Strengthening the Irish community in Wales: A new women’s network
On St Brigid’s Day 2025, the Irish Consulate in Cardiff put out a call for any women interested in setting up a network. It was met with enthusiasm, with 20 women signing up on the spot. In the year since, the Consulate’s Vice Consul Michelle Ryan and this initial group have had planning meetings and started a WhatsApp community, to begin promoting this new organisation: the Irish Women’s Network Wales - Líonra Na mBan Éireannach Cymru.
It was fitting then that a year later, for St Brigid’s Day 2026, the Consulate hosted the official launch of the Network. St Brigid’s legacy represents female strength, creativity and learning which align closely with the goals of this new organisation. Community-led, the Network aims to connect, support and celebrate Irish women living across Wales.
In this spirit, the Network were treated to some incredible, creative performances at the launch – a wonderful concertina performance by Co-Chair Fiadhna McEvoy, and a powerful poetry recitation from Angela Graham, a renowned poet and award-winning producer.
What the Network means to its members
Though the Network is just officially launched, it has already become a great resource for some of the members who were present at the event.
Pauline Lomax is a Northern Irish businesswoman with her own pearl jewellery business in Cardiff. She is one of the Co-Chairs and the driving force in setting up the Network. She says:
“For me, the Irish Women’s Network Wales is really about connection – about finally being able to see each other, know each other, and realise how much strength and kindness there is among us. When women come together like this, we can do so much more, lift each other up, and celebrate our Irish heritage in a way that feels joyful, proud and shared.”
Angela Graham is a Northern Irish poet and award-winning producer who lives in Cardiff. She echoed this idea of connection:
“The creation of a network for Irish women in Wales is a very significant development. It makes it easier to link up across the country and broadens the scope of connection, particularly across generations. It is a door into friendship and belonging for those newly arrived in the country. At the launch I met women who had been in Wales for only a few weeks and here was an opportunity to make friends and experience welcome. The Network is bound to benefit links between Wales and Ireland in a very down-to-earth and personal way.”
Teresa Davies is an Irish woman living in Flintshire who co-ordinates and teaches the Welsh language at Wrexham University. She enjoys how the Network offers an opportunity to blend and enjoy our two nations’ cultures:
“It was a pleasure to be part of this event and network with other Irish women and women of Irish descent who now live in Wales. Hearing all three languages, poetry, traditional Irish music, and the craic in the room was a lift to the heart and the soul. I am looking forward to our next meeting.”
Fiadhna McEvoy is an Irish woman living in Wales since 2009 who works as an Occupational Psychologist at Arctic Shores. She hopes the Network can feel like a second home for its members.
"For me, it's all about connection through our shared identity — connection and shared fun with like-minded individuals, connection to our culture through our events, connection across generations, and that emotional feeling of home from home. I am very proud to have the opportunity to co-chair the IWNW with Pauline and work alongside a committee of wonderful individuals.”
History of the Irish in Wales
In the 19th and early 20th century, many Irish workers arrived in Wales, finding work on the docks in Cardiff Bay and settling in local neighbourhoods. Today, the Irish diaspora can be found all over Wales, with the most Irish residents living in Cardiff, Conwy, Anglesey, and Pembrokeshire.
Data from the 2021 Census indicates that approximately 13,000 people in Wales identified as having Irish ethnicity. Unlike other parts of Great Britain, there are few Irish community organisations in Wales. Therefore, having a new Irish-led organisation established was a huge achievement for all involved.
Membership of the Irish Women’s Network Wales
Any woman in Wales of Irish heritage is welcome to join the Network. The co-chairing committee of eight women allows flexibility for other caring and family responsibilities.
Currently the network has almost 100 members, and is growing, with great ambitions for the future.
Their vision is to create a vibrant inclusive network where all generations of Irish women in Wales, of all ages, generations, backgrounds, and identities can meet, support one another, share culture, and create opportunities for connection, employment support, leadership, creativity and craic!
Interested in joining the network?
If you are of Irish heritage living in Wales, do contact the Network at irishwomensnetworkwales@gmail.com to get involved.
You’ll be most welcome!