London Irish player Tomás O'Leary talks Rugby, Culture and all things Irish!

The ICC had the pleasure of catching up with London Irish player Tomás O'Leary this week!




London Irish player Tomás O'Leary

I understand you come from quite the sporty background in Ireland. Your dad played hurling for Cork and you yourself hurled too I believe?  

Yes my Dad hurled with Cork in the 1970s and 80s. He was part of the 3 in a row from 76-78 & won another All- Ireland in centenary year 1984. My Aunt Mary was an accomplished camogie player. Both my Dad & Mary won All-Stars during their careers. Hurling was & still is my passion. Growing up in a household steeped in GAA, my sole desire as a kid was to play hurling with Cork. I didn't quite achieve this but I did manage to captain the Cork minors to an All-Ireland in 2001. Still time for me to play senior though! Hope Jimmy Barry Murphy sees this!!


Do you still get the chance to practice your hurling?

Since I gave up at age 19 to pursue a career in rugby I haven't had much opportunity to practice. My training schedule is too hectic. I look forward to getting back onto a GAA pitch once I retire from professional rugby.



How is training going with London Irish?

Great. It's an exciting time in the history of London Irish. We are under new ownership & have recently moved into a state of the art training facility at Hazelwood. All our owners have strong Irish links and are keen to strenghten our role within Irish heritage & culture in London. On the pitch we have assembled a strong, tight knit squad and look forward to future success.


London Irish have kindly chosen The Irish Cultural Centre as one of their supported charities this season; how important is Irish culture to you?

Culture defines people. Culture illustrates who you are & where you have come from. As a nation us Irish are fiercely proud of our unique & diverse culture. We are renowned for our Music, Sport, Literature, Drama, Art. Our unique attitude towards life, our inquisitive nature & our love of 'the craic' has spread Irish influence all over the world. Irish emigrants look to our culture & traditions to keep us connected to our homeland.
The things I miss from home are inherently Irish.......family, friends, hurling, the Cork accent, having 6 cups of tea a day, my Mums cooking. You can't take everything abroad with you but you take as much as we can. I still have my Cork accent like. Our people's love for our identity is why our culture is so strong.



How important to you is a sense of 'Irishness'? Of keeping Irishness and Irish culture alive abroad?   

'Irishness' is undeniable. It is unique. Our traditions & customs, our culture will never cease to exist. Where there is Irish people or people of Irish heritage then there is 'Irishness'. Our people will keep Irish culture alive wherever they may be.



Do you get to go back to Ireland often?

Whenever I can depending on my training schedule & matches. Love getting back to Cork catching up with family & friends.



Have the Irish lads at the club introduced Irish culture to the other players who are not from an Irish background ? Do you organise ceilis or trad sessions for them?!  

We have showed them how to play hurling, taught them some Irish slang, the odd cuplá focal, introduced them to a few Irish artists. No ceilis. Would like to see a few of our Tongan & Samon players dancing though. Maybe something for the future!


Have you learned about other cultures and traditions from players at London Irish?   

 Absolutely. Throughout my career I have played with a multitude of nationalities. English, Scottish, Welsh, Samoan, Aussie, Tongan, Kiwi, South African, French, Canadian. Each culture brings its own customs & nuances but when in a rugby environment any barriers are quickly broken down.
Every culture is unique. We all have idiosyncrasies. 

The lads at London Irish get to grips with some musical education!

Recently the ICC filmed a video with some of the players from London Irish having a music lesson with Brendan Mulkere, the Head of our Music Academy; How was that experience? The lads seemed to enjoy it?! Did you ever play a musical instrument when you were growing up...or will you now?!   

 We had great fun with Brendan. I played tin whistle when I was younger. I'm gonna brush up on it now. A bit of work to do though before I'm ready to join in a Trad session.


The ICC will be fundraising by doing bucket collections at the Madejski Stadium for your match against Gloucester on Sunday 30^th November; how do you think London Irish will fare against them?

If our fans donate a load of money to the ICC then I am extremely confident we will win. If not I fear for the result. Get out your airgead & support the ICC!



Tomás combining his training and music practice!

Thank you for chatting with us Tomas! We'll be cheering you on at our fundraising day at London Irish vs. Gloucester on 30th November!

Interview by Helen Bermingham for The Irish Cultural Centre

www.london-irish.com

Dervish in conversation - What to expect at Bush Hall this Sept!

We’re gearing up for Dervish’s Bush Hall intimate gig at the end of this month, and we wanted to catch up with the guys and see how they’re getting on! Our general manager Kelly O'Connor had the honour of doing just that this week with Cathy Jordan and Brian McDonagh. 

For Bush Hall tickets click here

Photo courtesy of BBC Radio 2 Folk Show: Cathy Jordan 

ICC: We tuned in to hear you on BBC Radio2 for Mark Radcliffe’s Folk Show this week and absolutely loved your session. You started off with a fast paced collection of reels, signalled with a bodhran count in, almost like a call to battle. One of the show’s callers said it kept him going on the treadmill! Do you usually kick things off with a fast paced track to get everyone moving from the start, or do you sometimes try to ease the audience in?

CJ: Not always, we usually try to tease the audience by starting with something more pensive and wind up the show to a frenzy. The Show is usually a journey through all the the different moods shades and emotions present in  music.  On the Mark Radcliffe show we had only three pieces to play so we decided to start with an explosion to get people’s attention and then the next piece was much slower to give contrast.

Dervish behind the scenes in Birmingham's mac

ICC: We’d love to have heard more of you guys. Did you feel you had more to talk about? For instance we wanted to hear more about Trad for Trocaire.

CJ: It was an honour to be asked to be part of the show, but as with all shows, time is limited so you try as much in as is possible, unfortunately you don’t always get the chance to talk about everything you might like to, but thats the way it goes.

ICC: Cathy, you gave an intro to one of your songs, telling of the tale of love lost and won. Do you find performing songs that tell these kinds of stories has a cathartic effect on you as you deal with life’s ups and downs?

CJ: I love singing the songs of our ancestors they travel down through the generations and I feel a connection with the past and with the people who sang them down the ages. There so much we can learn from them and the life’s and struggles of all those people.  Also one is reminded that when it comes to some of the subjects of love, loss and longing, nothing really has changed to the present day.

Brian McDonagh album cover for The Thrush in the Storm, and a glimpse in his studio

ICC: Brian, can you tell us a little about the cover for the new album?

BMD: Well, I’m not really an illustrator, I just paint for my own satisfaction and most of my work wouldn’t really be suitable for a cd cover. But when we were preparing the material for the CD I was struck by the name of one of the tunes and it sent me on a path towards an image that I felt might work as a cover. I felt that the Thrush singing its heart out in the midst of a storm was a good metaphor for Ireland and its recent travails. Once I had the basic concept in my mind it was really just a case of getting the feeling right.

ICC: Brian, on your website (http://www.mcsligo.com/) you have photos of your studio, which looks like its somewhere you spend a lot of time. Do you find it hard to leave the studio, and your own space when you go on tour?

BMD: I spend as much time as I can there, but I am fantastic at coming up with excuses not to go there. I find painting very difficult and quite terrifying! I’m always surprised when I manage to create something worth looking at. Touring is a very different experience and it’s interesting how the two aspects of my life fit together. I always use any free time we have while on tour to visit galleries and learn from other artists.

ICC: After 25 years, has being on tour together gotten easier?

Photo courtesy of Joanne Davidson: 

Dervish played Glastonbury's Avalonia Stage this year

CJ: Absolutely, the older you get the more you get to appreciate how lucky we are to be able to travel the world and have wonderful experiences through the music which has been handed down to us by our ancestors. We get to play and nurture it while we’re here but it will, I have no doubt be around for many generations to come.

ICC: You played Glastonbury’s Avalon Stage this year. Did you stay for the whole weekend? We heard some of you ‘embraced’ the mud! Did you get to enjoy any of the other acts?

CJ: Yes got to see Dolly Parton, who I’ve been a fan of for years. She is an absolute inspiration at nearly 70 years of age and still as amazing as ever. Also saw Gold Frapp, Metalica, Massive Attack, Clannad, The Henry Girls and of course my personal favorite Suzanne Vega.

ICC: The gig you’re playing at Bush Hall is a fundraiser for the ICC. Do you have any thoughts about the ICC’s new venue, and what they’re trying to achieve with this modern performance space for Irish Arts in London?

CJ: I think its brilliant that {there will soon be} a new venue for the ICC in London, this is very positive for all the Irish in London to keep in touch with all things Irish while abroad. It’s important from a community point of view as well as been educational.

I wish it all the very best and can’t wait to play there. 

Dervish will play Bush Music Hall, West London on Sunday 28th September, 2014

ICC: You’re off to the States in the New Year and playing the Community Arts Centre in Williamsport on St. Patrick’s Day. Do you find you get an even more Irish welcome when you play abroad on the big day?

CJ: There’s so may Irish all over the world now, that it doesn’t really matter where you are in the world, everyone wants to be Irish, even if they’ve never been there. The USA is incredible on St Patricks Day, its like green Christmas and everybody embraces it.

ICC: And finally, can you tell us what to expect at Bush Hall on the 28th?

CJ: Well we’re really looking forward to playing in the the Bush hall and seeing all our old friends, and we promise a great night of great tunes, songs and banter, and after 25 years on the road we’ve finally mastered the craft!!

Thank you for taking the time to talk to us, best of luck with the upcoming dates and we'll see you on the 28th! 

For more info about Dervish visit their website 

For tickets for Dervish's upcoming intimate gig in London, the last chance to see them before their tour of the USA, click here

Until Next Time, London

We asked our CAPA intern Lauren to summarise her placement with us here in London. Lauren came to us for a short placement via CAPA International Education and is a third year Business and Marketing student from Brown's University, Ohio. She has been a valuable asset to the ICC team over the last 2 months, and she'll be sorely missed! 

Here's what she had to say about London...

I cannot think of a better place for me to have spent my time studying abroad than right here in London. There is so much to see that, even after six and a half weeks, I don’t feel like I have seen enough of the city to leave it. I did a lot of touristy things like touring Kensington Palace, going to the London Aquarium, Harrods, Madame Tussauds, riding the London Eye, and going on an open-top, double decker bus tour, just to name a few. I also did two day trips, one was to Stonehenge and Bath and the other was Kenilworth Castle and Stratford-Upon-Avon. Most of my tourist-like activities were done on weekends, it was a joke with my friends that we were Londoners by week, tourist by weekend.

Jamie and Lauren, Kenilworth Castle

Before I left for London, I had heard that the tube was really difficult to navigate and that I needed to be prepared to get lost a lot. That was so opposite from the experience I had navigating the tube. I found it pretty easy; it only took me a day or two to get the hang of it. I can only think of one time where I got on the wrong train, but it wasn’t hard to get back on track. The busses were pretty easy, too. I preferred to take the bus because I got to see the city more, but I never really had time to wait on them. If I took the bus, it was at night when I wouldn’t take the tube alone.

During my time in London, I was living in Camden Town. I found the area really interesting, but I definitely did not fit in all of the time. One of my first nights here, I walked around the Camden area with my roommates. After we walked around, we went to the pub next to our flat; we turned around and walked right back out. Everyone else in the pub was dressed in dark colors, then we walk in with our bright colors, and everyone turned and stared at us. It was really clear that we did not belong in that pub, but we did find some we liked.

Something that probably won’t be too shocking to hear from an American is: I love the Royal Family. When I found out that the Trooping the Colour parade was going on while I was here, I got so excited! The parade was really cool to experience. I enjoy bands, so seeing all of the guards playing was really awesome. But the best part was definitely the Royal Family rolling passed me. They went so fast that my pictures were blurry, but when they went back to Buckingham I made sure I took videos. The size of the crowd was insane, which I expected, but I didn’t realize just how many people were there until I went to see the Royal Family on the balcony. I loved how open everything about the parade was; all of their carriages were open-top and the guards were only lining the street. That would never happen in the States. In the States, there would’ve been guards in the closed-top cars and surrounding them.

Another really unique experience I got was to go to Wimbledon. I’ll admit it, I had never watched a tennis match before, but it was Wimbledon, going sounded fun. When I had to get up at 3AM, fun was not the word I had in mind though. Once we got to the queue, the day went so fast! Having lunch at 10AM was strange, it seemed way too early, it really wasn’t for how long we had been up, it just felt strange eating lunch when I normally eat breakfast. I ended up getting tickets to court two with a couple of my friends. We saw Simona Halep v. Lesia Tsurenko and Lleyton Hewitt v. Jerzy Janowicz. It was Lleyton’s last match, so that was really cool to get to see, it was a really good match too! We did not stay for the third match on court two, but I did enjoy the matches we did see.

Lauren and Nicole, Wimbledon

But I did say that I was a Londoner during the week, and that’s where the Irish Cultural Centre comes in. My internship here has been such a wonderful experience, I’m really sad that it’s over. This was my first internship and I could not have asked for a better placement. Kelly gave me the opportunity to do so much, like making flyers and surveys, writing blogs and even creating contests, that I was able to learn more than I ever imagined. I was able to sit in on a couple of Kelly’s meetings and that was so interesting to see. I have meetings on campus all of the time for clubs and such, but these were totally different, they were actually really professional and I thought it was so cool to see how people who have been planning events for years work and brainstorm.

One of the highlights of the internship was the Hammersmith and Fulham ArtsFest. It was really cool to see how all of the organizations worked together to pull off such a festival, especially for the first year of it. That week really taught me a lot as far as how to work with a co-sponsor and what to do when there are multiple miscommunications surrounding one event. I wished I could have hit more events than just the ones we were putting on, but with class and other things it just didn’t happen.

Another really cool thing I got to experience was the Tea Dance. Everyone looked like they were having so much fun dancing and socializing, it is definitely something I could see me and my friends attending! I thought it was funny how about ten minutes before the tea and coffee was to be served people started to line up for it and ask if it was time yet. It was just an all around cute event.

Tea Dance

In the six weeks I was here, I heard so much about this new building. I’ve seen the designs and layouts and I know a lot about how awesome it is going to be. My only problem with the new building is that I won’t be here when it opens! It makes me so sad that I’ll be missing the grand reopening of the ICC, but I am really looking forward to seeing all of the pictures of it when it gets finished.
My six weeks flew by. I knew when the program started it would pass like the blink of an eye, but I think there was a small piece of me that wanted to believe it would seem longer. I have had the chance to meet so many lovely people, especially ones who work with the ICC. I know I am extremely lucky to have had this opportunity to study, work, and explore London and I am far from ready for this experience to be over. But, that time has come and I plan on spending my last couple of days finishing off my "London Bucket List." I love it here and I cannot wait for the day I get the chance to come back.

Written By: Lauren Kithas

WW1 Lecture Series a Hit!

A highly successful 5 week lecture series on Ireland and the First World War has just concluded at the Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith. Organised in conjunction with St Mary’s University Centre for Irish Studies, the Irish Cultural Centre  attracted over 50 people each week  to lectures explaining the impact of the Great War on Irish politics and culture.

Dr. Ivan Gibbons, WW1 Lecture Series coordinator

The series began with renowned historian Professor Joanna Bourke from Birkbeck College, University of London on The Experience of Killing in the First World War. Joanna is a leader in the field and her previous research An Intimate History of Killing; Face to Face Killing in Twentieth Century Warfare won two high-profile historical book awards. This was followed by Jim O’Hara’s lecture on Ireland and the First World War which looked at how the Irish public and political parties responded to the changing conditions that the conflict brought to the country. Jim is founder of the Irish Studies programme at St Mary’s and is chairman of the board of directors at Hammersmith Irish Cultural Centre.

WW1 Lecture Series audience at St. Paul's Hammersmith

Dr Anne Goudsmit, who has recently completed her PhD in Northern Irish fiction at St Mary’s talked on Irish war writers including Irish nationalists Francis Ledwidge and Tom Kettle and this was followed by current St Mary’s MA Irish Studies student Peter Power-Hynes describing the role of the London Irish Rifles battalions in France and the Middle East during the First World war.

Dr. Anne Goudsmit on Irish Literature in WW1

Dr Ivan Gibbons, Programme Director in Irish Studies at St Mary’s and a member of the board of directors at Hammersmith Irish Cultural Centre finished the series with a talk on Ireland and the Aftermath of the First World War which explored the Great War’s significant impact on Irish politics and society between 1918 and 1923.

WW1 Lecture Series audience enjoying a glass of wine 

Dr Gibbons, who also organised the series stated that such has been the success of the lecture series that a similar series of lectures will be organised in 2015 examining the political and historical significance of the 1916 Easter Rising on the occasion of its centenary.

WW1 Lecture Series Lecturers. Left to right: Peter Power Hynes, Dr. Anne Goudsmit, Jim O'Hara, Prof. Joanna Bourke, Dr. Ivan Gibbons

We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who made this series possible: All our speakers, all our volunteers, everyone at St. Paul's Hammersmith, Lala Restaurant, Lance Pettitt from St. Mary's University and you, the audience for packing the room out week after week! 

Please stay tuned for more lectures and Education Programme updates coming soon.

Irish Cultural Centre stands out at the HF Arts Festival

It has been a mad week over here at the Irish Cultural Centre and we are only halfway through it! It’s Hammersmith and Fulham ArtsFest time and we have quite a few events going on all throughout the week. If you haven’t been able to hit any of them up yet, don’t worry! Some of our biggest events are coming up this weekend!

Jarlath Regan "I'm delighted to be a part of the HF Arts Fest. I've never worked with the Irish Cultural Centre before so this gig is a bit special for me.   They've been a pillar of Irish Arts and Culture for 20 years in Hammersmith. Their new venue, when its built next year, looks set to be a great location for comedy and other kinds of live events."

On Friday 13 June, we are hosting a Comedy Night at The Hop Poles in Hammersmith. This evening of laughter will include the comedic genius of David Duff, Jarlath Regan, Aideen McQueen, Peter Callaghan, and MC Chris McIlroy! 

Tickets are usually £12, with a concession price of £10. Lucky for you, there is a promotion running for the friends of the Irish Cultural Centre! Enter the code eventicch when you are checking out and get your ticket for only £8! Gerry Nwimo, from Take the Mike is delighted to bring it on! He said, “What better way to celebrate talent than with a themed evening during summer season! This promises to be a fantastic evening for fun and laughter! We’re delighted to present ‘Another Irish Cultural Celebration’ in association with the Irish cultural Centre.”


Get your tickets here: Ticket LINK

On Saturday 14 June, we are holding a Poetry and Storytelling afternoon from 12:00PM until 1:30PM at the Hammersmith Temporary Library. This afternoon will be filled with new and old faces sharing their poems, stories, and maybe even a couple of songs!

Also on Saturday, we are offering a free taster of our music classes from 10:00AM until 2:30PM. According to our tutor, Brendan Mulkere, his classes foster an environment where “friendship and social exchange are prized!” Brendan also wanted to emphasize that, “This is not going back to school! It is a fulfilling and fruitful journey into the wonderland of traditional Irish music.” Be sure to stop in on Saturday to see for yourself! Classes are available for children and adults from beginners to the more advanced.

Kitty O’Beirne, a music student, said that taking classes with the Irish Cultural Centre had a tremendous impact on her social life by helping her make simply wonderful friends! She added, “I do not know of anywhere else that young and old mix together so well as at music classes.”

Denise Rochford - Irish Ceili

Then, to round out the HF ArtsFest, we are holding a Pop-Up Ceili! This event will be held at the Durell Arms on Fulham Road and will feature a performance by Finches Fly at 6:00PM. The ceili will start around 7:45PM. This ceili is going on with help from the lovely Denise Rochford, who helped us kick off the 10K Session with a ceili! Worried about your dancing skills not being up to par? Don’t be! Denise says that “everyone no matter what level of dance skills can get involved” in all of the fun! She also mentioned that, “every Ceili is different depending on the venue, music and guests but I have a feeling this one is going to be great, not to be missed”.  Make sure you stick around after Finches Fly to be a part of this mayhem!

Being such a big part of the ArtsFest is very important to us here at the Irish Cultural Centre. It just seems right for the cultural centre to have a presence here, especially given our recent challenges. This festival has definitely been a way for us to get our name back out in the public to let people know that, even though we have cut back, we are still here and active! Since we do not have our own “home”, getting the word out about our events has certainly kept us on our toes.

We truly appreciate the advantage we had in our old cultural centre with the foot-traffic through our building. Before, someone could walk through the door for a gig, for example, and see that we had a class going on that they are also interested in, and sign up. Now that we're holding events in other locations this has changed. However, happily, we are enjoying the advantage of meeting plenty of new people at these new locations, and our community is gradually expanding.

Our GM Kelly O'Connor said "we are looking forward to the day the doors of our new venue open next year, when we can bring all our new found friends and followers together under our own roof. We are aiming for a high level of presentation with the building, and are at this moment working on the design elements, including specialist acoustic finishes and excellent quality audio visual equipment. It's going to be some party! In the meantime, we are enjoying working collaboratively with our neighbours and other Irish organisations in London. This festival is the perfect example of this."

Through the HF Arts Fest we have have been given the amazing chance to utilize the power of collaboration. For us, this has meant hearing fresh ideas and finding new ways to develop our position in the Hammersmith community. Since we have had to cut back on staff and resources over the last year, we have found real pleasure in working alongside the festival team, who are such a bundle of positive energy. Irish woman Avril O'Riardan is on the festival committee, and has been behind us all the way.

Overall, we love being a part of the HF ArtsFest because of how it brings the community together. We love being in Hammersmith, so anything that can bring the community out and about, celebrating the arts and their cultures is something we want to be involved with!

Written by Lauren Kithas

First Irish State Visit as First Bricks are Laid Onsite

This week marks a most momentous occasion for Ireland, and a proud moment to be Irish in Britain with a four-day state visit by our president Michael D. Higgins, the first ever by an Irish head of state. Symbolically coinciding with this visit, construction of the new Irish Cultural Centre in London has begun.

President Michael D. Higgins in first Irish State Visit

President Michael D. Higgins, poet, writer and previously Irish Minister for Arts and Culture has spoken about “the emancipatory power of culture for laying the foundations of peace in a world undergoing profound change”. In his speech at the Royal Banquet at Windsor Castle this week he largely focused on “the deep and indelible links that bind us together in cultural and social terms”.

Similarly, in the presence of some of Ireland’s most distinguished UK based Irish cultural legends, Queen Elizabeth described Britain as being “hugely enriched by the Irish Emigrants living here”. Her comment that it took a man of Irish heritage (Danny Boyle) to convince her to make popular culture history by jumped from a helicopter at the launch of the London Olympic Games in 2012 spurred great applause.

Michael D. Higgins has long been an avid supporter of the work of the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, and in fact was the first to issue a statement expressing his displeasure at the news that the building could be lost due to financial pressures by local council back in 2011. He highlighted the importance of saving this London based Irish asset for the people of Ireland both at home and settled in Britain, complimenting the groundbreaking and vibrant programmes of Irish music, dance, art, film and theatre at the ICC.

And so, it is a wonderfully significant time for us to be experiencing both this week’s Anglo-Irish will for creative cooperation and cultural focus, at the same time as the foundations for our new building are being laid in London.

From this week onwards, the new home for Irish Arts and Culture in London will begin to rise from the dust, as a beacon for the Irish in Britain. 

Due for completion in the summer of 2015 it will feature state of the art facilities for the education, presentation and promotion of Irish creative talent in the UK and become a home for Irish emigrants both the long established, and the newly arrived (or as they are becoming known: the “just off the Rail & Sail”).

Irish Cultural Centre's new reception and cafe/bar area

This Thursday, Irish Ambassador Dan Mulhall and his wife Greta will host a live concert curated by legendary musician Philip King, featuring an enormous celebration of Irish music, dance and spoken word, as a gift to the president. The concert at the Royal Albert Hall, entitled Ceiliúradh (Celebration) will feature some of Ireland’s best traditional and contemporary musicians, poets and performers, including Paul Brady, The Gloaming, Glen Hansard and Imelda May. The ICC are proud to have worked with many of the acts taking part over the years. We are also delighted to have members of our own community joining those from other Irish centres across London, performing on stage in the Community Choir, in the presence of our president and HRH Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

This event is reminiscent of the year of The Gathering’s “Glaoch - The President's Call”, a concert at Áras an Uachtaráin which celebrated Irishness, Irish creativity and its reach and impact across the world.

Lisa Hannigan to play at Ceiliuradh concert

The Ceiliúradh concert sold out in minutes, and is a testament to the scale of passion for Irish culture here in London. The need for a dedicated Irish venue in London, where our richest asset, our arts and culture, can be taught, produced and celebrated is more apparent than ever before.

We now await the launch of our new building, the new hub for Irish Arts and Culture in London with baited breath. The ICC's general manager welcomes the positive progress:

"To see the construction begin on the new hub for Irish Arts and Culture in London, in the week that our president arrived has been a symbolic moment for the whole team at the ICC. 

It is such an exciting time to be involved in Irish Culture in London. With so many Irish emigrants succeeding in creative careers here we feel like we're in good company among the artists of today and tomorrow."

For more info about the ICC’s building project, and our current programme of Education and Events, or our upcoming fund-raising activities please visit our website: www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk 

For more info about Ceiliúradh please follow this link to Culture Ireland

Songs & Singing Class with J Eoin

Our Songs & Singing class is run by J Eoin, a contemporary songwriter with a stunning voice.  Here he tells us about his work with the Irish Cultural Centre and his own musical experiences and inspirations.  

Why not listen to the title track from his latest album 'Acrobat', as you read the interview.

What is your own background? 

I toured in Ireland in the early 80’s with bands such as Clannad and Scullion. Moving to London in the early 90’s gave me the opportunity to branch out as a solo act and explore the different musical directions such a city has to offer. Over the years I have been involved in the many incarnations of the London Acoustic Scene and played a range of styles from Irish Traditional Folk to American Bluegrass.

When did you become involved with the ICC?

A musician friend of mine, Rory Campbell, originally ran the Singing Class. He would often call me in to deputize a class or two for him and I began to build a repertoire of songs that covered elements of the Tradition as well as some contemporary songs that became popular with the students. When Rory decided to relocate his family to France in 2004, the centre offered his position to me.

When were ‘the best times’ at the ICC?

The ‘early years’ always stand out in our minds and I have fond memories of finding my feet as part of the Adult Education team from 2004 on. After a couple of years I decided to involve the singing group in some fundraising activities that would give them something to aim for at the end of the winter term and would also help advertise the activities of the centre and their impact in aiding the local community. Subsequently, the singing class has performed at Hammersmith Underground station over the last 8 years for a number of local and national charities. This year the Haven Cancer Support in Chelsea was our chosen beneficiary.

Do you think it’s a good or a bad thing that the ICC will be ‘re-starting’ with a new building? Will there be any challenges? What are you most looking forward to?

The original building was built for a specific purpose and served that function admirably over the years. As the centre developed and expanded into the Irish Cultural Centre it became clear that there were other functions that such a centre needed to address. The new model proposed fulfils this greater function and also guarantees the permanence of the ICC.

What facilities would you most like to see in the new building? 

When I saw the original plans I was very impressed with the new layout. The inclusion of the new stage and performance area will be a much needed addition to the London music landscape as there has been a huge loss of small venues over the last few years. These spaces are the lifeblood of the music scene and allow up and coming acts to build a following before moving on to the bigger stages.

The classrooms are also to be given a hi tech makeover which will allow for greater teacher/student interaction. It will be great to use all the tools at our disposal to make the education programme more interesting and interactive for those involved.

Looking forward to the café/bar idea also as a space like this has potential for exhibiting local artists and may work as an acoustic space for smaller events such as the weekly Irish session we used to have.  

So, what should new students expect from your class?

As the ‘Irish Songs And Singing Class’ we cover songs from the Irish Tradition and look at contemporary songs that have become part of the Tradition. Irish singers such as Christy Moore and Paul Brady have created a whole new diversity for the Irish Song catalogue. We’ve also considered songs from the Scottish Tradition and the American Folk Songbook as there is a lot of cross-cultural influence that has developed over the years through the likes of Euan McColl and Pete Seeger.

The focus of the class has always been to allow people to find their own voices in a group setting. Techniques such as diction, tone and vocal projection are taught alongside exercises to develop an awareness of basic harmony. We have covered everything from solo recitals to 3-part harmony singing over the years.

Have you ever taught anyone who has gone on to become a professional singer?

Not directly! Many of my past students have gone on to sing at events such as weddings and parties for their friends and families. For some people this has been a huge step forward as they never had the confidence to do this before. They have acknowledged to me that the class provided a ‘safe space’ for them to develop at their own pace and the encouragement and friendly nature of the group was paramount in allowing them to express themselves so.

Who are your own favourite bands or musicians? Do you think it’s important for professional vocalists to have an interest in various types of music?

I’ve always been a fan of the ‘great singers’ like Sinatra and the like. One of my earliest memories is of my father and mother harmonizing to Doris Day songs in the kitchen. I also admire the way singers like Christy Moore have created an ‘Irish Voice’ that has become an international standard. Moya Brennan has one of the purest voices to come out of the Tradition and her pitching and diction is almost flawless. An inspiration to anyone who sings.

What other projects / work are you engaged in at the moment?

As a contemporary songwriter I released a new album ‘Acrobat’ in 2012. Produced by Gerry Diver, it is a sideways look at London through the eyes of a long-term exile. I toured it in the Czech Republic during the summer and it’s enjoyed regular airplay on national Czech radio.

I also work in a number of other musical projects including a Traditional Irish duo with flautist Jacquelyn Hynes and the Irish/Jazz crossover band ‘Clann na Mara’ that play regularly in Europe.

One of the great things about the Irish Songs and Singing class is the friendships that have built up between individuals over the years and the sense of camaraderie that is shared by everyone who has been through the programme.

For me it is always a wonderful and very special moment when I see a new group simultaneously realise what they can achieve the first time they hear themselves singing in harmony.

For further information about the course visit our website.