Our Mission

To support and promote Irish heritage and cultural education, preservation, and celebration.

Our History

Several years ago a group of Kansas Citians articulated a vision to create a place that would support, honor, preserve and celebrate the Irish and Celtic heritage of our community, families, and individuals year-round.

After much discussion, Union Station was decided as the location for the Irish Center. Union Station and the Irish have a strong historical link. From the Irish immigrants who provided much of the workforce that built the railroads, to later immigrants coming through Union Station to start a new life in the Midwest, to the thousands of Irish-American soldiers who shipped out and came home through Union Station, to the Irish-American workers who dug the coal and butchered the livestock transported across the country from Union Station. The Irish Center’s partnership with Union Station continues to honor this history.

The Irish Center opened in Union Station St. Patrick’s Day 2007. Since then the Center has been a hub of Kansas City Irish activities, programs, music, and educational opportunities.

The Irish Center Today

The Irish Center includes a modest permanent exhibit on Kansas City’s Irish heritage, online and printed genealogy resources, an Irish resource library, educational and cultural programs and classes, space for traveling exhibits, a “wee” gift shop, a conference room and a large gathering space for concerts, speakers, special events, and more.

Regular hours are Wed – Sat 10 am – 4 pm, Sun noon – 4 pm. Admission is only charged for special events and programs. However, donations are gratefully appreciated and help us keep the Center open to all visitors. Cash to help support programs and keep the doors open is always greatly needed, as well as volunteers and donations of books, documents, photographs, family histories, historical artifacts, as well as new computers and office supplies.

Board of Directors 2009 – 2010

President Tom Freeman
Vice President Mike Haverty
2nd Vice President Sean O’Byrne
Secretary
Treasurer Kevin Farrell
Mary Agnes Alderman
Larry Fitzgerald
Ada Frazier
Les Griffin
Tim Grunhard
Maureen Mulreany Halter
John Houlehan
Jim Kalmus
David Murphy
John O’Neal
Danny O’Neill
Pat O’Neill
John L Snyder
Mike Smoots
John Teasedale
Michael Van Dyke
Irish Fest Liaison Mary Alice Beebe

Staff

Rachel Casey, info@irishmuseum.org, 816-474-3848, 816-682-2356 (cell)