The Irish National Association actively promotes Irish culture and interests through our support of activities at the Irish Cultural Centre and Gaelic Club and other locations in Sydney. You’ll find us at Level 1, 64 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills.
The Irish Cultural Centre is home to the Albert Dryer Memorial Library of books on Irish language, history and culture.
We also maintain the 1798 Memorial at Waverley Cemetery, which commemorates those who struggled for Irish independence and is described as “the finest 1798 memorial in the world”. We also host an annual Easter ceremony at the memorial, every Easter Sunday afternoon.
As part of our 2015 Centenary celebrations, the Oral History and Folklore section of the National Library of Australia launched a history project, led by Dr Richard Reid. The project records the stories of Irish migrants and Australians of Irish origin and you can read (and hear) stories of the lives of Irish Australians in Sydney at the Sydney Irish Histories section of this site. We’d love to hear from you if you have any interesting photos or family stories to add to our collection.
These activities are funded in part by donations from our community and the public. If you would like to support the INA’s work in fostering a lively Irish cultural scene in Sydney, please click here to donate to us via GiveNow. Every dollar counts, and your donation is tax deductible.
The cultural activities we run, support and promote include:
Irish dance
Irish step dancing classes have been held at the Irish Cultural Centre since 1956, and the Dwyer-Whelan Academy of Irish Dance has been teaching there since the 1980’s.
Set dancing classes take place each week at the Centre.
Click here for details of dance classes.
Irish music
The Sydney School of Irish Music teaches traditional music at the Centre, on fiddle, whistle and other instruments.
Click here for details of music classes.
We also host the Irish Australian Song Library, a searchable database of recordings and sheet music of Irish songs.
Click here to go to the Irish Australian Song Library.
Irish language
Irish language classes are run at the Gaelic Club by the Irish Language School Sydney (The Scoil na Gaelilge Sydney).
Click here for details of language classes.
Cultural events
Céilís (social Irish set dances) are held every couple of months, and we also have occasional concerts of Irish music, singing and dancing at the Gaelic Club and other venues.
Our popular Junior Fleadh is held on a Sunday every three months and teaches children to play Irish music together and some dance steps in a fun environment.
Our affiliated bar and music venue, where most of our music and dance events happen, is The Gaelic Club, which can be found at our building at 64 Devonshire Street. Check its website here for its upcoming events.
We also support public events such as the Sydney Irish Film Festival , Bloomsday (16 June) and of course St Patrick’s Day on 17th March..
Click here to view our calendar of events.
The Irish National Association is an incorporated association, run by an active committee that is elected by our members.