London Irish Centre redevelopment secures additional €3.4 million in Government funding
Total State investment in project reaches €6.75 million
27 February 2026 | editor@ipropertyradio.com
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, has announced a further €3.4 million in funding for the redevelopment of the London Irish Centre (LIC), bringing total Irish Government support for the project to €6.75 million.
The latest allocation represents the largest single investment by the State in an Irish diaspora organisation. Previous Government funding for the redevelopment amounted to €3.35 million, comprising €2.78 million from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and €0.57 million from Culture Ireland.
Announcing the funding, Minister McEntee said the London Irish Centre has served as a focal point for welfare services and cultural expression since its establishment in 1955. She stated that the grant reflects the commitment set out in Global Ireland 2025 to strengthen engagement with Irish communities overseas and aligns with the UK–Ireland 2030 Joint Statement priority to deepen cultural and people-to-people ties. She also referenced the forthcoming Ireland–UK summit as further context for the investment.
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, said the Centre and similar organisations across Britain provide critical services to those most in need. He noted that the redevelopment will support continued delivery of care services and inter-generational engagement, reinforcing long-standing links between Ireland and the UK. He added that the project complements the development of the new Ireland House in London and reflects the priority placed on bilateral relations.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, welcomed the funding, stating that London’s Irish community has played a significant role in the capital’s development and that the Centre has been central to community life for more than seven decades.
Rosaleen Blair CBE, Chair of the London Irish Centre, described the additional funding as both financial support and a vote of confidence in the organisation’s mission. She said it would enable the Centre to proceed later this year with transforming its Camden Square premises into a modern cultural and community destination, alongside contributions from corporate and private donors.
Dermot O’Leary, Patron of the London Irish Centre, said the redevelopment is significant for the Irish diaspora in Britain, noting the Centre’s longstanding role in promoting Irish culture, preserving heritage and supporting vulnerable members of the community.
In 2025, the Centre assisted more than 3,000 individuals through casework services, secured £4.4 million in benefits, served 10,000 meals and welcomed 30,000 visitors. It is the largest provider of support services to survivors of Irish institutions, including Industrial Schools, Magdalene Laundries and Mother and Baby Institutions. The Centre also collaborates with 79 organisations in delivering community and cultural programmes across London.
