Hurley appointed chief advancement officer of ICC

Feb. 3, 2021 | Ryan Feyre
rfeyre@thewestfieldnewsgroup.com

Laura Hurley, a longtime resident of Western Massachusetts, was appointed as chief advancement officer for the Irish Cultural Center.
Reminder Publishing photo by Ryan Feyre

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Longmeadow resident Laura Hurley has been appointed to serve as chief advancement officer for the Irish Cultural Center (ICC) of Western New England.

Hurley, who has worked in several non-profit groups and organizations over the years, will assist the ICC with expansion on all levels, including patronage, events, travel, and other types of fundraising.

“The training and the mentorship I’ve received in the past has really given me a great foundation to use that skill set to be able to help the ICC move to the next level,” said Hurley.

In her new role, Hurley will focus on increasing the number of ICC patrons, as well as identifying and working with new donors. Due to COVID-19, Hurley said that she hopes to accomplish these goals through educational outreach and videos. Through these avenues, Hurley wants to engage with current patrons, as well as those who have not fully immersed themselves in the ICC.

“Currently, the majority of our patrons are in the western region,” said Hurley. “But we do have a variety of patrons up and down the east coast.” At the moment, the ICC features a total of 900 patrons, according to Hurley.

The pub and restaurant inside of the ICC is not open to the public due to the pandemic, but the administrative offices are still operating. The center offers a bevy of online activities for patrons to stay engaged during the pandemic, whether it is through movies, authors, education seminars and language class.

“We do a variety of those for engagement purposes, and for meeting the need for our current patrons,” said Hurley.

Under Hurley’s oversight, the ICC plans on growing as a community in any way they can. They are planning to implement a performance center post-COVID, which will allow more people to come and gather for special occasions, according to Hurley. The performance area will be built on the top floor of the ICC.

“It’ll be exciting when we get to be post-COVID,” said Hurley. “You’ll actually have a location where everyone can meet, and be together.”

As someone who has been a part of the local area for 45 years, Hurley said that she has witnessed a proud group of Irish residents who are committed to maintaining their culture. She said that the ICC functions as a central home for a region that includes an Irish population of 20 percent.

“The city of West Springfield has been a wonderful host to the ICC,” said Hurley. “The community in general has really embraced us.”

The chief advancement officer position is funded by a grant from the Irish Government’s Immigrant Support Program, according to Hurley. The grant is coming from Dublin, Ireland, to the ICC via the Boston Irish Consul General’s Office.

With this grant, Hurley hopes that a bond between Irish people can be felt, not just locally, but globally as well. The ICC allows people to dive deeper within their heritage, and learn more about past ancestors.

“We have a legacy program here at the ICC, which is an opportunity for generations to set up their legacy through that program so we can continue our mission,” said Hurley.

Hurley is a second-generation Irish who has visited Ireland numerous times to connect with her culture. The ICC itself also offers trips every year with patrons, which are on hold now due to COVID-19.

“Having been able to travel up and down the coast has been exciting,” said Hurley, with regards to Ireland. “Each area gives you something different.”

Due to the pandemic, all of the ICC’s events are being held in an online setting. They are spearheading a “County Derry: Irish History Course,” as well as another Zoom course about “The Tudor Conquest of Ireland.”

For those who would like to become a patron at the ICC, Hurley encourages them to reach out to the administration office, or reach out to Hurley directly. All of their contacts, as well as other ICC information, can be found on their website. Interested parties can visit the site at https://www.irishcenterwne.org.

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