About Us

A community is defined as a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific location and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.

The Geelong Irish Society was formed some 38 years ago when a very dedicated few people used to get together in the basement of a house in Maud Street, Geelong to have a few drinks and to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

All of these people are the forbearers of what is now known as the Geelong Irish Society Inc. and they were:

Mr Finbar Murphy
Paddy and Madge Hickey
Paddy Hoare
Ernie and Eileen Dessent
Jerry and Kathleen O’Neill
Brother John Keane from the Monastery at Lovely Banks

Some four or five years later in a basement room at the Trades Hall in Myers Street, a meeting was held and the Geelong Irish Society was formed, Over the years many people came along to the meetings and the impromptu get togethers, where on one occasion Brother John, who dabbled in rearing pigs brought along some plates of pickled pork, roast pork and plenty of bread and butter to have supper.

Since then the Irish community in Geelong has grown substantially and we now have well over 100 families in our community. We aim to encourage and promote by appropriate means, Irish National and Cultural Heritage and to enhance socially, Irish Australian relations.

During the year we hold regular events and publish monthly newsletters which are distributed among our members. Our events include family days, dances, bus trips, trivia nights and other great get-togethers.

Some of our members visit nursing homes and put on small concerts. They also help out other communities and charities.

The last two years have seen an increase in members due to recent migration and we always welcome more.