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Pull together to ensure our Irish clubs prosper  The
future of Britain’s Irish clubs has sparked much debate in these
pages over the past few months. Here reader SÉAN COLLINS gives
his own view.
SO, Irish clubs have had their day have they? Too old, too outdated and
failing to attract the new young Irish.
Well, excuse me — but that’s not the way I see it. Not by
a long chalk.
Okay, I’ll admit it’s not all good news. Yes there are some
clubs which have frankly seen better days.
Travel round the country (which I do frequently) and you’ll find
some of these treasured institutions which have seen better days.
One or two would benefit from a lick of paint, some more imaginative entertainment
schedules and perhaps a rather more welcoming attitude to newcomers.
But it’s my contention that these are probably the exception rather
than the norm. Many, many others are doing very many things extremely
well.
I know this because I make a habit of heading to the local Irish club
whenever I arrive in a town or city.
If you don’t believe me try doing the same and you’ll probably
be in for a pleasant surprise.
Take Milton Keynes, Basingstoke or Leamington Spa and you’ll see
examples of well-run clubs thoroughly in tune with the 21st century and
experiencing a healthy stream of visitors.
They work because they have stayed true to the values of the original
clubs a place to meet your own, have a chat, get help and advice, enjoy
some entertainment yet done in a way that has kept pace with customers’
changing tastes.
Take Leamington Spa’s St. Patrick’s Club for example. This
is a beautiful club perched majestically on the banks of the River Leam
where you can enjoy a drink in peaceful surroundings.
To my knowledge the club has never been in debt and is always looking
to innovate and bring in new attractions for the local Irish community.
One such initiative is the Tuesday Club for pensioners. This was launched
not so many months ago and is thriving.
And then there’s the latest bane of publicans’ lives —
the smoking ban.
While some clubs simply imposed it without a thought for customers’
needs at St. Patrick’s in Leamington they created a special outdoor
area where those who want to can smoke.
In a stroke that probably ensured trade which could have been lost, as
smokers stayed at home, was retained.
St. Kentigern’s in Manchester is another Irish club which does a
thriving business.
It does this by ensuring a range of good-quality entertainment which has
seen it become something of a hub for the local community.
Ah, I hear you say, but what about the second and third-generation Irish?
Where are they going?
Well, they’re certainly going to St. Kentigern’s — and
on a fairly regular basis.
They’re also heading to many other of our Irish clubs dotted around
the country because the places are giving them what they want and ensuring
they can enjoy themselves.
The ones that are suffering — the ones I believe which sparked the
debate in the pages of this newspaper — are those that have failed
to do this.
Some have suffered by location. One or two I know are trapped on what
are now almost entirely small business or industrial estates where the
once-thriving population has moved away. They struggle because there is
little nearby housing and travelling by car inevitably curtails an evening’s
drinking.
If they are to survive the way forward may be to sell the present premises
and look to open nearer their customer base.
Easier said than done in some cases I agree — but others have done
this and managed to revive their club. It is to that example they should
be looking.
Club owners and committees should also be looking to involve each other
more.
When you consider what an impressive network of Irish clubs we have, think
of the time and effort that has gone in to establishing them and keeping
them running over the years it is amazing that there is no formalised
way of sharing that knowledge.
Surely some sort of national body could bring Irish club managers and
officials together every so often, let them pool their ideas and experience
and allow everyone to learn from best practice.
In the days of the internet it wouldn’t be hard to have a weekly
newsletter letting everyone know who’s doing what and what new ideas
are being tried.
It is this sort of forward-thinking which would see most Irish clubs being
given the opportunity to thrive and look ahead with confidence.
Our network of Irish clubs is a tremendous resource. No other ethnic group
can boast of a similar achievement down through the years and it is something
which should be cherished.
Even today people outside the Irish Diaspora associate the words Irish
club with the guarantee of a good night out.
Just look how many non-Irish flock to our clubs on St. Patrick’s
Day. They wouldn’t be doing that if they didn’t think they
were going to enjoy themselves!
So yes — one or two clubs may be experiencing difficulties. There
may be some where political differences have caused rifts in the committee.
There may even be some that have actively discouraged new members or failed
to encourage fresh faces to come in.
But we’re talking about a minority here. The vast majority are good,
well-run bodies who are doing the best they can.
It is vital we support them. The Irish club is a vivid symbol of our community.
It shows how we stick together through thick and thin.
Above all it shows what a massive contribution we Irish have made to the
social fabric of Britain in the 21st century.
If you have an Irish club near you then support it. If you haven’t
been in for a while then make the effort.
If you don’t like what you find don’t just walk away —
instead see if there’s any way you can suggest improvements.
It’s only by working together can we make sure these clubs flourish
and prosper.
After all, that’s how they were set-up in the first place. And the
country would be a much poorer place if they hadn’t been.
n Do you agree? Tell us what you think. Write to The Irish Post, Cambridge
House, Cambridge Grove, Hammersmith, London W6 0LE. Alternatively e-mail
irishpost@irishpost.co.uk |
