Posted: Monday 10th March 2025
In the run up to St Patrick’s Day we take a look at Wigan’s Irish roots, from the oldest Irish Club in Britain to the newest addition bringing a bit of emerald isles sparkle to Wigan Town Centre.
Brian Boru Club- Ashton in Makerfield
It’s no secret that every time St Patrick’s day rolls around everyone who’s anyone wants to be Irish, but here in Wigan Borough we have a genuine claim to fame in the form of the Brian Boru Club in Ashton (external link) - the oldest Irish club in Great Britain.
The precise date of the opening of the Ashton Branch remains a mystery but certainly, it was up and running by the summer of 1886.
Irish (external link) migration to Great Britain has occurred from the earliest recorded history to the present. The most significant exodus followed the Irish Great Famine, the worst of a series of potato crop failures in the 1840s.
The club was founded by a group of emigrants who had left Ireland in search of work over 130 years ago, throughout the decades it has encountered many ups and downs but has always stayed true to its core promise “to promote Irish history, culture, music, and dance.
“I'm bidding you a long farewell, my Mary, kind and true But I'll not forget you, darling, in the land I'm going to. They say there's bread and work for all, and the sun shines always there But I'll ne'er forget old Ireland, were its fifty times as fair.”
Today it remains a vibrant, lively venue supporting second and third Irish generations to keep traditions of music, dance and Irish culture alive. They co-ordinate an Irish day parade through the streets of Ashton in Makerfield, and one off special comedy and music events. With their regular Friday night traditional Irish Sesiún and Sing Around, welcomes everyone, and gives an authentic Irish experience that extends after the novelty of St Patrick’s day has worn off.
Visit Brian Boru Irish Club (external link) for more details of current events.
55 Bryn Street, Wigan WN4 9AX. 01942 727536.
Kilcoyne’s Irish Bar
Located at the heart of Wigan Lane, OV-Group are renovating one of their longest standing sites of 5 years into a fabulous new Irish bar with all of the traditional features of a Dublin micro bar!
The bar will offer a wide range of Irish and local products along with live entertainment, sports, open mic nights and their very own beer ginnel.
Launching on 14th March 2025.
For more information, vist Kilcoyne’s on Facebook (external link).
19 Wigan Lane, Wigan, WN1 1XR.