Cultural Programme

To get involved with any of our programmes below please contact Nora Mulready or Olivia Thompson on 0207 027 0471 or by email at Olivia@irishelders.org.uk .

The Irish Pensioners Choir

The Irish Pensioners Choir brings together around 30 older Irish people, most of whom are in their 70s and 80s. They come from all over Ireland and have made their homes here in London over many decades. The choir was founded over 10 years ago in London and, although an independent group, has been supported by the Irish Elderly Advice Network throughout this time.

The choir has performed for audiences of tens of thousands including at London’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square for several years, and as part of the Irish community choir in the Royal Albert Hall in honour of President Michael D Higgin’s state visit to Britain in 2014. They have sung on UK television, including for Sir Terry Wogan on ITV and on the BBC’s The One Show. They have performed on RTE Radio and Television and are regularly played by Donncha Ó Dúlaing on the very popular Fáilte Isteach (10 pm on Saturday evenings on RTÉ Radio 1.) The choir also recorded a beautiful album of old Irish songs, Songs of Love and Emigration, which has been very popular with the Irish community, young and old, here in London and back home in Ireland.

Irish Pensioners Culture Club

We run the Irish Pensioners Culture Club, a music session for older Irish people, friends and family, where people can sing, share home made food, listen to live music, and generally get together for a lovely time hosted by the Irish Pensioners Choir and the Irish Elderly Advice Network in the Irish Centre in Camden Town. We will start these again in the new year and will update website with information.

Cultural Events

We put on one-off cultural events throughout the year in support and celebration of older Irish people and our Irish cultural heritage. Our latest event, ‘This One Irish Night’, was headlined by Sean Cannon of the Dubliners and his son James, and we were also joined by 60 Irish musicians, singers and dancers, covering 4 generations of the London-Irish, for a truly magical night of Irish culture. This took place in Haringey Irish Centre and was a benefit night for the Irish Elderly Advice Network. It was filmed by Irish TV and shown on Sky.

Cultural Programme: Programs