Celtic Club
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About Us | Celtic Club
About the Celtic Club
The Celtic Club is an organization that celebrates and supports pride in Irish heritage and culture, as well as the broader Celtic community. We provide opportunities for our members and guests to benefit from, learn about, and enjoy Gaelic language, Irish music, art, culture, and more.
Honouring our heritage, and investing in our future
The Celtic Club supports and celebrates pride in Irish heritage and culture and that of the broader Celtic community. We provide opportunities for our members and guests to benefit from, learn about, and enjoy Gaelic language, Irish music, art, culture, and more.
Our mission
The Celtic Club is a dynamic and influential leader in Melbourne’s and Victoria’s Australian Irish community through its support of outstanding individual and community initiatives that enhance and maintain the heritage and culture of all the Celtic nations in Melbourne. We create the best possible opportunities for members and guests to enjoy the warmth of Irish hospitality and celebrate the vital role that Irish Australians play in building the richness of Melbourne’s community. We deliver our strategic plans in a sustainable and responsible manner, through a professional executive, with oversight through an elected board.
Become a member of the Celtic Club
The history of the Celtic Club
The Celtic Club, established in 1887 in Melbourne, aimed to unite individuals supportive of Ireland’s Home Rule regardless of creed or Australian party politics. Initially named “The Celtic Home Rule Club,” it emphasised non-sectarianism and attracted members of various Celtic backgrounds. Prominent figures like Morgan Jageurs and Dr. Nicholas O’Donnell played key roles in fostering Irish/Gaelic heritage and culture in Melbourne, contributing significantly to the club’s influence and legacy.
1887
The Celtic Club, established in 1887, has been the focal point for the past 130 years of the Australian Irish community in Melbourne and throughout Victoria. The central aim of the Club, as encapsulated in our Vision Statement, is being Victoria’s major venue for the celebration and experience of Australian Irish heritage and culture whilst also extending a welcoming hand to people of all Celtic nations and the broader community. It is the oldest Irish Club in Australia.
1887 - 1916
When the Celtic Club was established on the 26th September 1887 at the Imperial Hotel in Bourke Street, Dr. Michael O’Sullivan presided over the first meeting of the provisional committee to establish the Club. From the beginning its raison d’etre was to unite, regardless of creed or Australian party politics, men who sympathized with Ireland’s aspirations for Home Rule. In those early days the Celtic Club not only sponsored various social events but also some political events; many related to Irish issues. It was a time when the colonies were looking to being independent of England.
In Melbourne, in the late 1880’s, many people without Irish ancestry supported Ireland’s aspiration for self-government. As a result, the Club was called the ”Celtic Club” rather than “Irish” for the specific intention of providing a meeting place for those people who supported the Home Rule Movement. As a result, the membership over the years has been representative of practically all Celts — Irish, Welsh, Cornish and Breton, however the majority is Irish or of Irish descent.
1916 - 1959
During and after the First World War such events concerning Conscription, the Easter Rising (1916), the War of Independence (1918-1921), the politicisation of St. Patrick Day Marches and the Irish Civil War (1921-1922) caused divisions with many in the general community and also within the Irish community itself. However, the politics of the old world with its infighting and divisions soon receded in the decades that followed and thankfully the Celtic Club was one of the few survivors from the plethora of Irish-Australian political and social organisations that faded away.
As the 20th century progressed, the Club began to assume its current form as a purely social gathering place for “respectable gentlemen”. Ladies only gained associate membership in 1978 and full membership in 1985. A Building of their Own - In December 1959 the purchase of Monahan’s New Union Club Hotel in Queen Street Melbourne for 60,000 pounds, provided the Club with a stable headquarters for the first time. Previous to this the Club had leased or rented 11 different premises within the city. This new excellent location promised business stability. Whilst the first building on this site was the Royal Oak Hotel (C 1848), its replacement was the West Bourke Club Hotel built in 1876 by Port Phillip pioneer George Evans, and which today is the original building of the Celtic Club. George Evans, a builder, was a crew member of John Pascoe Fawkner’s “Enterprise” ship which entered the Yarra River in August 1835 to begin the settlement of the southern part of the colony of NSW at the site which is now Melbourne. West Bourke Club Hotel was renamed the New Union Club Hotel in 1949. In 1993 the Celtic Club expanded their premises with the purchase of the Bird Cameron building next door from the Gas and Fuel Company for $950,000. The ‘craic’ and good times flowed into the next great period of social change as the last quarter of the twentieth century brought the empowerment of youth, the feminist movement, the technology and education revolution and finally the disintegration of the post WW2 social conservatism. Nevertheless as fashions changed and new attractions and venues emerged membership to the Celtic Club gradually fell. Consequently questions were asked concerning the future of the Club and how to revitalise and present the Club.
2001
In 2001 a Cultural and Heritage Sub-Committee was established to support, present and celebrate not only our Celtic culture and traditions across the broad spectrum of all Gaelic groups but also to recognise and celebrate the great and continuing Australian Irish contribution to the heritage and culture of our country since early settlement.
Whilst the traditional Irish “craic” continues, a greater variety of cultural heritage programs and performance are now included in the Club’s strategic and business plans. These include language, music, literature, art, drama and theatrical performances, cultural tours, reading circles and film groups, history and genealogy groups, sports and The Celtic Club’s Irish radio program. Before leaving Queen Street, the Club operated a Cultural Resource Centre with an extensive Library, historical items, artefacts and paintings held by the Celtic Club, a Sound and Film Centre and a Seniors Computer Training Kiosk. The library has a comprehensive collection of over 3,000 books covering all aspects of our Irish and Australian Irish heritage, history and culture and will be an important part of our future home. The Club also funds an Undergraduate Student History Award which is presented to the winning students of the particular faculties at the University of Melbourne, Latrobe University and Victorian University. Their winning essays are based on our Irish or Australian Irish history. The Club has also instigated joint programs with popular and prestigious bodies including the State Library, Immigration Museum, National Gallery of Victoria, Public Records Office, Melbourne Writers Festival and Victoria’s Seniors Festival. Such initiative enables us to share with these partners, the presentation of our Australian Irish and Celtic heritage and culture to the broader community and to promote the ideals of the Celtic Club. The Club also supports the establishment, growth and activities of Irish/Australian clubs and associations throughout the State and liaises with and has a reciprocal membership with provincial city Clubs in Victoria as well as Celtic/Irish Clubs in other States of Australia.
2007
Members at the AGM requested the Committee of Management to undertake a feasibility study for the redevelopment of the Celtic Club. A Special Project Committee was appointed – Frances Collins (Chair), Seamus Moloughney and Andrew Perry. MacroPlan were appointed property consultants.
They decided to investigate the possibility of a multi-storey building with the bottom 4 floors to be the property of the Celtic Club rather than renovate existing old building. A Planning permit was sought. This 2 year permit added approximately $5 million to Celtic Club land value.
2012
Seven Developers put forward proposals but only one, LEPL/Buildcorp, put a detailed proposal. Their redevelopment offer of $10 million was not accepted and then their outright purchase offer of $12 million was received but rejected by members as the Club’s Rule requirement of 2/3rds majority was not met.
2013
Another Redevelopment Advisory committee was established – Maurice Hanrahan (Chair), Veronica O’Sullivan, Brian Shanahan, Frances Collins and Andrew Perry.
2014
86% of members voted at AGM for a sale option to be pursued and for the Club to seek re-establishment elsewhere in the CBD.
2015
With recent improved financial possibilities a new Property Committee was set up to pursue a sale or other options. Brian Shanahan – Chairman.
2016
In September 2016, over 75% of the Club’s members voted to accept the offer to acquire the building from Beulah International.
2017
In an effort to find a temporary home for Club activities, the leasehold on The Metropolitan Hotel was acquired, to add a hospitality offering alongside the Club’s William Street administration and meeting facilities.
2021
The Celtic Club is taking a major step forward on 1st July in acquiring the securely leased, prominently positioned Limerick Arms Hotel in South Melbourne for $5.3million. This investment decision is a key step towards securing the financial health of the club, generating income and improving the asset base. It will also help address the need of the club and its members to access a venue for a range of social events and activities. By itself, it is not the definitive solution for a new home for the club but represents a decisive stepping stone which addresses immediate financial and social needs.
The Limerick Arms, a prominent three-storey corner hotel at 364-368 Clarendon Street was sold by Colliers’ Guy Wells, Oliver Hay and Tom Isaksson in conjunction with Cropley Commercial’s George Iliopulos on a short settlement. The Limerick Arms offers a securely leased investment with a quality tenant who has extensive operational experience in a variety of pubs having operated the Limerick for more than seven years. The fact that there is a quality tenant plus the genuine security offered by the lease agreement were key features considered. We do not wish to operate the business but merely to draw the rental income that it provides to our bottom line, while exploring opportunities to collaborate with our tenant. The Limerick Arms Hotel, positioned on 347sqm at the corner of Clarendon and Park Streets in South Melbourne, is a prominent freehold hotel situated on the doorstep of the Melbourne CBD. Public transport is excellent and the venue is also well positioned for a key segment of Melbourne’s Irish Australian community. The three-level hotel comprises a public bar and sports bar area, large outdoor seating area, main dining room and separate first level function room with outdoor deck area. The hotel also provides accommodation rooms to the second floor and opportunities for capital improvement. The prime location of the asset within the heart of the Clarendon Street retail precinct and its close proximity to the iconic South Melbourne Market, Albert Park, Royal Botanic Gardens and bayside suburbs were strong drawcards.
The Wild Geese
The home of the Celtic Club, The Wild Geese Hotel is a modern Irish Bistro and Bar in the Heart of Brunswick. Drop by and say hello!
Our Board
Meet the members that make up the Celtic Club Board
- Prof Pat McGorry AO - President
- Prof Ronan McDonald - Vice President
- Fergal Coleman - Treasurer
- Michael Cooney - Secretary
- James Dunne - Board Member
- Nial Finegan - Board Member
- Lynda Meredith - Board Member
- Prof Rosemary Sheehan AM - Board Member
- Aoife Kealy - Board Member
Annual Reports
View the Celtic Club’s yearly reports below
- Annual Report 2024
- Annual Report 2019
- Annual Report 2023
- AGM 2023 Minutes
- Annual Report 2022
- AGM 2022 Minutes
- Annual Report 2021
- AGM 2021 Minutes
- Annual Report 2020
- Celtic Club Incorporated Rules
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🏠 Адрес
Level 1/29 Sydney Rd, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia
🌐 Сайт
www.celticclub.com.au📞 Телефон
+61396706472Отзывы (100)
Not the same as the old Celtic Club but still good. Lovely staff.
Brilliant gastropub food with an Irish twist; a good Guinness pour - and O'Hara's stout on tap. A great pub with a warm welcome for all.
Great food and the music was brilliant Fantastic to get a slice of Ireland
This review of food only relates to the chips and curry sauce . They are now shoe string fries and curry sauce. Whose bad decision was that ? Please bring back proper chips
Nice club. The resturaunt in the other hand needs to get a descant Irish chef. The Irish stew was a few bits of meat in what looked like dish water, piled on top were the vegetables. Never again. The risotto was tasteless and cold also greasy and I had to send it back. I was extremely hungry and the only alternative was a goat's cheese pie as I'm vegetarian. Very disappointing.
Great place to meet. Fantastic food and drink.
Brilliant new premises, great decor, food and drinks. Very friendly staff. Any reviews older than March 2024 refer to the old premises. This new place is off the scales in terms of quality.
Nice quiet place ,good service by Kelly and Simon .great jokes at back of wine list .
Opening hours didn’t match Google. Not open on Tuesdays.
Good beers, good food, good times!
Strange place as you have to sign in to enter, a good place to watch sports
The Irish love it.
Great place for an Irish session, a pint, a meal, and a smile....
Nice good and service was pleasant and with a smile
Classic Irish Pub. Recently changed management.
Lovely barstaff, good tap beer selection. Food looked good but not samples as no specias.
Good food quite place to eat and drink
improving
Parma ok but fish and chips not very good.
Nice food, nice staff. Motorcycle friendly
Food was excellent, staff were friendly, service was quick. They made the hollandaise from scratch rather than using packet junk like so many other lazy restaurants do. That alone should tell you they care about what they're serving to punters.
Closed 11pm Friday night
Going to miss this place!
Great place for a decent beer and a meal when it was open
Great Guinness on tap!
Traditional pub, best Guinness in town
Celtic Club is now closed temporarily
Sadly it has closed its doors forever.
Nice bar
Warm and cosy. Must try a hot toddy on a cold day.
It's what you would expect. Bar food etc
Irish/Arsenal themed pub. I'll give it 5 stars if they'll make me the drink Irish car bomb!
Nice place with tasty food and nice atmosphere
Great Irish Pub
Soon to be demolished
Bloody awesome parmies
I came here in a booked room upstairs for a party. The staff were polite and the bathrooms were nice and clean but small.
Authentic Irish!
A true peice of history.
Needs a bit of work inside but is a nice place for a drink. Prices are a bit on the expensive side but not unusual for the CBD.
Terrible food
Went there last night (Thursday) hungry for a beef guiness pie but disappointed. We walked in at about 8 mins to 9:00pm & saw a sign saying kitchen closing at 9 so I guess in their defense we were a little late. Still, we asked if the kitchen was still open & found the guy at the bar was really nice & suggested they would be happy to serve up a pie. That's as good as it got though.. I've had 10/10 Guiness pie from Harrigans Irish Pub in the Hunter Valley and you could tell it was freshly made and taste the guiness. The pie here could have been a Big Ben pie for all I know, could barely taste the Guiness, there was a huge lemon flavour which overwhelmed the guiness taste. I had to kill a cockroach during the meal. We were charged $23.50 each plate (good size serve), overpriced IMO, but the worst was both myself and my partner had poor stomachs after this meal. There's plenty of awesome food in Melbourne, I wouldn't go here again though, and this is my first bad review ever. Maybe it was just timing, you can't please everyone all the time.
Friendly bar staff
Was nice
We arrived early on a Friday evening to find a quintet of gents knocking out toe tapping Irish music from the classic instruments which really added atmosphere to the reasonable size crowd. Great meals. Had a massive parma while the wife had the Guiness Pie. Very big serves! Washed down with a pint or two of Guiness and we won't need rocking to sleep tonight!
Pub is great and filled with local white people so you don't have to worry about your wallet going missing. Parma night is awesome, I always walk out with a hardon after a bacon and avocado Parma.
12pm Saturday, staff were not very pleasant and don't know how to make a bloody mary, took 20 minutes... We were the only people in the bar...
The beer tasted like an ash tray.
Good pub
Perfect pint of Guiness
Lovely staff, bit scruffy bit being renovated soon.
Had a function on. The staff were great - very friendly and efficient. The food was very good and the beers cold!
Great atmosphere, cold beer