London Irish Centre – Christmas lights

Mitch and his wife Jane, together with several members of the AWF team, had the pleasure of visiting the London Irish Centre this month, to turn on their Christmas lights.

We were delighted to be invited to this event, as the London Irish Centre is located just a few doors away from Amy’s house in Camden Square and Amy used to stop by for a chat from time to time with some of the people visiting the Centre.

We enjoyed a wonderfully festive evening, which included Irish music, carol singing, mulled wine and mince pies. The highlight for Mitch, was singing White Christmas around the Christmas Tree with the London Irish Pensioners – it was just like a scene from his favourite film, ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’.

Much of the London Irish Centre’s work is with the elderly, but they also provide support for many young people too. This work includes assistance with finding accommodation for the homeless and information and guidance on a whole range of issues including housing, benefits, accessing health services and debt management. One of their achievements has been to launch their own football team, which has connected over 70 young people. In 2010/11 the Centre also worked with 281 survivors of institutional abuse and they have helped many of these people access much-needed counselling.

The staff and volunteers at the London Irish Centre provide incredible support for some of the most vulnerable members of the capital’s Irish community and we really enjoyed supporting them at their event. You can watch our video of the event below and see an interview of Mitch on Expose here.

Comments

comments

  • Erik1964martin

    Happy New Year. Sancha Cheers Skål :-]> Up the Irish shall support you all and spread your message.1 Love from 1occupy Horsens in Denmark. 1 World 1 Love 1 Humanity.

  • mike quirke

    mitch, you are such a wonderful kind hearted person as was/is amy, you could tell she had something special in the way she sang and wrote her songs,each song is like a journey into a story of a time in her life and very few people on this earth have the talent to convey this over music that is timeless.

    i purchased “frank” in 2003 soon after it was released and i was among the first few to own it in my country (new zealand), when no one had yet heard of amy or guessed she had the talent she did, i brought it just because i liked the tones of the song “in my bed”, little did i know the world was more accepting of her unique art deco/jazz style than i thought and she became world famous.

    i wish to express my sincerest condolances to you and your family, i miss amy very much but know she lives on in her music.

    i would love to shake your hand one day when i am in london again, once again, you are doing a marvellous job for these young people and god bless you.

    p.s

    we have a childrens hospital in here in nz called “starship hospital” ,you might want to check it out….

    mike

  • MrsHopefulHeart

    Mitch and Janis,
    I would like to send you all my Strength and to dry your tears. ♥
    But I still cry, my soul is empty because Amy livened up me. I have a feeling that she’s here.
    Because i hear her through a magnificent blackbird which sings in the middle of the night. It is the only one and it is the first time when I hear it, every night ! It is disturbing… but my heart becomes happy when I hear this small beautiful bird. It’s incredible because i have never heard birds to sing at night, like that ! And when I try in the twilight to approach this bird, he continues to sing in a very melodious way. I don’t hamper him !
    Maybe it’s crazy but this bird is particular.
    I think of you, in your suffering every day and it saddens me :’(
    With all my respect and my condolences. ♥