Irish Sports and Social Society

Irish Sports and Social Society

The Edmonton Irish Sports and Social Society can trace its origins to a meeting on April 18th, 1958, when a group of newcomers formed the Edmonton Gaels. In February 1959 they adopted the title Irish Sports and Social Club, and soon saw the formation of the Shamrock Rovers soccer club. On November 28th, 1962 the club attained society status and thus became the Irish Sports and Social Society.

In 1972 the Irish were among the first eleven pavilions to participate in the Edmonton Heritage Days festival. They have been a high profile fixture at the event ever since.

The first Feis was held in 1972, and is now North America’s longest running Feis.

Some other important milestones in the clubs history are as follows.
•First Boxing Night dance was held at the Old Timer’s Cabin on December 26, 1959.
•The first annual picnic was held at the Southside Athletic Grounds on July 17, 1960.
•Irish dancing classes were first held in October 1960.
•A bowling league was organized on Sunday January 6, 1963, at Park Plaza.
•The first charter flight to Ireland took off on September 19, 1963.
•A curling league was formed in October 1964.
•The first Golf tournament was held at Broadmoor on June 27, 1965.
•The first New Years Eve dance was held at Club Embassy on December 31, 1965.
•The Tara dramatic group staged a play on May 14, 1966.

Another group closely associated with the Irish Club is the recently-formed Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce Edmonton Chapter. The chamber hosts a very successful annual Saint Patrick’s Ball, and the proceeds go towards the ‘Wild Geese’ endowment fund. This newly-established fund will be used to provide support for students from the University of Alberta wishing to study in Ireland.

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