Irish Community

Comhaltas – Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of traditional Irish culture. Comhaltas Craobh Barry Cogan is San Diego’s first branch of CCÉ to promote Irish traditional music, dance, singing, and to create a community for Irish music and dance.

Irish American Bar Association – The Irish American Bar Association celebrates, fosters, and perpetuates the grand and glorious traditions of Irish and Irish-American history, advocacy, and camaraderie within the San Diego legal community. Membership is open to all San Diego lawyers who are Irish by citizenship, ethnicity, or affinity.

Irish Outreach of San Diego – The Irish Outreach Center California supports and nurtures the Irish community – the recently arrived immigrant, families, the elderly and vulnerable, visitors, and those of Irish descent. The community-based organization assists with immigration, employment and legal services, pastoral care and counselling, and social integration. In striving to cultivate a vibrant community spirit, these services are complemented by a diverse program of cultural, social, and charitable events that define the holistic approach to its mission.

Irish You a Merry Christmas – Irish You a Merry Christmas is an annual charitable initiative with the purpose of bringing festive cheer to children in need in the San Diego community. The event is a partnership between The Irish Outreach Center and the four Irish sporting organizations in San Diego which allows the Irish community to return Irish hospitality and to show their gratitude to America’s Finest City by spreading some festive cheer and treating San Diego’s disadvantaged members in the community to the magic of an Irish Christmas.

San Diego Fire Fighters Emerald Society – The San Diego Firefighters Emerald Society is a fraternal organization for the firefighters of San Diego County that was formed in 2000, for those who share an interest in the Gaelic heritage, and wish to continue the fine traditions that have made firefighting the great profession that it is today. Gaelic heritage is not required for membership. The SDFFES has a Pipes & Drums band that participates in parades, funerals and special events.

San Diego Law Enforcement Emerald Society – The San Diego Law Enforcement Emerald Society (SDLEES) is a non-profit, multiagency organization with the goal of fostering goodwill among the numerous law enforcement agencies within the communities of San Diego. Additionally our goal is to instill, preserve and celebrate the heritage, accomplishments and the dedication of the Irish American Law Enforcement Officers, past and present, and their Gaelic culture. SDLEES has a Pipes & Drums Band that participates in parades, funerals and special events.

The House of Ireland (HOI) was founded during the California Pacific International Exposition of 1935-36, held in Balboa Park. Today, it is on of thirty-three national groups represented as part of the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages (HPR).

Since its inception, the House of Ireland has served to promote good citizenship, to bring people together in friendship, and to disseminate both Irish and Irish-American history and culture. The Cottage fosters strong ties to the greater San Diego Irish community through relationships with the Irish Congress of Southern California, Irish musicians, San Diego’s schools of Irish dance, HPR members and organizations, and much more.

The Cottage’s motto is “There are no strangers here, only friends who have not met.” The cottage is open each weekend from noon to 5 pm with activities on Saturdays and Sundays.

Activities include:

House of Ireland Lawn Program held on the Sunday prior to St. Patrick’s Day at the International Cottages in Balboa Park celebrating Irish heritage and culture. They serve Irish dishes (typically stew or bangers on a roll), Irish coffee (non-alcoholic), and delicious baked goods beginning at 11am and continuing until 4pm. Be sure to grab a seat for our stage performance beginning at 2 p.m. and featuring traditional Irish music, dance, and song.

Irish Language Class. Free. Classes in Irish Gaelic are offered frequently at the cottage, depending upon instructor availability. Instructor: Shanti Hofshi. Times: Tuesdays 7 pm to 9 pm. Next session begins March 1st. Classes are currently (2022) offered by ZOOM. Check HOI website and calendar for contact and updates.

​Visit the House of Ireland website.

Saturdays:
1st Saturday 12 to 3 pm: Celtic Art Class. Free interactive art activities.
2nd Saturday 12 to 3 pm: Irish Knitting Class. Free demonstrations to teach beginning techniques, but knitters of all levels welcome.

Each Saturday:
Intermediate Irish music session from 3 to 5 pm. An Intermediate Irish Session meets at the cottage each week. Musicians at an intermediate level are welcome to join in, and members of the public are welcome to stop in and enjoy the music. Players must bring their own instruments. Session times may change seasonally, so please check the website or calendar to double check!

Sundays: (usually from noon to 2 pm when HPR lawn program begins)
1st Sundays: Irish Step Dancing
2nd Sundays: Irish Step Dancing
3rd Sundays: Irish Instrumental Music Session
4th Sundays: Irish Singing
5th Sundays: Irish Instrumental Music Session
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Each Sunday:
Introductory Irish music session from 10:30 am to Noon. Every Sunday morning, the House of Ireland offers a free introductory Irish session music class at the House of Ireland Cottage in Balboa Park, San Diego. All players of all levels are welcome to participate. Players must bring their own instruments.

Please note: Activities, music, dance, and cottage opening may depend on participation and pandemic guidelines. Some times may change seasonally, so please check the website or calendar for any updates.

Irish Dance is an expressive form of dance that is recognized world-wide for its lively tunes (jigs and reels), high leaps, straight arms, and amazing footwork during thundering hard shoe segments. Although most associate the Irish Dance with performances, such as made popular by Riverdance, it is a traditional expression of Irish heritage and culture that includes solo (stepdance) and group dancing for social (céili), competitive (fesiana), and performances. Dance styles range from the straight upper body and intricate footwork of step dancing to the relaxed and improvisational sean-nós dance.

San Diego has had Irish dance as a prominent part of the Irish community for more than four decades. From youth to adult, competition to ceili, or whether you just want to socialize around a fun time of music and dance, there is an option for you. Some also have performance teams available for your wedding, St. Patrick’s Day celebration, or other event.

Check out the dance opportunities throughout the region that may work for you.

Clan Rince School of Irish Dance – Clan Rince School of Irish Dance is a family-oriented studio deeply rooted in the San Diego community. Classes for recreational or competitive dance instruction. Classes available in Kensington (San Diego) and San Marcos. Contact: Jeannie Thornton 619-807-2022. Email: [email protected].

Doherty Petri Irish Dance – Doherty Petri was established in 1991 on the east coast and is proud to host a studio in San Diego for beginners through champions. Classes available in Carmel Valley and La Jolla. Contact: Tehya Baxter (858) 699-3465. Email: [email protected].

Malone Academy of Irish Dance – Malone Academy offers classes for children through adults, beginner through championship levels in Mission Valley. Contact: Michelle Malone Contact: 619-787-8875. Email: [email protected]

Rose Academy of Irish Dance – The Rose Academy of Irish Dance offers traditional Irish Dance instruction for boys and girls ages 4 through adults. Classes available in Rancho Penasquitos. Contact: Patricia Rose [email protected].

Pride of Erin Ceili Dancers – The Pride of Erin is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of Irish Culture, specializing in teaching and demonstrating céili (Irish Folk) dancing. Contact: [email protected]

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick San Diego (FSOSP) is an Irish fraternal order that supports and participates in the parade and festival since the beginning of the event in 1981. The San Diego chapter of The Friendly Sons began in 1953, established by founder Bill Bailey. As the largest Irish-American organization in San Diego County – and one of the oldest in the country – the Friendly Sons recognize our special obligation to celebrate our Irish heritage and to support the greater San Diego community.

The Friendly sons host the annual Smilin’ Irishman Contest in January as a fundraiser for the parade and festival. The contest is a competition between men from Irish organizations in the community who answer questions about Irish history, taste and identify whiskey, sing a tune, give a blessing, and do their best to raise as much money as possible to win the coveted title.

The FSOSP raises tens of thousands of dollars for a variety of organizations in the community each year through fundraising events. In addition to the parade and festival, they support a scholarship fund for University of San Diego students studying in Ireland, The Irish Outreach Center, support and escort the Miss Colleen pageant and in the parade, support Irish You a Merry Christmas (a program from Irish Outreach to bring toys and food to families in need), and support the Gaelic athletic organizations.

See the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick website for details of their work, events, and how to join.

Visit The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick website

San Diego Gaelic Athletic Groups and Tournament
Setanta Men’s Gaelic Football Club
Na Fianna Ladies Gaelic Football Club
San Diego Youth GAA
St. Peter’s Hurling Club
West Coast Sevens

The Gaelic Athletic Association
It is Ireland’s largest sporting organisation and is celebrated as one of the great amateur sporting associations in the world today.

The GAA is a volunteer led, community based organisation that promotes Gaelic games such as Hurling, Football, Handball and Rounders and works with sister organisations to promote Ladies Football and Camogie. It is part of the Irish consciousness and plays an influential role in Irish society that extends far beyond the basic aim of promoting Gaelic games.

The Association has its headquarters at Croke Park in Dublin where it has been based on a full time basis since 1908. The stadium, which was redeveloped between 1993 and 2003, has a capacity of 82,300 and hosts some of the highest profile events in the Irish sporting calendar.

The GAA is underpinned by a democratic elective structure that sees members at various different levels elect officers to serving positions on a variety of tiers up to and including the position of Uachtarán (President).

The GAA’s internal management structure is multi-layered with the vast majority of all serving officers beginning their administrative involvement at club level. All administrators, regardless of rank or their level of involvement, are members of one of the Association’s 2,300 plus clubs.