The Consulate of Ireland is hosting a special evening in support of the restoration of the Irish Workhouse Centre on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
On behalf of the Irish Workhouse Centre and the New York Host Committee, we would be delighted if you could join us as we continue our campaign. This event follows the campaign launch last year in New York and three major fundraising events in Ireland.
We invite you to join us for an evening of reflection, celebration, and support – in the company of outstanding speakers and entertainers – as we look to the future of the Irish Workhouse Centre and the remarkable stories it continues to bring to life.
We are delighted to announce our guest speaker Dr. John L. Lahey, President Emeritus of Quinnipiac University. As the 180th anniversary of Black ’47 approaches, the New York Host Committee wishes to highlight Dr. Lahey’s significant contributions to education on Famine history.
We are also thrilled to be joined by Eabha McMahon, Grammy-nominated singer, formerly of Anúna and Celtic Woman, for a special performance. Eabha resides in Galway and just recently performed in the Irish Workhouse Centre.
The evening will conclude with a performance by two actors, featuring an extract from Bishop Maginn: The Famine and The Fugitive, a new play by Turlough McConnell.
We hope you will be able to join us on October 14!
Le gach dea ghuí,
The Irish Workhouse Centre, New York Host Committee
Paul Finnegan
Turlough McConnell
Hilary Beirne
Professor Christine Kinealy
Janet Corcoran
Brian Kelly
James Duffy
Gene Lennon
Patrick Lally
Please RSVP to Campaign Director Mary Reed at [email protected] no later than October 9, 2026. SPACE IS LIMITED.
Support the Irish Workhouse Centre with a tax-deductible gift below. 100 cents of every dollar of your gift will go directly to the renovation of the Workhouse.
You can also mail a check to the Irish American Partnership at 15 Broad Street, Suite 210, Boston, MA 02109. You can find information about more ways to give – including bank transfers – here. When you make a gift, please note the “Irish Workhouse Centre” where possible.
About the Irish Workhouse Centre
Workhouse History
Ireland once had a country-wide network of 163 workhouses designed to alleviate poverty and destitution. Built in the 1840s, they predated the Great Hunger and were finally closed in the 1920s. Today, hardly any trace of these vast buildings, their history, or the souls who lived in them exist on the Irish landscape. The Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna is a notable exception. Thanks to the dedication of the local community, it has been partially restored and is now dedicated to authentically preserving this crucial part of Irish history.
Immediate Plans for Renovation
The former dining hall and chapel area will be renovated for use as a space for hire for events such as community concerts, art exhibitions, lectures, and special events. A facility of this size and proportion is not available to the public in South East Galway at present.
