A grant of €2.2 million towards the redevelopment of the London Irish Centre has been announced by Tánaiste Micheál Martin.
The reconstruction of the building in Camden, which is due to start at the end of next year, is expected to take up to two years to complete and will cost approximately £20m.
Mr Martin said the centre is a cultural hub and become a focal point for the Irish community in London the mark the passing of both Sinead O'Connor and Shane McGowan.
"The centre is also an important part of Ireland's cultural offering in London and this aspect of its work is central to the redevelopment plan. This is very much in line with the Government's Global Ireland 2025 commitment to increasing Ireland's global footprint through culture and something which we are pleased to support," the Tánaiste said.
He said the capital grant announced today is in addition to the €7.32m in funding from the Emigrant Support Programme already announced for Irish community organisations in Britain.
Tributes to work of the London Irish Centre (LIC) were paid by local MP and Labour leader Keir Stamer as well as the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the centre's Ambassador Patrick Kielty and Patron Dermot O'Leary.
Gary Dunne, creative director with the LIC, said the redevelopment will add about 70% of space and provide a new auditorium, black box theatre, new restaurants and bars and museum on the history of the Irish in London.
He said the vision came from consultation with the London Irish community.
