New York Irish Center

What New York Irish Center does

New York Irish Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural and community center headquartered at 1040 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens, founded in 2003 by Fr. Colm Campbell and Paddy Reilly and opened in 2005. The organization's mission is to share Irish culture and foster collaboration between people of all heritages through social services, cultural programming, and educational offerings. Its programming spans concert series (Blarney Star for traditional Irish music, Crossroads for world-music fusion), festivals (40 Shades of Green, Queens Irish Heritage Festival, Fís Nua Irish Language Film Festival), educational courses (Irish language, sean-nós singing, fiddle, tin whistle), senior services (free retiree programs including meals, exercise, computer assistance, and AARP tax aid), youth programs (Tír na nÓg Children's Festival, McManus Irish Dance), and LGBTQ+ programming. The Center serves the Irish-American diaspora in the New York City metro area alongside a deliberately multicultural audience drawn from Queens' diverse neighborhoods.

The Center operates a hybrid revenue model combining tax-deductible donations, program and class fees, ticketed event admissions, institutional sponsorships and grants, and facility rentals. Pricing is low-ticket and accessible: Irish language classes run $30/week or $180-$300 per multi-week course, music lessons $25/class, CPR training $120, and film festival tickets $15-$40, while retiree programs are free. Distribution is primarily through the owned physical venue (one stop from Grand Central on the 7 train) with an Eventbrite ticketing layer and a small Zoom-based online class channel. Sponsorship and grant relationships span Tourism Ireland, The Ireland Funds, Goldman Sachs, the Irish Government Emigrant Support Programme, NY City Council, and NY State Council on the Arts, with strategic programming partnerships including Ireland's TG4 broadcaster, Culture Lab LIC, McManus Irish Dance, AARP, Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Eireann, and the Irish Institute of New York. The organization runs on a lean 1-10 employee base led by Executive Director George C. Heslin with a Board of Directors chaired by Sean Mackin, and earned media recognition includes multiple Time Out New York St. Patrick's Day listings and a 2024 Citation of Excellence from the Queens Borough President.

Name

New York Irish Center

Legal name

New York Irish Center

Website

https://newyorkirishcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Community Center Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI), Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ)

Keywords

• Cultural community center
• Irish heritage programs
• Nonprofit cultural education
• Community social services
• Cultural event programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Island City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the nonprofit's cultural and social mission. The organization is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
2. Program Fees and Class Registration: Revenue from Irish language classes, music lessons, fitness classes, and other educational programs offered to the community.
3. Event Tickets and Festival Admissions: Ticket sales for concerts, festivals, film screenings, and special events including the Crossroads Concert Series, Blarney Star Series, and Fís Nua Film Festival.
4. Sponsorships and Grants: Support from sponsors including Tourism Ireland, The Ireland Funds, Goldman Sachs, Irish Government Emigrant Support Programme, NY City Council, NY State Council on the Arts, and other institutional funders.
5. Facility Rentals: Revenue from renting the center's facilities for private events and community gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The New York Irish Center is a nonprofit community cultural center that delivers a range of Irish-themed programming including concerts and music festivals (Crossroads Concerts, Blarney Star Series, 40 Shades of Green), the Fís Nua Irish Language Film Festival, Irish language and traditional music/singing classes, youth programs (Tír na nÓg, McManus Irish Dance), and free retiree social services. The Center operates from a single Long Island City, Queens venue and supports the Irish diaspora and broader multicultural NYC community through events, classes, and social services.

Product overview

The New York Irish Center is a community cultural center offering a diverse portfolio of programs and events centered on Irish culture, heritage, and community service. The organization operates as a multi-program center with distinct product lines including: concert series (Blarney Star for traditional Irish music, Crossroads Concerts for world music fusions), cultural festivals (40 Shades of Green, Queens Irish Heritage Festival, Fís Nua Irish Language Film Festival), educational programs (Irish language classes, sean-nós singing, musical instrument lessons, CPR training), youth programming (Tír na nÓg Children's Festival, McManus School of Irish Dance), senior/retiree services (Movie Mondays, luncheons, exercise classes, computer assistance), and LGBTQ+ community initiatives. These programs collectively serve the Irish-American community in Queens and greater New York through cultural enrichment, social services, and educational offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Crossroads Concerts: A world music series that blends and juxtaposes Irish folk traditions with music from many other cultures.
• Fís Nua | New Vision Irish Language Film Fest
• Tír na nÓg Children's Festival
• 40 Shades of Green
• Blarney Star Concert Series

Products and services

• Fís Nua | New Vision Irish Language Film Festival America's first Irish Language Film Festival presented in association with TG4, featuring Irish feature films, documentaries, children's programming, short films, and local Irish filmmaker works. Targeted at audiences interested in Irish language cinema and cultural programming.
• Blarney Star Concert Series Traditional Irish music concert series featuring accomplished musicians performing tunes, reels, and jigs in an intimate setting. Targeted at fans of traditional Irish music.
• Crossroads Concerts Series World music series blending Irish folk traditions with music from other cultures including Albanian, Moroccan Gnawa, Puerto Rican Bomba, Sene-Gambian, Turkish, Southern Italian Sicilian, Brazilian, and other cultural fusions. Each concert features a different lineup of virtuoso folk musicians.
• 40 Shades of Green: St. Patrick's Day Celebration Annual St. Patrick's Day cultural marathon featuring over 40 performers including music, dance, and entertainment from 3pm to 9pm at the Center's Long Island City venue.
• Irish Language Classes Irish language instruction taught by Caoimhe Nic Giollarnáith, including Beginners (in-person) and Advanced Beginners (online) courses, typically offered as 6-10 week sessions. Targeted at adult learners interested in learning Gaeilge.
• Sean-nós Singing Classes Traditional Irish singing instruction taught by Madelyn Monaghan, covering old-style singing technique, basic Irish language sounds, ornamentation, and historical context of songs.
• Musical Instrument Lessons (Fiddle, Tin Whistle) Music instruction including fiddle lessons with Niall Mulligan (former All-Ireland medalist) and tin whistle workshops with Jade Keogh, offered as individual pay-as-you-go or multi-week sessions.
• CPR & First Aid Training American Red Cross accredited Adult/Child CPR and AED certification training taught by Niamh Flanagan, priced at $120 per person.
• Tír na nÓg Children's Festival Annual summer celebration for children (ages 5-12) exploring Irish roots through workshops in drama, music, visual arts, and dance.
• McManus School of Irish Dance (Children's Classes) Irish dance instruction for children aged 4-12 led by Patricia McManus, including regular classes and Jiggy Tots for ages 18 months to 4 years.
• Retiree Programs Free programs for retirees including Movie Mondays, Tuesday Art Class, Wednesday Lunch, Exercise Classes, Tax Filing Assistance (AARP), Afternoon Tunes, Computer Club, and Retiree Outings.
• LGBTQ+ Programs LGBTQ+ programming including The Story Continues networking series, OUTing the Past festival, and partnership with Craic Fest LGBTQ+ for films and panel discussions.
• 5th Annual Queens Irish Heritage Festival Annual outdoor cultural festival presented with McManus Irish Dance and Culture Lab LIC, featuring 5 hours of entertainment celebrating Irish heritage in Queens, New York.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ performers annually at flagship St. Patrick's Day event
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• TG4flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with TG4, Ireland's premier Irish language broadcaster, for the Fís Nua | New Vision Irish Language Film Festival - America's first Irish Language Film Festival. TG4 provides content, expertise, and promotional support for the festival featuring Irish language films and cultural programming.
• Culture Lab LICflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of the annual Queens Irish Heritage Festival, combining Irish culture with the cultural diversity of Queens. Culture Lab LIC provides the outdoor venue for this major community event.
• McManus Irish DancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for the Queens Irish Heritage Festival and children's programming including Irish dance instruction. McManus School of Irish Dance offers classes at the Center for children aged 4-12.
• Tourism IrelandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor supporting the Queens Irish Heritage Festival and other cultural programming. Tourism Ireland promotes Irish culture internationally and supports Irish cultural organizations abroad.
• The Ireland FundscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPhilanthropic organization supporting Irish causes globally, providing funding for cultural programs and festivals at the Center.
• The Irish Institute of New YorkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting organization for the Crossroads Concerts series, providing funding and programmatic support for world music fusion concerts blending Irish folk with international traditions.
• Folk Music Society of New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the annual Woody Guthrie New York Hoot, a two-hour round robin songfest celebrating folk music traditions.
• Gaeltacht NYCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Pop-up Gaeltacht events - informal gatherings of Irish speakers at various ability levels for networking, music, and discussion entirely in Irish.
• Craic Fest LGBTQ+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership in June presenting LGBTQ+ films and panel discussions. The Center also hosts the OUTing The Past festival and The Story Continues networking series.
• AARP and Ken NattoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFree tax filing services provided to the community through AARP TaxAide program and volunteer Ken Natton. Available February through April annually by appointment.
• Irish Repertory TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOccasional outings organized for seniors to attend Irish Repertory Theatre productions in Manhattan.
• Culinary Historians of New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership presenting educational culinary history events at the Center, featuring discussions and tastings exploring food culture and traditions.
• Comhaltas Ceoltoiri EireanncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly céilí (Irish social dance) events at the Center, featuring live music, set dancing, and lessons for newcomers. Part of the global Irish traditional music organization.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aisling Irish Community Center: Yonkers, NY-based nonprofit serving the Irish-American community with cultural, educational, and social services programming. Closest geographic peer with similar community-center model, classes, and senior services.
• Irish Arts Center: New York-based nonprofit cultural center presenting Irish and Irish-American arts including music, dance, theater, and language programs. Directly comparable as a 501(c)(3) Irish cultural institution serving the NYC metro with classes, performances, and community programming.
• Irish Repertory Theatre: Off-Broadway nonprofit theater company in Manhattan dedicated to Irish and Irish-American works. Comparable as an NYC-based Irish nonprofit producing cultural programming, with NYIC's senior outings partnership indicating direct audience overlap.
• Irish American Cultural Institute: National U.S.-based nonprofit supporting Irish cultural preservation, education, and heritage programming through grants and events. Comparable mission as a broader Irish-American cultural nonprofit with national reach.
• Culture Lab LIC: Long Island City-based arts and culture nonprofit that co-presents the Queens Irish Heritage Festival with NYIC. Directly comparable as a Queens-based cultural venue operator with overlapping programming.
• Glucksman Ireland House (NYU): NYU's center for Irish and Irish-American studies offering cultural programming, language classes, lectures, and community events in Manhattan. Comparable mission and Irish-heritage focus, with overlapping educational programming.
• Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann: Global organization dedicated to preserving Irish traditional music, dance, and culture with regional branches worldwide. NYIC hosts monthly Comhaltas céilí events; comparable mission around Irish traditional arts preservation.
• Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge): Global Irish-language advocacy organization promoting the use of the Irish language through events and community gatherings. NYIC's Pop-up Gaeltacht partnership signals direct overlap with their Irish-language community programming mission.

Regional players

• Irish Cultural Center of New England: Canton, MA-based nonprofit cultural center offering Irish music, dance, language, and heritage programming. Comparable nonprofit Irish cultural center model operating in a different U.S. region.
• Center for Irish Music (Minneapolis): Minnesota-based nonprofit offering Irish traditional music instruction, ensemble programs, and performances. Comparable educational programming focus with comparable nonprofit operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-OhXOA-J0JOyj6VrG_fs9Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-york-irish-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New York Irish Center