Supervisor Alan Wong and Irish Community Speaks in Support of Irish Cultural District Legislation Ahead of Board Vote

Left to right: Maggie Overbay, Secretary on the Board of Directors of the United Irish Cultural Center,  Hilda Kissane, President of the United Irish Societies of San Francisco, Alan Wong, Member, San Francisco Board of Supervisor, District 4, Jeanne Connolly, Treasurer of the United Irish Cultural Center.

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, Supervisor Alan Wong and Irish community leaders spoke in support of Irish Cultural District Legislation authored by Supervisor Wong ahead of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors vote on legislation expressing the City’s intent to establish an Irish Cultural District in the Sunset District.

Held at the United Irish Cultural Center, the roundtable brought together community leaders to discuss the significance of the proposed legislation and highlight the longstanding presence and contributions of the Irish community in San Francisco.

“The Irish community has been an integral part of San Francisco’s cultural fabric for generations,” said Supervisor Wong. “This legislation is about recognizing that history and ensuring those traditions continue to be celebrated and supported in the Sunset.”

The proposed legislation would begin the formal process of establishing an Irish Cultural District through the City’s Cultural Districts program. The designation would recognize the history, traditions, and cultural institutions that sustain Irish heritage in the neighborhood, while creating opportunities to support cultural preservation, local businesses, and community programming.

Community leaders shared the importance of this effort and the role the Irish community continues to play in shaping the Sunset District:

“The United Irish Cultural Center has served as a home for Irish culture and community in San Francisco for more than fifty years,” said Liam Reidy, Executive Director of the United Irish Cultural Center. “This effort recognizes both our history and the role we continue to play in bringing people together through culture, music, and tradition.”

“This is about honoring the generations of families who have built and sustained this community,” said Jeanne Connolly, Treasurer of the United Irish Cultural Center. “It’s meaningful to see that legacy recognized at the City level.”

“The foundation has been built over the past 50 years,” said Leo Cassidy, Board Member at Large of the United Irish Cultural Center. “Now it’s our responsibility to carry it forward thoughtfully and inclusively, with a vision that ensures this community continues to thrive for generations to come. Everyone is welcome, that is the Irish way.”

“At the Cultural Center, we see every day how important it is to keep traditions alive through language, dance, and community gatherings,” said Maggie Overbay, Secretary on the Board of Directors of the United Irish Cultural Center. “This effort helps strengthen that work for future generations.”

“This designation is not just about history, but about supporting a living, evolving community,” said Kathleen Kraus, Board Member at Large of the United Irish Cultural Center. “It creates opportunities to continue sharing Irish culture with the broader San Francisco community.”

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the legislation later today.