The Irish centre offers support to those who have left Ireland hoping for a new life in London.
The Irish in Britain are to be found in all sorts of places and many of them keep in contact with each other through the various established Irish associations.
The Irish Centre in Camden Town is one such association. The centre opened in 1955 on the corner of Camden Square and Murray Street with aim of helping emigrants to find a place to live.
Michael Tuohy, Katherine Hayes and Kevin Day Irish emigrants share their thoughts of leaving Ireland and their experiences of living in London.
Kevin Day, who only recently arrived in London, says that,
There's no real difference between England and Ireland. They speak the same language. The accent is only different.
He did not have to leave Ireland but left because he wanted to see what life was like in London. He has no resentment towards Ireland.
Michael Tuohy did not feel the move to London was such a big deal as he came to stay with his brother. One of the things he found a little bit strange was not hearing Irish accents. Katherine Hayes could not find any work in Dublin so decided to make the move to London where she had no problem finding work as a secretary.
It's very easy to get work here, very hard at home.
John Kearney, Mary Lawlor and Aidan Kenny are all from different parts of Ireland but have one thing in common. They came to London because they could not find work at home.
John Kearney came to London and initially stayed with his sister. He then got a flat with his brother and has been working since he arrived. Mary Lawlor came with the intention of training to be a nurse, has applied for a training position, but has yet to hear back. Aidan Kenny came to London to find a job with prospects.
The working class Irish settled in certain areas of London including Camden Town, Kilburn and Cricklewood and for many years, the Irish pubs and dancehalls were at the centre of their social life.
Public manifestations of Irish life are to be seen everywhere in the city.
Air travel and increased affluence have brought Ireland closer to Britain. Irish entertainers perform frequently throughout Britain and big GAA matches can be seen live on television.
According to the 1971 census, there were 326,000 Irish born people in the Greater London Area.
The demands on the Irish Centre have now outgrown the size of the building it occupies. A new building is now being constructed on an expanded site at the cost of approximately £1 million. The cost of funding the project has to be raised by Irish people in Britain and Ireland. The Irish government has so far not provided financially for the Irish in Britain. Those who have left Ireland to live in Britain are expected to fend for themselves.
Promises made while in opposition are forgotten when power comes.
Director of the Irish Centre Father Cagney outlines how the Irish Centre serves the immigrants living in London. The services offered at the centre cover four dimensions including welfare, culture, social, and religion.
This episode of 'Report' was broadcast on 14 November 1977. The reporter is Breandán Ó hEithir.
