Evergreen stalwart celebrates 50 years as Leeds Irish Centre manager

He's been described as the beating heart of the Leeds Irish Centre.

- by Andrew Hutchinson

Tommy McLoughlin gets out the mugs ready for a tea dance he has organised for former Irish construction workers.

Tommy McLoughlin MBE has just celebrated an amazing milestone - Friday, October 31, 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of its famed manager.

Now 84, Tommy, the unofficial ambassador for the Yorkshire-Irish community, continues to work at the UK's first purpose-built Irish centre.

He began work at the venue on October 31, 1975, as manager - five years after the venue opened and was MC on its opening night that June.

Tributes were paid to his tireless work in establishing the centre as a cultural icon for giving entertainers from Oasis to Val Doonican to Nathan Carter a stage, to the staggering £5 million he, the staff and patrons have raised for charities across the north of England over the five decades.

Cillian O'Kelly, Consul General of Ireland for the North of England, said in a written letter: “The centre is hugely impressive, a testament to the Irish community in Leeds, and a wonderful space to celebrate all things Irish.

“It is people that make places like this tick. I read in the beautiful book commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Centre that you had described it as the 'beating heart' of the Leeds Irish community.