About us

FÚINN – ag ceartlár an phobail

The Little Ireland Arts Collective exists to celebrate Irish culture and heritage in Edinburgh and the east coast of Scotland. We meet monthly ‘as Gaeilge’ in the Ciorcal Comhrá, a vibrant and welcoming gathering that is ‘ag ceartlár an phobail’ at the heart of the community. We run a range of events and workshops annually in Edinburgh, particularly leading up to St Patrick’s Day in March. LIAC also participates in a variety of music, language and literature gatherings in Edinburgh, the east coast and online.

We are only limited by the energy and enthusiasm of our collective power!

Cén fáth agus cén chaoi?

How the Collective started, and why.

The Collective began in 2016 in Edinburgh Old Town’s traditional ‘Little Ireland’ where Ireland’s and Scotland’s famous son, James Connolly (1868-1916) was born and reared. Over pots of tea and the odd drop of porter three of us discussed the momentous centenary of the 1916 Rising, for which Connolly and so many other leaders of the Irish people gave their lives. Political commemoration would be assured at home and abroad, but what of cultural commemoration? As Irish-born artists who had made our homes in one of the major international arts cities, the time was right to raise our heads.

We set about organising an event in the newly constructed Grassmarket Centre, a mere stone’s throw from James Connolly’s tenement home in the Cowgate. With the help of a wee bit of seed funding courtesy of ‘Consalacht na hÉireann i nDún Éideann’ The Irish Consulate in Edinburgh, we gathered musicians, poets, singers and storytellers for an evening of cultural solidarity and celebration

The response was unequivocal. Our Collective initiative was welcome and necessary. The time was right to celebrate our rich inheritance through literature, music, language and the arts in their widest sense. 

Mary McCarthy

Founder member

Seán Bradley

Founder member,

déirdre ní mhathúna

Founder member

Since 2020, Little Ireland Arts Collective has been in receipt of funding from the Irish Government Emigrant Support Programme to support the foundational work of our organisation. We have a very active committee, assisted by a wider circle of collective members.