Irish centre to host 50th anniversary celebration

Corby Irish Centre was established on 27 October 1974

A centre serving a town's Irish community will celebrate its 50th anniversary this weekend with two days of festivities.

The Corby Irish Centre first opened its doors on 27 October 1974, thanks to the fundraising efforts of the town's Irish population, which raised £10,000.

Mitchell and Butlers Brewery supported the project by building the centre.

Frank Sheridan, 90, moved to Corby from Belfast in 1954 and is one of the club’s founders. He said: "There was quite a few Irish in Corby [in the late 1960s.] We kept meeting in pubs... and we thought getting together and having a club wouldn't be a bad idea."

One of the centre's founders, Frank Sheridan, will "have a couple of Guinnesses" during the special celebrations

Many Irish workers were employed in Corby's steelworks, including Mr Sheridan, who worked his way up to the role of senior foreman during his 25 years in the industry.

When speaking about the upcoming celebrations, Mr Sheridan added: "It should be a very good weekend... I might walk around the floor [instead of dancing]."

Joe McCafferty, one of the club's original members from Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, joined in 1974. He said the best part of being a member was "meeting your own community" and "making friends".

James Duffy, who became a member in the early 1990s and occasionally worked behind the bar, added that there were "always things going on" at the centre.

The anniversary events at Corby Irish Centre take place on Friday 25 October from 13:00-16:00 BST and Sunday 27 October from 19:30-23:30.

James Duffy (left) and Joe McCafferty (right) are long-term members who enjoy being part of the Irish community at the centre