1. Case Statement: History
The Irish Cultural Centre was founded in 1989 on 46 acres of undeveloped land in
Canton, Massachusetts. The funding and building of this establishment was done exclusively by
volunteer efforts of the Irish-American community. Since its foundation, the ICC has become the
landmark in New England for Irish culture and heritage through events and activities including
sports, dance, music, and literature that help bring Irish culture to life. Keeping the extremely
generous and kind-hearted Irish traditions alive and spreading them to all ages really helps the
ICC demonstrate the culture that is the root of this foundation. Applying this historical culture
and heritage to modern day realities and situations is a driving force of accomplishing this goal.
The ICC is based on teamwork— an umbrella organization that is designed to assist other
organizations to thrive and prosper while expanding current programming and active supporting
Irish cultural activities throughout New England.
A prime example of the ICC’s efforts to promote Irish culture is its festivals. The largest
one, the Boston Irish Festival, is the largest gathering of its kind on the east coast. It has seen
many musical acts perform including local Boston band, the Dropkick Murphy’s. The ICC
festivals are designed to connect members of the culture with their Irish roots by linking past
traditions with the present.