The London Irish Centre: 70 Years of Irish Culture and Community
Emigrant support programme in action
The London Irish Centre (LIC) was founded in 1955 as a “house of welcome” for Irish immigrants to Britain. Today it is a major Irish community organisation, and the largest Irish welfare charity outside Ireland.
The Centre’s work is supported by the Emigrant Support Programme and is driven by three core values of community, creativity and compassion. In 2025, the London Irish Centre became the first organisation to receive annual ESP core funding in excess of €1 million.
Extensive support services for diaspora community
The Centre provides extensive support services to the most vulnerable and isolated in the diaspora community, both from its hub in Camden Square and across London. This includes a Survivors’ Integrated Service, providing tailored, compassionate and trauma informed support and advocacy to former residents of Irish institutions living in London and the South of England.
55,000
visitors were welcomed to the Centre in 2025
€6.75 million
total Irish Government funding for the Centre’s redevelopment
10,000
meals served at the London Irish Centre in 2025
Cultural and community hub
In addition to its community supports, it is also a hub for Irish arts and education in London, sharing an ambitious, inclusive and multi disciplinary programme of live music, theatre, Irish language classes, literary events and exhibitions.
In 2025, over 3,000 individuals were helped with casework, £4.4m in benefits were secured, 10,000 meals were served, and 55,000 visitors were welcomed to the Centre. The LIC also works with 79 other organisations to deliver their community and cultural programmes.
Redevelopment of London Irish Centre
Supported by the Irish Government, the LIC will soon undergo an ambitious redevelopment of its site on Camden Square, transforming the Centre into a world-class destination for Irish culture and community and securing its future for generations to come.
The February 2026 announcement of €3.4 million in funding is the largest single investment the Government has made in an Irish diaspora organisation and reflects the Government’s commitment to strengthen its engagement with Irish communities overseas. This grant brings the total Irish Government funding for the Centre’s redevelopment to €6.75 million.
Find out more about the London Irish Centre's events and supports on its website, londonirishcentre.org.