United Irish Cultural Center

09/02/2026

The incomparable dancers from the whelanacademyofirishdance at the 5th Annual Rock the Gates!

09/02/2026

Make some noise for noiseintheroomband — thanks for playing our 5th Annual Rock the Gates!

09/01/2026

👨‍👩‍👦 🌳📣 New Course Alert!
Just in Time for Family History Month in the U.S.—this October!

This 2-day course (2 sessions being offered) led by Pati Traktman, Chair of the Patrick J. Dowling Library Genealogy Club, will start you on your journey to tracing your Irish roots.

Topics to be covered include: general genealogy tips, historical events that make Irish family research unique, Irish naming patterns, finding vital records, using the Irish Censuses, Griffiths Valuation of land, Petty Session Court records, Registry of Deeds, newspapers, research websites (free and fee) and much more.

The sessions will combine some history and cultural context to help you find your family information and to make sense of it.

Register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/finding-your-irish-rootsa-new-genealogy-series-at-the-uicc-tickets-1998830692408

09/01/2026

16th Annual Mad Hatter Tea Party
at the UICC
Sunday, September 20, 2026
1:00 - 3:00 PM
TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/16th-annual-mad-hatter-tea-party-tickets-1996352194153

We are mad for this festive event—a fundraiser for our beloved Patrick J. Dowling Library.

Join us for the 16th Annual Mad Hatter Tea Party!
This popular and festive event is a fundraiser for our beloved Patrick J. Dowling Library which is staffed by volunteers who work tirelessly to promote Irish/Irish American literature, history, and culture by preserving and modernizing the collection of books, periodicals, and multimedia and by providing public access to the collection. In addition, the Dowling Library at the United Irish Cultural Center sponsors many cultural events throughout the year from art exhibits to genealogy and language presentations, from literary events to special exhibits.

09/01/2026

Today on the anniversary of his birth, we remember the life and legacy of Rainbow Honor Walk honoree Roger Casement (September 1, 1864 – August 3, 1916).

An Irish diplomat, humanitarian, and nationalist, Casement became internationally renowned for exposing brutal abuses of Indigenous peoples in the Congo Free State and the Amazon’s Putumayo region. Later a passionate advocate for Irish independence, he was convicted of treason and executed by the British government in 1916. A gay man whose sexuality was used against him during his trial and appeals for clemency, Casement remains an enduring figure in the histories of human rights, Irish independence, and LGBTQ+ identity.

www.RainbowHonorWalk.org

09/01/2026

Events and festivals like Rock the Gates simply would not happen without the tremendous amount of volunteer contributions. We are so grateful for the immense amount of collective hours that went in to this year's festival!

Consider joining this incredible team for future events. We always could use more helping hands. Sign up here: https://irishcentersf.org/get-involved/volunteer/

09/01/2026

🎬🇮🇪 Irish stories. Irish language. Irish culture — right here in San Francisco.

The United Irish Cultural Center of San Francisco is proud to support the San Francisco Irish Film Festival, September 17–19, and especially proud to sponsor the Saturday evening screening of BÁITE.

📽️ BÁITE
Saturday, September 19 | 5:30 PM
Irish language with English subtitles
Directed by Ruán Magan | 94 minutes

Set in rural Ireland in 1975, BÁITE follows Peggy Casey, whose family pub is preparing for a busy fishing weekend when a body is discovered in the receding waters of a nearby lake. A Dublin detective arrives to investigate, uncovering a disturbing history—and long-held secrets within the Casey family.

But for us at the UICC, there is something especially meaningful about bringing BÁITE to San Francisco.

The film is in the Irish language.

At the United Irish Cultural Center, we believe preserving Irish culture means more than looking back at our history. It means supporting the language, stories, music, traditions and creative voices that keep Irish culture alive today and into the future.

That’s why we’re proud to support a festival that brings contemporary Irish cinema to Bay Area audiences—and why we’re especially delighted to sponsor a film that allows audiences to experience a new Irish story through Gaeilge.

Come see a great Irish film. Hear the Irish language. And help us keep Irish culture thriving here in the Bay Area. 💚

🎟️ Tickets & Festival Information:
San Francisco Irish Film Festival — September 17–19, 2026⁠

BÁITE — Saturday, September 19 at 5:30 PM



San Francisco Irish Film Festival

09/01/2026

Thanks to father-son duo… Dennis Doyle and Austin Doyle providing some great traditional music in the St. Francis Room with the Jim Gleeson art exhibition and Keepers of the Steps pop-up display! 

In this clip, they are playing Sí bheag, sí mhór by Turlough O'Carolan

09/01/2026

Thanks to Noteworthy for kicking off our 5th Annual Rock the Gates — featuring Megan McMurray on vocals here!

08/31/2026

Did you know there is a youth theatre program coming to the UICC—starting THIS week. Check this out:

Stage Presence Fall Cabaret Program for Grades 2nd-8th:

Due to low enrollment, Moana Jr. has been converted into a Musical Theater Cabaret that will rehearse 1x/week on Wednesdays from 5pm-7pm. The students would still work toward a final performance with the Nugget class at the end of the session, but there would be no auditions, no intensive tech week, and only one performance (unless families would like more than 1!).

In the Cabaret class, we will get to know each student’s musical interests and strengths and curate a performance featuring solo, duet, and group numbers. These smaller classes are often a wonderful way for students to build confidence, develop musical theater skills, and form close friendships while having a lot of fun.

Rehearsals: will take place: Wednesdays 5pm-7pm directly after our Chicken Nugget Chorus. Please see our calendar link below for a full range of dates for this offering.

Registration Cost for our Musical Theater Cabaret (2nd-8th Graders): $450/student ($200 deposit required to register. Balance due or will automatically processed in our booking system by August 19th, 2026)

Costume Fee: There will be no costume fee unless students request costumes. If so, a costume fee ranging from $50-75 will be invoiced part way through the show for Moana Jr. Performers. All balances must be cleared in order to perform. We typically do not have our Nuggets wear costumes, but if we decide to have costumes, the same fee will apply to both groups.

Introducing our Chicken Nugget Chorus Class for TK-1st Graders!: (only 7 spots left!)

Rehearsals: Our Chicken Nugget Chorus will rehearse on Wednesdays from 4:30pm-5pm and will open our production Moana Jr. with their very own performance of 2-3 songs! Prepare for the ultimate cuteness!

Registration Cost for Chicken Nuggets: (TK-1st Graders): $175/student ($100 deposit required to register. Balance due or will automatically processed in our booking system by August 19, 2026) We typically do not have our Nuggets wear costumes, but if we decide to have costumes, the same fee will apply to both groups.

Please see our website in order to see a full range of dates/times. Our final rehearsal schedule will be published after the show is cast. A maximum of 3 conflicts are allowed per performer. In order to maximize rehearsal time, students may be called by character. There are no conflicts allowed during mandatory rehearsal, tech rehearsals, or performances. Rehearsals and Performances will take place at the United Irish Cultural Center of San Francisco.

Register for your age track here:

https://www.mystagepresence.com/fallcabsunset