with our suggestions,” she said. And the deal was done. Campbell promised to take all suggestions on board and try to keep everyone happy. “We really would like to see this take off,” said Terry O Hanlon. “ Maybe we could have bingo for prizes and learn Irish arts and crafts,” offered a woman called Peggy. “I would love to learn about ways to make some money, You know like bringing in things from our houses to sell or get valued, like those shows on television,” said Nora Gillen.

Already organized is a card night on April 29 said Jim Higgins who hails from Kiltimagh in Mayo. “It’s a 25 drive that we will hold on the last Friday of every month from 7:00 p.m. to midnight. If anyone needs more info they can call 718 426 3941,” he told the Irish Voice. “Come early,” said Maureen Devaney. “It will be moving tables and there will be three sets of partners. We will have all the equipment and there will be someone to teach beginners. So all are welcome,” she added.

They were already at home buzzing about the things they could do over the course of their afternoons. “When I started here I realized there was a real need for one organization to coordinate everything,” Campbell said drawing the room’s attention. “But we don’t want to replicate anything that is here already or overshadow any services already here. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel,” he says. “There are numerous successful and experienced Irish community and general public agencies in existence. The center will act as a referral agency to tie all of those together. We will make available information about existing services and resources and direct people to the appropriate agency or place for their needs. If a needed resource is not there we will provide it from our own resources. The center will operate on basic community work principles. It will facilitate groups and individuals who will provide services for themselves.”

The building where New York’s only Irish center is located was donated to the Irish community by four businessmen. But already they are seeing their investment realized as the community comes together under the roof of the building. “We are currently renovating the basement where we will soon have an Internet café and an alcohol free bar. Our large multi-purpose first floor areas will host the senior afternoons, the mother and children club and is available for baby showers, christenings, anniversaries and other events. We may even have plays and shows here,” Campbell told the group. “We invite you all to use the center and if you would like to have an event here, we are not allowed to sell you alcohol but you can bring your own. We are offering space for meetings here and we are currently trying to rent the top floor.” Campbell says the center is long overdue in a community that is spread across the New York metro area.

“This space is really for the Irish community, it is about them,” said center president Matt Forde at the opening of the center. “We all have at one point or another contributed to the parish centers across Ireland, and now it is time for our own. This could be a place where Irish women could form their own organizations, children could learn, men could find a sanctuary and the community could club together,” Forde added.

Campbell said ultimately the center is an opportunity for the Irish community to connect on a level never seen before. “We need a center of gravity, so that better communication within the community can be fostered and many disparate needs can be addressed. That a building was donated to us is incredibly generous, and we can repay that generosity by making that work,” he said. “This is really to be at the service of the community,” said Campbell. “This is a center for them, they can shape what it will become and how it will serve their needs best.”

For the seniors the one need they had, company, was already addressed. “ I think I’ll stay here all day, we have so much to talk about,” said Sheehan.

The New York Irish Center can be contacted at 718 482 0909 or info@newyorkirishcenter.org The senior afternoons take place on Wednesday’s at 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

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Suicide Support Group Set Up (by Georgina Brennan)

(This article was published in the issue of June 1st, 2005. (c) 2005 Irish Voice Newspaper Corp.)

Because of rising concerns about suicide in the Irish community, a new support system will soon be set up based in the New York Irish Centre in Long Island City.

“The growing incidence of suicide amongst Irish people  both in America and in Ireland has become a major concern,” said Father Colm Campbell of the centre, who will lead the new outreach. “We are determined to do all  we can to help prevent even a single suicide.”

While there are no specific numbers for Irish people in America, over the last 10 years there has been a 26 percent increase in suicides among Irish people in Ireland. In 2003-2004 there were 577 reported suicides in Ireland. Anecdotal evidence suggests the numbers are high here also.

Campbell and other volunteers at the Irish Centre are looking to reach anyone contemplating suicide and provide them with the tools to get help.
“We are interested in starting a suicide support group and are currently looking into getting the expertise to help someone who may be thinking they have nowhere to turn,” he told the Irish Voice.

Campbell stated that a recent spate of suicides has meant that people have already contacted the centre to ask about services for family members who lost someone to suicide, friends who want to help someone they think has withdrawn, and people who are contemplating suicide.

“We see a real need for some kind of support system. I think that this would need expert help and that expertise costs money. So, we have to find the money to get that help so we can pay experts to talk either one on one or in a group situation to these people,” Campbell said.

“Then we have to find people willing to ask for help. In a lot of ways it is a challenge and many people may be feeling that they need this kind of service but are afraid to reach out.”

The Belfast native says one of the ways he is trying to reach out to people is via a new helpline 1-877-ERIN-HELP. “This is a confidential helpline that we are in the stages of staffing at the moment,” Campbell said.

“We would like to welcome any volunteers interested in learning how to listen and help someone in need to contact the centre and we will schedule a training session at the end of the summer.” Volunteers would work on a rotational system of answering the phone and reaching out to someone who might otherwise be afraid to talk.

“We are here to provide the help people need and give them what they want. Part of fulfilling that requires volunteers,” says Campbell.

As part of the planning process, as well as fundraising and staffing the support system, Campbell says he is planning to meet Irish experts when he visits Ireland later this summer. He says new research will be talked about when setting up the group.

Anyone in need of help, or interested in volunteering for the helpline or in helping out with fundraising can contact the centre in confidence at 718-482-0909 at info@newyorkirishcenter.com or by mail to 1040 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, New York 11101.

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Echo Profile: An unbelievable gift (by Ailbhe Jordan)
(This article was published in the issue of July 6th, 2005. (c) 2005 Irish Echo Newspaper Corp.)

Fr. Colm Campbell finds his work is hardly done.

The Fr. Colm Campbell File:

Born: Belfast, June 6, 1935 Education: Queens University Belfast, St. Patrick's College Maynooth. Achieved a Master of Arts with a certificate of academic excellence in 1994 at St. John's University, New York. Job: Retired parish priest, chaplain and former director of the National office of the Irish Apostolate, USA. Founded New York's first Irish Center last March. Quote: "My role is just to listen. When you're counseling people, you're there to help them find their own way, not your way. The worst thing you can do is a counselor is say: "If I was you I'd..."
"Come on in, come in, please excuse the mess," Fr Colm Campbell said, opening the door to the New York Irish Center. Behind him, a pile of black refuse sacks lay stacked in the hallway from his 70th birthday party, which took place in the Center last Monday. In testament to Campbell's popularity amongst the Irish Community in New York, over 150 people turned up to help him celebrate.

"I couldn't believe it," he said, chuckling. "I didn't know what was happening, I just knew I had to be there. There were children there that I'd baptized and there were people there who were 90. I told them: 'you'll have me spoiled, I'll be expecting this every 70 years.'"

Campbell moved slowly as we walked around the Center's ground level, which still smells of fresh paint. Heart problems forced him into retirement as head of the U.S. office of the Irish Apostolate in January of last year. Since then, he has lost 63 lbs and been hospitalized 12 times. But illness hasn't dampened his enthusiasm.

"Its just out of this world, it really is," he said later, when we were sitting down.
"When I retired I thought, that's the end, I'm going to be sitting around doing nothing and just to have this opportunity as a last fling to do something so worthwhile -- its an unbelievable gift."

Campbell was born in Belfast in 1935. Living in a mainly Protestant area, he and his five younger siblings knew how difficult life could be as part of a minority group. One of Campbell's earliest memories was fleeing to Dublin with his family after his father wrote a book criticizing the political treatment of Catholics in Stormont.

After his ordination in 1960, Campbell spent 32 years working as a parish priest in Andersonstown, where he established 10 youth centers. In his role, Campbell advised numerous young people who were emigrating to England and the U.S.. This led him to unexpected career change in 1992.

"I'd just opened a new youth information center in Belfast City Center and I'd heard that the Irish Catholic bishops had an emigration office in Dublin with a computer base of information and advice for people who were emigrating," he said. "I went down to get a copy for our center and they told me they were looking for a chaplain for New York. I'd been thinking about taking a break and I thought this would be ideal."

Life was tough initially for the unknown Campbell, who tried to establish himself by handing out business cards in Irish bars around New York City. However, his masses in Old St. Patrick's Cathedral, which featured Irish music and prayers, soon became a focal point for the immigrant Irish community. Before long, he was in constant demand to perform baptisms, marriages and house blessings.

"In Ireland, I hadn't blessed houses in years, I think it just went out of fashion but here, big numbers of people here want their houses blessed," he laughed. "I can remember a couple of beautiful experiences where they used the speaker phone and the family at home were connected up. I remember one grandmother, praying for each of her grandchildren, and the one she hadn't seen yet."

Campbell's name began to spread, as did his reputation for being a sympathetic counselor. Over time, demand for his services became so great that he had to employ a social worker to share the workload. "It can be difficult, but the joy of being able to help someone even just to be there for them, is unbelievable," he said.

In 1999, Campbell was appointed National director of the Irish US apostolate. He spent the remainder of his career traveling around the U.S., helping new and returning Irish immigrants and finding out what issues affected them. During this time, he conducted extensive research, interviewing Irish people and compiling statistics.

"I kept in contact with a lot of people who went back. One family asked to seem me the next time I was in Dublin," he recalled. "I contacted them, told them I was staying at the Skylon Hotel. She rang me two days later and said there were over 80 people who wanted to meet me. It was overwhelming. Actually 43 turned up but I interviewed them all about what it was like trying to settle back again. Basically they told me it was like emigrating again, even worse."

Campbell submitted his findings to Department of Foreign affairs in Ireland in the hope they will use it to set up programs to deal specifically with the problems affecting returning emigrants. "The Minister was very positive, he took it on board," he said.

Amongst the highlights of his 45-year career, Campbell counts preaching at a funeral mass for John F Kennedy Junior. The service was broadcast all over the world and led to his being interviewed by Dan Rather. "It was a massive experience, nerve wracking," he said. "Then the following day then to be on for three hours with Dan Rather -- that was unbelievable. Actually it could have been worse; I really didn't know who Dan Rather was, I'd sort of seen him on TV but it was only afterwards I thought, "oh boy!"

For Campbell, however, seeing the New York Irish Center open has been his greatest achievement. "I'm delighted that the media and people in general have seen it as such a positive thing," he said.  "One of my fears was that all the begrudgers would be saying it was a waste of money. But the response has been extremely positive."

In the meantime, the pace of life has slowed down considerably for Campbell, but he is anxious to remain active.  "I was told to exercise every other day I'm doing that. I go on the treadmill for 15 minutes and lift weights. I walk a lot. I'm very careful with my diet," he said. "But staying out of work; that would kill me. I don't know how I would have survived retirement if I didn't have this center."
 

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