The Hutt Valley Irish Society
Formed in the 1960s, the society runs history talks, social events, ceilis, musical events and regular family events such as a potluck dinner on the last Sunday of every month.
The Hutt Valley Irish Society is located in Lower Hutt, a river valley in New Zealand originally called Te Awa Kairangi.
It’s about a 20 minute drive from the capital city, Wellington. As the Hutt valley became an industrial region during the 20th century, Māori were attracted to live there, as were many immigrants, including Irish people.
Immigration from Ireland to New Zealand
The current President of the Hutt Valley Irish Society is Desiree Mulligan, who says “My relationship to Ireland was formed by growing up with an Irish Grandmother who lived with us, and often talked about her immigration to New Zealand and her family in Ireland.”
Mulligan explains that in the Hutt Valley, Māori people fight to hold on to their land and to their language and says “I see Ireland as a place of my ancestry, as well as a model of indigenous language promotion which New Zealand can aspire to in the retention of Te reo Māori.”
History talks and Irish cultural events
The Hutt Valley Irish Society runs history talks, social events, ceilis, musical events and regular family events such as a potluck dinner on the last Sunday of every month. Mulligan says “The society was formed in the 1960s for people to meet and socialise.
Irish in New Zealand
The Irish community where we live is made up of some elderly who emigrated in the post-war era, those who emigrated in the 1970s and ‘80s, and more recent immigrants. Today the majority of our members are those keeping in touch with their ancestral roots, often discovering what it is to be Irish in New Zealand.”
Emigrant Support Programme funding
Mulligan says that funding from the Emigrant Support Programme has been crucial in making much needed repairs to the society’s building, which was built in the 1980s. They were encouraged to do so by the new Irish Embassy in Wellington.
They have also used ESP funding for children’s equipment and on arranging outings for elders in the community. Mulligan says:
“The Emigrant Support Programme is a tangible outreach of Ireland to its many generations of emigrants, a generous move with a sense of support and kindness which is greatly appreciated.”