Day 140, Year of #Mygration: Milton Keynes Irish Centre

Founded in 1987, the Milton Keynes Irish Centre was formed by 3 existing Groups: The Irish Society, Erin Go Bragh GAA Club, and The Irish Dance Society. The 3 Groups came together to form a unified committee called 'The Milton Keynes Irish Social and Cultural Society'. The first Irish Centre in Milton Keynes was officially opened in Denbigh 1988. They have since moved to new facilities in Manor Fields. The old Irish centre has been replaced by the MK Dons Football Stadium.

The welfare group holds a weekly social get together for older Irish people and their friends in the form of the largest lunch club in Milton Keynes. This takes place every Wednesday from 12:00 - 15:00. The Outreach office offer advice on rights and entitlements in the UK and Ireland, returning to Ireland, helping with form filling and so forth. The centre also offers hall hire for birthdays, weddings, communions, christenings, funerals and celebration dinners. The centre’s football stadium was recently renovated at a cost of £80,000 thanks to funding from the Premier League via the Football Stadia Improvement Fund. It is currently home to Unite MK FC and Buckingham Town FC. The centre promotes Irish culture through children and adults’ Irish dance sessions, Gaelic Sports and other activities.