About ICHC
MISSION STATEMENT
The Irish Cultural and Heritage Center supports the Irish Community by serving as a venue dedicated to enhancing, promoting and preserving Irish culture and heritage, and serving the community at large.
The ICHC Building
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Stained Glass Windows
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The Irish Cultural & Heritage Center (ICHC) is housed in the former Grand Avenue Congregational Church on West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee.
The ICHC hosts many organizations including: Avenues West Association, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Shamrock Club of Wisconsin, and Immigrant Library.
More than 200 entertainment acts have performed at the Center since 1997 - such as Cathie Ryan, Aoife Clancy, Cherish the Ladies, and Gaelic Storm. Author Morgan Llywelyn lectured here during a Celtic Women International conference - We Banjo 3, Makem and Clancy, and Trian. Visiting dignitaries from Ireland include President Mary McAleese and Minister of State Bernard Allen, and Minister of the Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan.
The Center is home to two libraries: The ICHC Irish Library is a collection of nearly 1,000 donated titles of Irish interest which circulate to the public. These include works of fiction, memoir, history, language, travel and culture. The Irish Emigration Library, offers unique resources and knowledgeable volunteers to help people trace their Irish roots. Sponsored by the Irish Genealogical Society of Wisconsin, the library is free and open to the public each Wednesday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The ICHC is home to three performance spaces, a relaxing pub, and several meeting rooms.
The ICHC hosts many organizations including: Avenues West Association, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Shamrock Club of Wisconsin, and Immigrant Library.
More than 200 entertainment acts have performed at the Center since 1997 - such as Cathie Ryan, Aoife Clancy, Cherish the Ladies, and Gaelic Storm. Author Morgan Llywelyn lectured here during a Celtic Women International conference - We Banjo 3, Makem and Clancy, and Trian. Visiting dignitaries from Ireland include President Mary McAleese and Minister of State Bernard Allen, and Minister of the Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan.
The Center is home to two libraries: The ICHC Irish Library is a collection of nearly 1,000 donated titles of Irish interest which circulate to the public. These include works of fiction, memoir, history, language, travel and culture. The Irish Emigration Library, offers unique resources and knowledgeable volunteers to help people trace their Irish roots. Sponsored by the Irish Genealogical Society of Wisconsin, the library is free and open to the public each Wednesday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The ICHC is home to three performance spaces, a relaxing pub, and several meeting rooms.
A Brief History of the Grand Avenue Congregational Church
In 1847, seeking freedom of expression, twenty-two abolitionists from two prominent Milwaukee churches joined forces to create what became known as the Grand Avenue Congregational Church.
The current site (2133 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee) was purchased by the congregation in 1886, and the church itself was built the following year, designed by architect Edward Townsend Mix. It is said that the site (the street was then named Grand Avenue) was originally part of a former Catholic cemetery, and that two skeletons were uncovered when construction began in the basement. In 1910 a magnificent 4000+ pipe Kimball organ was added. In 1986 the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A principle feature of the new building was the remarkably large church auditorium, which was equipped to seat 1,300 persons. For over 60 years this remained Milwaukee’s largest auditorium for public use.
The Grand Avenue Congregational Church has had a long history of social and educational involvement in the community. Early on, the women of the congregation formed a group called the Ladies Aide Society of Milwaukee, which was responsible for the establish-ment of the National Soldiers Home at Wood (the Clement J. Zablocki V.A. Medical Center) after the Civil War.
On December 2, 1996, title of the Grand Avenue Congregational Church was transferred to the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center for a cost of one dollar. Board members of the ICHC who were present that day were: Dick Tierney, Mark Connelly, Jean Bills and Dale Brenon, president. (Interestingly, each paid 25 cents for the purchase price). Representing the church were John Simonson, chairman of the board of trustees, Harrison Henry, moderator and Rev. Keith Farnham.
It was mutually agreed that the church congregation could continue to hold religious services and maintain office and storage space at the facility. After about one year however, the Grand Avenue Congregational Church dissolved its congregation and its members dispersed to other locations.
The current site (2133 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee) was purchased by the congregation in 1886, and the church itself was built the following year, designed by architect Edward Townsend Mix. It is said that the site (the street was then named Grand Avenue) was originally part of a former Catholic cemetery, and that two skeletons were uncovered when construction began in the basement. In 1910 a magnificent 4000+ pipe Kimball organ was added. In 1986 the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A principle feature of the new building was the remarkably large church auditorium, which was equipped to seat 1,300 persons. For over 60 years this remained Milwaukee’s largest auditorium for public use.
The Grand Avenue Congregational Church has had a long history of social and educational involvement in the community. Early on, the women of the congregation formed a group called the Ladies Aide Society of Milwaukee, which was responsible for the establish-ment of the National Soldiers Home at Wood (the Clement J. Zablocki V.A. Medical Center) after the Civil War.
On December 2, 1996, title of the Grand Avenue Congregational Church was transferred to the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center for a cost of one dollar. Board members of the ICHC who were present that day were: Dick Tierney, Mark Connelly, Jean Bills and Dale Brenon, president. (Interestingly, each paid 25 cents for the purchase price). Representing the church were John Simonson, chairman of the board of trustees, Harrison Henry, moderator and Rev. Keith Farnham.
It was mutually agreed that the church congregation could continue to hold religious services and maintain office and storage space at the facility. After about one year however, the Grand Avenue Congregational Church dissolved its congregation and its members dispersed to other locations.