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Reading bounces back with anniversary bash
 By
David Thorpe
The Irish community in Reading came out in force to celebrate the 20th anniversary
of the opening of their Irish centre.
But celebrations were extra special as only a few months ago there were
serious question marks over the future of the town’s Gaelic facilities.
Honorary secretary of the Reading and District Irish Association Gloria
McAdden along with her Co. Westmeath-born husband Séamus are behind
a new drive to promote the centre.
She said: “We have big plans for the centre. We would like to make
it a real meeting place for the Irish community in this area.
“At the moment we run a lot of Irish dancing classes and our function
room is a place where the Irish come together to socialise.
“A community centre should be able to serve all of the community
— the dancing classes attract a lot of younger Irish people but
we wish to attract people from every age group and will be looking at
initiatives for older members of the community in the coming months.”
There are plans to expand the range of activities available at the centre
to include the introduction of a film club and a lunch club — both
of which will serve the large elderly Irish community in Reading and surrounding
areas of Berkshire.
Such ambitions seemed a world away in January when the managers were seriously
considering shutting the centre.
Mrs McAdden said: “To be honest there was a lack of funding and
a lack of people using the centre so its future was in serious doubt.
“But in the end we decided that there is a future for such a centre,
the Irish community around here is certainly large enough to justify it.
“To achieve all that we want will require a lot of hard work but
it is certainly possible.
“About 100 people a week are using the centre at present which is
an improvement but we know that it’s possible to have a lot more.’
And judging by the healthy attendance at the anniversary celebrations
last weekend — which included a gala dinner dance on Saturday night
— the Irish community is alive and well.
Festivities also included Irish dancing and music, which was featured
as part of an outside broadcast of Irish Eye hosted by Henry Wymbs and
Anne Morris last Sunday.
Mrs McAdden said: “A lot of things are at the planning stage at
the moment but we would be hopeful that with community support we can
build something which the community can be proud of.”
n See next week’s Irish Post for more pictures from the Reading
and District Irish Association dinner dance. |
