The St. Brigid Center for Irish Arts and Culture

Although more information will be disclosed concerning the future of the building, the following information may be of interest.

• The building will be dedicated to St. Brigid, patron of hospitality and safeguard of Irish culture. Her care and concern for the best of Irish culture and Christian values will be the inspiration for the work that will be housed in this building.

• The building will be owned by the Sunshine Foundation. An advisory board will be created to help the Foundation implement those decisions that will direct the center towards the goals of maintaining and promoting Irish culture – its music, literature, theater, art and dance; so that by the advancement of this culture, the center may be a source of joy and happiness for both the Irish community and for others.

• The Sunshine Foundation has committed itself to the renovation of the building so that the St. Brigid Center will be a suitable home to house a beacon of Irish culture and its living heritage. The center is particularly interested in fostering a relationship with students and younger members of the Milwaukee community so that they may learn and participate in the many Irish groups and activities that help advance Irish heritage.

• Conversations will be held with those groups and programs that have used the ICHC in the past and that the St. Brigid Center hopes will continue a relationship with them into the future.

• To facilitate this project, the Sunshine Foundation has asked Fr. Michael W. Maher, S.J., to serve as the director of its advisory board. Fr. Maher will assist in the formation of this board and, by means of this board, establish the details concerning the maintenance and use of the St. Brigid Center. Fr. Maher and his family are well-known in the Irish community. His parents were involved in the building as founding members of the Irish Genealogical Society of Wisconsin, and his sister Cathy has been involved with Milwaukee Irish Fest from its beginning. His brother John was the director of the ICHC for several years and served many years with Milwaukee Irish Fest and the Shamrock Club. Many knew John as one of the last people who would let them down.

 

This turn of events has no doubt generated many questions. We ask for and appreciate your patience as we move forward in shaping those procedures and practices that will make the St. Brigid Center a true home and hearth, a place that will nourish the joy and beauty of Irish culture so that this joy and beauty may be spread to others. Soon, we will hold conversation sessions when persons interested in the St. Brigid Center may gather to discuss the future of the building, the activities and events we would host, and how we can achieve this vision. At this point, everyone’s gratitude must go to the board of the ICHC who maintained the building during difficult times and financial challenges. They directed the transfer of the ownership of the building in fulfillment of their goals of assuring that the resources of the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center would be thoughtfully managed and will support future Irish cultural activities. Countless others have rallied to the support of the Center and have given their time and resources to the ICHC. We owe these people our recognition and appreciation.

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Look for more information in the near future about our new programs and how you might be able to get involved with our new direction. Thank you for your interest!