About Us
In 2004, a group of Irish Americans in Rochester, NY decided to form an organization that would provide the residents of Monroe County and Western New York with the opportunity to preserve, educate, participate and celebrate Irish, Celtic and Irish American culture. The organization that was formed was the Irish American Cultural Center of Western New York. As the organization developed and evolved it was decided to simplify the group’s name to the Greater Rochester Irish Center.
One of the key objectives of Greater Rochester Irish Center has been to acquire a building in the Rochester area to create a focal point for all that is Irish. The objective is to have a place where we can meet to celebrate and share our Irish culture. The facility would eventually house space for Irish lectures, theatre productions, dance schools, sporting events, music lessons and sessions, language lessons, a reading room and library, art by local artists, banquet and meeting room facilities, dinner dances and Irish entertainment.
Celtic College
As with most Americans, the Irish have lost much of our cultural connections and real knowledge of our ancestral roots. In an effort to reconnect with their Irish cultural roots, the Greater Rochester Irish Center decided to develop an ongoing series of presentations and events under the umbrella of the Celtic College. Past topics of the Celtic College have included Gaelic language, bagpipe history, Irish dance, Irish performers, Irish genealogy and even the history of Guinness stout. We would love to hear your ideas on new Celtic College subjects for future events.
Videos of Celtic College Events
Mr Dooley
Irish Language
NYC Guinness Representative Speaks About Guinness
Find Out Where the Irish Located in Monroe County?
According to the US Census Bureau, hundreds of thousands of people consider themselves of Irish decent in Rochester (Click here to view a map where the people of Irish decent live in Monroe County).
The Greater Rochester Irish Center Board of Directors:
• President: Rick Faro
• Vice President: Jim Payne
• Treasurer: David Foley
• Secretary: Peggy Brayer
• Additional board members
Sean Fallon, Erika Fallon, Ted McGraw, Ed Schlueter, Britton Lui
Email Newsletter
If you are interested in finding out more about these events or are interested in finding out what else is going on with the Greater Rochester Irish Center join our email newsletter list.
