A CLUB is celebrating the people who helped set it up after 20 years of providing a warm welcome for visitors.

Bolton Irish Centre has been giving people a place to meet, chat and enjoy a pint at its Lever Street venue for nearly two decades.

Attendees can drink, play games of pool or dominoes, enjoy music and dance sessions or catch up with news and sport from Ireland. The centre is also open to people from other backgrounds who want to socialise and enjoy themselves.

Now, the club’s committee want to hold a special anniversary celebration to mark the work of all its members, who helped to transform the former Nightingale Pub into a successful venue.

From the day the building was first purchased in 1999, the club has relied on a number of joiners, brickworkers, plasterers, decorators and other tradespeople who have given their efforts to bring the venue up to scratch, as well as the fundraisers and managers who have helped the centre thrive through the years.

Club member Tom Hanley spoke about the importance of the Irish Centre after years of attending.

“People felt they needed a meeting place,” he said.

“When you visited you felt like you belonged straight away, you saw people you hadn’t seen for a bit.

“That sense of identity is so important, but a lot of people who didn’t have Irish roots, people with no connection whatsoever, would come along too and enjoy it.”

Memorable moments at the Irish Centre include the visits of several famous faces, such as Bolton funnyman Peter Kay and popular Irish rock band The Saw Doctors.

To honour the memory of all the people who have played a part in making the centre a success, the current Club Committee are asking members whether they wish to hold a special anniversary celebration.

But the committee is also looking for new members to come forward and be a part of the of the centre as pubs, clubs and social venues across the country feel the pinch of increased financial pressure on the high street.

The committee is looking for ideas on what should be involved in the anniversary celebration from current members or those who have benefitted from the club in any way over the years.

Any suggestions should be sent to: boltonirish@outlook.com.