WEST SPRINGFIELD – The Westfield Bank and Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation have awarded a $100,000, three-year grant to the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England.

Westfield Bank President James Hagan and Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation President William Wagner presented the checks to ICC President Sean Cahillane and other members from the ICC on June 28. The money will be used for ongoing and major capital improvements that aim to upgrade the building on Morgan Road, which now includes a restaurant and pub, offices and meeting rooms.

“It will be used to upgrade the building to carry on the mission of the Irish Cultural Center,” said ICC Executive Director Bo Sullivan. “When we started, we did the renovations in four phases. We are currently in the middle of phase three right now.”

Work is underway for a library, museum, patio, ball field and “Irish streetscape,” which will soon grace the rear of the building on the 10-acre property.

The ICC is a non-profit, charitable organization that seeks to cultivate a connection with Ireland through the arts, culture, history, language and heritage. The Center offers opportunities to engage in educational, travel and social events that promote Irish culture.

The organization moved to the long-empty building in 2015, and has continued making progress on renovations.

Sullivan, a Westfield resident and former WHYN-AM radio personality, was hired as the organization’s first executive director in January. His responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of the ICC – such as operations, finance, promotion, development and supporting events geared toward promoting Irish culture. He focuses on fundraising, capital campaign, expanding the number of patrons, completing the ICC’s $3 million facility and marketing the organization itself.

He said the ICC is extremely grateful for the funds from the Westfield Bank and Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation.

“The grant verifies everything we’ve done here at the ICC,” he noted. “We are thrilled that the Westfield Bank and the Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation have the confidence in us to fulfill the mission.”

Cahillane echoed Sullivan’s sentiments in a press release sent to Reminder Publications.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with our ongoing partnership with the Westfield Bank and with the Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation,” he said. “Our strong ties mean our building will continue to get better over time. Our heartfelt thanks go out for this funding.”

Westfield Bank and the former Chicopee Savings Bank merged two years ago, keeping the charitable foundation alive. The ICC has had a long partnership with the Chicopee bank, which has funded many programs and events over the years. Those ties remain strong under the merger, according to the ICC.

“It’s partnerships like the ones that we have with The Bank and The Foundation that verify what we are doing here at the Cultural Center,” said Sullivan. “We’re working on as many of those improvements as we can, and obviously The Bank and The Foundation have been supporters of many organizations in Western Massachusetts – it’s hugely fulfilling that they have picked us to make a commitment to also.”

He added that the ICC’s partnership with the Town of West Springfield is “immensely important” to the organization as well.