The project will mark 40 years since the London Irish Women’s Centre first opened
Date: 20 May 2026
London Metropolitan University is developing a new digital heritage project to mark 40 years since the opening of the London Irish Women’s Centre (1986-2012).
The collection will bring the organisation’s history to life through a virtual 3D space that uses archival material from the University’s Special Collections.
The project is funded by the Emigrant Support Programme which supports Irish communities and groups abroad, and will be delivered by a student on the BSc (Hons) Games Animation, Modelling and Effects course.
The project, titled Celebrating 40 Years: The London Irish Women’s Centre 3D Project, will recreate selected rooms from the now closed centre in Stoke Newington. Online visitors will be able to navigate the immersive digital environment and discover 40 archive records drawn from the London Irish Women’s Centre collection within the Archive of the Irish in Britain.
Founded in 1986 and officially opened by Irish journalist and activist Nell McCafferty, the London Irish Women’s Centre was established to support the political, cultural and social needs of Irish women living in London.
Over three decades, the Centre became an important community space that provided advocacy, advice, educational opportunities and cultural activities, while also campaigning on issues including housing, employment rights and political justice.
The project is being developed collaboratively with the School of Computing and Digital Media, and aims to use 3D technologies and creative digital practice to engage new audiences with the history of Irish women in Britain and encourage new ways of exploring archival material.
The project has also reconnected former workers including Angie Birtill, Rae Dowds, and Brid Boland to help shape the virtual space and ensure it reflects the lived experiences of those connected to the centre.
Speaking about the importance of the project at a celebration event held at the Irish Embassy on Tuesday 12 May, Head of Special Collections David Baldwin said:
“The London Irish Women’s Centre was founded with a commitment to recording and preserving Irish women’s histories, challenging their marginalisation within British and Irish media.
“This student-led project represents a continuation of that legacy for a new generation, and marks one of several projects the Special Collections team at London Met has developed to encourage our students to engage with themes of community, identity and social history.
“By working directly with archival materials and digital storytelling methods, students gain valuable practical experience that supports both their academic success and future employability."
The virtual space will be hosted through the Special Collections catalogue, helping researchers, students and members of the public discover more about the history of the centre and the wider experiences of Irish communities in Britain.
Further information about the London Irish Women’s Centre archive can be found on the Special Collections online catalogue.
The London Irish Women’s Centre (LIWC) was opened by Nell McCafferty on 1st February 1986 and was initially funded by the Greater London Council (prior its abolition later that year).
The centre provided a community space for Irish women and offered visitors a nursery, music events and skills-based workshops in video and sound Production. The centre also campaigned for the rights of Irish Women in both Britain and Ireland.
The centre closed in 2012, but leaves a remarkable legacy.