Around the Center
Library &
Archives
Open Hours
Tuesdays & Saturdays · 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Schedule a Visit
773-282-7035 ext. 10Discover one of Chicago's hidden cultural gems at the Library of the Irish American Heritage Center, open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM. Home to more than 25,000 books and an extensive collection of Irish music, newspapers, literature, folklore, and historical archives, the IAHC Library offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the rich history and cultural legacy of Ireland and the Irish diaspora.
Opened to the public in 2006, the Library itself is a work of art and craftsmanship, created by talented Irish artisans and community members over many years. The space features a stunning literary border painted by Edward Cox and researched by Margaret Reid, celebrating the profound contributions of Irish writers and storytellers throughout history. The Children's and Lecture Room also features a vibrant mural and Gaelic-inspired artwork designed to inspire curiosity and imagination for younger visitors.
Visitors also have free on-site access to the Irish Newspaper Archives — the world's largest and oldest database of Irish newspapers — featuring more than 8 million pages of digitized Irish publications dating back to 1738. Researchers, historians, genealogists, and curious visitors alike can explore Irish births, deaths, marriages, historical events, and regional stories spanning centuries of Irish history, from the Great Famine and Easter Rising to the founding of the Republic of Ireland.
Whether you are researching your ancestry, exploring Irish literature, or simply looking for a quiet and inspiring place to connect with Irish culture, the IAHC Library offers an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.
Collections
- —~25,000 books
- —3,000 LPs
- —1,000 audio cassettes
- —500 CDs
- —Sheet music & pamphlets
- —Irish history & genealogy resources
- —Celtic language materials
Special Collections
- —Dennis Watson Musical Collection
- —Eileen McNulty Poetry Collection (Kennys, Galway)
- —Emmett Larkin Collection on the Church of Ireland
- —Liam MacGabham Celtic Language Collection
Library Inquiries
Leah Steele
IAHC Librarian
For any inquiries about the library and library archives, please contact our IAHC Librarian:
steele.leah@gmail.comGreat Irish Book Club
The Great Irish
Book Club
Where the tea is hot and the plots are hotter. ☕️
New here? You're invited! Our friendly, free book club dives into Irish lit, lively chats, and a warm cuppa in the IAHC Library. All readers welcome. 📚
IAHC Library
Second Floor
2:00 – 3:30 PM
Every meeting
2nd Saturday
Sep 2026 – May 2027
Join the Great Irish Book Club at the Irish American Heritage Center for another season of compelling fiction, history, conversation, and Irish literature. All meetings take place from 2:00–3:30 PM in the IAHC Library. Meetings are held on the second Saturday of the month with the exception of March, which will meet on March 20.
Celtic Knot Book Reading & Signing with Robert Patrick Conlon 📚☘️
Join the Irish American Heritage Center for a special free morning with acclaimed Chicago author Robert Patrick Conlon, who will discuss and sign copies of his debut book, Celtic Knot: An Orphan's Tale of Survival, Family, and Love in Chicago. The event begins at 11:00 AM, and RSVP is optional but appreciated.
Based on the remarkable true story of his grandfather, Celtic Knot follows eight-year-old Tim, the son of Irish immigrants, after he is orphaned in 1885 and forced to survive on the streets of Chicago. Blending family history with some of the city's most defining moments—including the Iroquois Theatre Fire, the Eastland Disaster, and the rise of organized crime—the novel is a moving tribute to resilience, perseverance, and the enduring strength of the immigrant experience.
Robert Patrick Conlon is a Chicago attorney and first-time author whose meticulously researched work has earned praise for bringing Irish-American history vividly to life. Celtic Knot has been featured on WGN-TV, received enthusiastic reviews from readers and literary organizations, and continues to resonate with audiences through author talks and community events across the Chicago area.
Stay tuned for additional event details, including the official start time. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the author, hear the inspiring story behind the book, and celebrate Chicago's rich Irish-American heritage. Admission is free, and all are welcome!
A critically acclaimed, darkly humorous novel centered on the death of 14-year-old Daniel "Skippy" Juster at a Dublin boarding school. Told from multiple perspectives, the novel explores friendship, love, and adolescent life while gradually unraveling the mystery behind Skippy’s death.
After a breakup, Claire O’Connor returns from London to rural Ireland to care for her dying father—only for her ex, Tom Morton, to unexpectedly reappear nearby. As old feelings resurface, Claire is left wondering whether he has returned for her or for himself.
On a bright spring afternoon in Dublin, Ciara Fay makes a split-second decision that will change everything. Gathering her two young daughters and driving away, Ciara knows only one thing for certain: home is no longer safe.
In a close-knit community on Ireland’s west coast, a baby is discovered abandoned on the beach. Named Brendan Bonnar by the fisherman who adopts him, Brendan becomes a source of fascination and hope for a town navigating a rapidly changing world.
Three adult sisters return to their childhood home for Thanksgiving weekend, where they must grapple with a shared tragedy, complicated relationships, and old tensions that have never completely disappeared.
A nonfiction account of the 1986 murder of IRA informant Frank Hegarty that examines espionage, politics, and justice during the Troubles. The book explores informant networks, subsequent investigations, and difficult questions surrounding intelligence work.
March 20, 2027
The Elements
John Boyne · 496 pages
Purchase on Amazon⚠️ Not on the second Saturday of the month.
An epic saga of four interwoven lives—the enabler, accomplice, perpetrator, and victim. A mother on the run, a young athlete on trial, a surgeon haunted by trauma, and a father on a life-changing journey find their lives unexpectedly connected.
Set in 1994, the novel follows two women—Izy Keaveney, a housewife, and Colette Crowley, a poet. After leaving her husband and sons for a married man in Dublin, Colette returns to County Donegal hoping to rebuild her old life, only to find her husband denying her access to her children.
Set in Ireland in 1865 following the Great Hunger, Land follows a father and son mapping the landscape for the British while exploring themes of trauma, survival, history, and the relationship between people and place.
☘️ Join the Conversation
Whether you're a lifelong reader of Irish literature or looking to discover something new, the Great Irish Book Club offers an opportunity to explore a diverse selection of contemporary fiction, historical stories, and nonfiction while enjoying thoughtful conversation with fellow readers in the welcoming atmosphere of the IAHC Library.
