"A Hundred Thousand Welcomes!"

The Irish American Heritage Center is one of the premiere Irish cultural organizations in the United States. It is a destination for people of Irish descent as well as those who wish to learn more about the Irish heritage.

There's no place quite like the Irish American Heritage Center when it comes to providing the very best in Irish culture through the arts, history, education, dance and social outlets.

Just in time to celebrate 35 years of bringing Irish to Chicago, the Irish American Heritage Center book takes readers into the hearts and minds of the first-generation of Irish immigrants who made the dream for an Irish cultural center and community gathering spot in Chicago a reality.

For those seeking to be inspired by the grit, guts, determination and resiliency of the Irish, the book is a must-read. Rich with photos, anecdotes and lots of laughs and tears, the story begins 35 years ago with a small group of dedicated Chicagoans who longed to find a home to preserve and carry on the legacy of their Irish culture and to reclaim the sense of belonging to their communal “Irishness.” Ten years later, they purchased an abandoned, graffiti-filled school building. A passionate and ambitious volunteer crew of tradesmen and craftsmen transformed it into the Irish American Heritage Center, located on the northwest side of Chicago.

The book brings to life that courageous vision and shines the spotlight on the 50,000 people who come today to this massive 86,000-square-foot building, which houses an authentic Irish pub, a 650-foot theater, ballroom, library, museum, classes for language, dancing and music and have celebrated together for 25 years at the annual Irish Fest held in July.

It is a magnificent story with a rich cast of ordinary people who have been extraordinary passionate in their efforts to create a home for the Irish in Chicago. The finely detailed stories, and memorable moments of the founders, volunteers and many visitors will be brought to life in photographs and powerful anecdotal story telling.

You can purchase a copy at the IAHC Office.

The following quotes are a sneak preview into the early days of planning, building and creating what was to become the premiere Irish Center in Chicago and a model for others around the globe, to illuminate and define the Irish culture for generations to come.

“90 percent of the building`s windows were broken and boarded up, we brought in four-by-eight sheets of glass on trucks, laser cut all of them, and replaced all those windows, one by one.” -Ambrose Kelly

“When we first saw the building, we were all, oh my God! The paint was peeling, the windows smashed out, and it took a lot of imagination to see what could be.” -Mary McNamara

“We`ve built or rebuilt this place on nickels, dimes and a lot of sweat.” -Ambrose Kelly

“Little by little, room by room, the building came to life.” -Mary McNamara

“Everyone will always be welcome at `the home' for Chicagoland`s Irish.” -Tom Boyle

“The goal is to push forward the mission while creating a sense of home and to be a gathering place for the entire Irish community in Chicago.” -Bob McNamara