The Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith received our Quality Award 2024 for their excellent work and achievements for the Irish community over many years. The award is made over and above their annual grant award. Here is an insight into their 2024 programme.
The programme aims to help children and young people under 30 who wish to explore their Irish identity further and those who wish to explore Irish culture, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Irish Cultural Centre aims to promote and showcase Irish culture. Its objective is to bring people together and enable them to see, hear, and experience Irish culture across music, art, film, theatre, literature, poetry, comedy, storytelling, as well as promoting events dealing with Ireland’s historical legacy. By bringing people of Irish heritage together, they can connect with their Irish identity, individually and collectively, and, through our cultural and other activities, strengthen and nourish their links with Ireland.
The newly invigorated programme aims to reflect more closely the diversity of the Irish community in the UK. It helps to ensure that economic and social backgrounds are no barrier to young people wishing to explore their Irish identity and that, through engagement with cultural activities, these young people can grow in confidence.
The grant from IYF (UK) has been used to help organise and market ongoing music classes that are open to people from as young as eight years old. The education programme provides young people with the opportunity to learn musical instruments associated with Irish music and receive musical training in Irish traditional music.
“Our scholarship programme, provided with the support of the Irish Youth Foundation, enables young people from disadvantaged backgrounds or with limited means to have access to an Irish music education with highly qualified tutors well-recognised in their field as top-class musicians. Classes in the tin whistle, flute, fiddle, bodhran, banjo, mandolin, and guitar are provided weekly, as well as masterclasses by visiting musicians.
The number of young people under 30 who have benefitted from the project includes four scholarship recipients, as well as the wider class participants who gain from the expertise of skilled tutors and engaging sessions. This year we were able to offer 4 scholarships to young people – Oisin, Ethan, Ziggy, and Nia.”
Case studies
Oisín
Because of our grant from the Irish Youth Foundation, Oisín has been able to continue developing as a young traditional Irish musician. He has music in his bones and has shown innate talent when it comes to reaching beyond his core instrument. He is also an accomplished classical musician, and his Irish music roots greatly influence his overall talent and interest in music”
Ziggy
Because of our grant from the Irish Youth Foundation, Ziggy, who lives in a single-parent household, has had the opportunity to learn the harp, an instrument that would not have been affordable otherwise. Seeing a teenage boy play the harp at the regional Fleadh inspired him, and he now practices with enthusiasm and dedication. He loves his teacher and enjoys his lessons, which have strengthened his confidence, self-esteem, and cultural connection. Ziggy has even expressed a desire to visit Ireland, further deepening his engagement with his heritage.
Lord Mayor of London’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations
Additionally, thanks to the support from the Irish Youth Foundation, several of our young musicians had the extraordinary opportunity to perform at the Mayor of London’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square. This prestigious event not only showcased their talent to a large and diverse audience but also reinforced their pride in Irish culture and heritage. The performance was a significant milestone for the participants, many of whom had never played on such a grand stage before. Their involvement in this high-profile event has boosted their confidence, inspired their peers, and highlighted the importance of cultural representation in London’s Irish community.
