Our History

The Irish Cultural Center was the work of Elms President Kathleen Keating, SSJ, Elms Professor of History Thomas F. Moriarty and Sean F. Cahillane, whose mother came to Western Massachusetts from the Great Blasket Island off Ireland's West Coast. "From the beginning, we wanted community involvement in the center," Keating said.

The largest number of immigrants to the United States from the Blaskets, famous for their spoken Irish and story telling, settled in the Springfield, Massachusetts and Enfield, Connecticut areas. Many of them attended a showing in 1997 of Breandán Féiritear's "Blasket Roots, American Dreams" at Elms College. Their interest in their no-longer inhabited island planted the idea for a center at the college dedicated to passing on and sharing the many different aspects of Irish culture to Americans of all backgrounds.

The Irish Cultural Center at Elms College officially opened in the fall of 1999. During the years, its events have ranged from the social to the spiritual to the educational. Many of them have been aimed at Irish Americans, but a number have also been for the enlightenment and enjoyment of the general public in Western Massachusetts. Since 2001, the center presented its Celtic Adventures for Kids, a week-long program for youngsters in grades 2 through 8 to introduce them to Irish music, dance and the Irish language. Also since 2001, the Center has sponsored an essay contest for youngsters in grades 7 and 8 in all the schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield as well as local public schools. The Center has also collaborated with Westfield State College, Holyoke Community College, Holyoke Ambassador’s Award Committee of the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, the John Boyle O’Reilly Club, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Holyoke Heritage State Park in conducting events.

During the tenure of three directors: Tom Moriarty, Ann-Gerard Flynn and Judith Kappenman, SSJ the number of members have grown as we have hosted hundreds of events where thousands have joined us at the Elms College. We have offered lectures, music events, films and exhibits, even establishing several yearly events, including a writing contest for middle school students, Celtic Adventures for Kids, Christmas with an Irish Touch, film series, brunch in June, and marching in the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade.