+70
°
F
+74°
+58°
Niagara Falls
Thursday, 16
See 7-Day Forecast
Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
State funding will finance renovation project for 99-year-old building
Submitted by the Office of New York State Sen. Sean Ryan
On Saturday, New York State Sen. Sean Ryan announced he secured a $1 million capital grant to fund a renovation project at the Buffalo Irish Center. Ryan announced the funding at a special celebration that featured music from Buffalo’s Emerald Isle Band, a performance by students from the Rince na Tiarna Irish Dance School, and a poetry reading by Keelie Sheridan of the Irish Classical Theatre Co.
The Irish Center has been a South Buffalo fixture since 1970 and, today, is home to nearly 20 clubs, most of whom were on hand for the announcement. The building, which was a YMCA before it became home to the Irish Center, was built in 1926 and is in need of updates. The $1 million in state funding will pay for renovations to the Irish Center’s dance studio, kitchen and pub.
New York State Sen. Brian Kavanagh, president of the American-Irish Legislators Society of New York State, traveled to Buffalo for the announcement. Also in attendance were Sen. April Baskin and Assembly members Pat Burke, Bill Conrad and Jon Rivera.
Ryan said, “The Buffalo Irish Center has been an anchor of South Buffalo for over 50 years. It has served as a community gathering space and a place for an entire generation of Buffalonians to connect with their Irish heritage. This capital funding will help the Irish Center continue to be a wonderful community resource for generations to come.”
Tim Flanagan, chairman of the Buffalo Irish Center board of directors, said, “The Buffalo Irish Center is very grateful for the support provided by Sen. Sean Ryan for our capital campaign, as we continue to work to secure the Irish Center for future generations.”
1859 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY 14072
Phone: 716-773-7676
Fax: 716-773-7190
