Speech by President Connolly at Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith
Hammersmith, London, 18 May 2026
A Chairde Uaisle, I am delighted to be with you here in Celtic House, Hammersmith, the location of the Irish Cultural Centre, on this the first engagement of my first official visit to Great Britain.
Tá fíor-áthas orm a bheith anseo i bhur gcomhluadar ar maidin in Ionad Cultúir na nÉireannach, Celtic House, Hammersmith, agus mé ag cur tús le mo chéad chuairt oifigiúil ar an mBreatain Mhór mar Uachtarán na hÉireann.
The Centre is one of the UK’s most well-known venues for Irish arts, culture, and community, one which opened its doors just over three decades ago.
Tá an t-ionad seo mar cheann de na hionaid is mó tóir do chultúr, ealaíon agus pobal na hÉireann ó osclaíodh é thar tríocha bliain ó shoin. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil fás agus forbairt spreagúil tagtha air bliain i ndiaidh bliana.
I know that this Centre is growing from strength to strength. The Centre facilitates the performance and celebration of every aspect of our Irish identity in the most inclusive manner, which really is the strongest message we can give in this volatile world. When I talk about identity, I talk about identity as giving us strength so that we can embrace other cultures and never be threatened.
This centre places a focus on arts, culture and heritage. There is a diversity of performance among Irish artists here in an inclusive and welcoming space. You provide a platform for artists, educators, and communities to share their work and stories, connecting people and communities across generations.
Cuireann sé gliondar ar mo chroí go bhfuil seisiún ceoil traidisiúnta ar siúl anseo chuile oíche Aoine agus go bhfuil sé saor agus oscailte do gach duine chách teacht isteach agus a gcuid ceol agus amhrán a roinnt le chéile go fial flaithiúil.
I am particularly pleased to hear that the Centre continues to host a Friday traditional Irish music session, which remains free and open to all instruments and all voices. And I am delighted to hear that it attracts ever-increasing numbers of musicians as well as those who just come to listen.
I would also like to acknowledge a special project – the launch last year of your Leabharlann, The David Whiteley Library, which is a hugely impressive reserve of Irish literature. The library’s almost 7,000 books are of significant value to the Irish community and researchers in London, across Britain, and those further afield.
Language gives us a powerful sense of identity and a powerful sense of home. As President, it fills me with pride to see the interest that so many show in our beautiful language. I am heartened to see the extensive programme of Irish language classes delivered at the Centre in partnership with the University of Liverpool. I look forward to chatting as Gaeilge with teachers and students later this morning.
Fréamhaíonn focail ár sinsear muid lenár dtír dúchais. Músclaíonn an Ghaeilge rithim ársa inár gcuislí agus tugann sí léargas breise dúinn ar chúrsaí an tsaoil. Is ábhar misnigh agus dóchais domsa, mar Uachtarán, an borradh as cuimse seo atá faoinár dteanga álainn. Tugann sé ardú meanma dom an clár leathan ranganna Gaeilge atá ar fáil san Ionad anseo i gcomhair le hOllscoil Learphoill a fheiceáil. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go mbeadh deiseanna foghlama agus feabhais ar fáil do mhuintir agus sliocht na hÉireann atá ina gcónaí anseo. Tá mise ag tnúth go mór le bheith ag caint agus ag comhrá i nGaeilge leis na múinteoirí agus mic léinn atá bailithe anseo ar maidin.
Historically, immigration is driven by economic factors, with large numbers leaving for London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and elsewhere. This occurred in waves from the nineteenth century and the twentieth century, and unfortunately today as well we have people leaving our shores for various reasons, some of them for lack of housing. The waves of immigration peaked in the 1950s and 1980s when unemployment and economic stagnation in Ireland was pushing many to leave the shores for the hope of better opportunities abroad. Many others left for social reasons, finding greater tolerance and acceptance at times when Ireland was a less open and less accepting society.
The Irish contribution in Britain is as diverse as can be imagined – from the arts and culture, to healthcare, education, construction and infrastructure, as well as professional, scientific and technical services. Indeed, there is hardly a sector of the economy or an area of life that has not been touched by the Irish in Britain.
Is ón bhfás, ón bhforbairt agus ón bhfeabhas sin a thagann saoirse chun a bheith bródúil as cárbh as dúinn, cé leis muid agus cén teanga a chuireann in iúl muid.
May I conclude by wishing you all well and by thanking all of the staff in this the Irish Cultural Centre for creating an inclusive, creative and welcoming space over three decades where Irish arts and culture continue to thrive. It is a joyous place, and I wish it continued success.
Tréaslaím libhse ar fad atá bainteach ar aon bhealach le reáchtáil an Ionaid seo mar is obair rí-thábhachtach atá ar bun agaibh ag coinneáil ceangal beo bríomhar le ceol, cultúr agus teanga na hÉireann.
Tá éacht déanta agaibh le thar tríocha bliain, a chairde.
Go fada buan sibh ag fáiltiú muintir na hÉireann agus muintir ó gach tír ar fud an domhain isteach chuig an áit chroíúil teolaí seo.
Guím gach rath oraibh sna blianta amach romhaibh.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh.