A fictional pub is bringing the stories of Irish women across the Northwest to life

For centuries, Irish migration has shaped cities across the UK, particularly in the northwest.

Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds have long been hubs of Irish settlement, with generations of families maintaining deep connections to their heritage while forging new lives.

For Irish people who have moved to these cities and beyond, that journey has often been layered with complex emotions—pride, nostalgia, and at times, the struggle to maintain a cultural identity while navigating a new society.

A new artistic project, St. Brigid’s Arms, is bringing these stories to life in a way that has never been done before.

St. Brigid’s Arms

At the heart of this ambitious project are two women: Rosarie Walsh and Lydia O’Hara.

Rosarie, an artist who has spent 16 years in Manchester, has long worked at the intersection of theatre and community engagement. Lydia, a multidisciplinary artist and psychotherapist, brings her own rich experience of growing up deeply immersed in Irish culture despite never having lived in Ireland. Together, they have created a vision that celebrates the strength, resilience, and creativity of Irish women in the UK.

“I think when people leave a country, they either try to leave that identity behind or they hold on to it very hard,” Rosarie reflected, having moved to Manchester for a master’s degree in Applied Theatre, she quickly found herself embedded in the city’s exciting arts scene.

Yet, as time passed, she began to reflect more on her Irish heritage, especially as her children—born in the UK—started questioning their own identity.

Lydia, on the other hand, had always felt deeply Irish, despite being born and raised in Coventry. “She has really held onto her Irishness,” Rosarie said, “even though she’s never lived in Ireland.”

This contrast in their experiences led them to ask deeper questions: What does Irishness look like when passed down through generations? How does it evolve in a new country? And what does it mean for women in particular?

A space to belong

To explore these questions, they conceptualised St. Brigid’s Arms, a fictional Irish venue that will serve as both a physical exhibition in Liverpool in 2026 and an interactive digital space.

Inspired by the traditional Irish pub, it offers something different: a space designed to amplify the voices of women.

“In the UK, you’ll find countless Irish pubs named after St. Patrick, St. James, St. Michael—but rarely spaces that highlight female voices,” said Rosarie. “We wanted to create a place where women’s stories can be heard, remembered, and celebrated.”

Manchester X Ireland

The project will unfold through creative workshops across Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds—cities with rich Irish heritage. Women will be invited to share their stories through poetry, music, painting, sculpture, and film, exploring themes of migration, identity, and belonging. Their works will then be curated into themed rooms within St. Brigid’s Arms—both in the physical exhibition and an interactive online space. Imagine clicking on a virtual wall to hear a story of a grandmother’s arrival in England in the 1950s or seeing a piece of artwork inspired by the struggles of mixed-heritage identity.

The urgency of this project cannot be understated. The Irish migration story is changing, and with it, an entire generation’s experiences risk being lost.

“There is an urgent need to capture the voices of Irish women in the UK before their stories disappear,” Rosarie explained. “This project is about ensuring that future generations have a connection to their heritage, that they know where they come from.”

The initiative has already secured significant backing, including £138,759 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and additional support from the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies. Local organisations such as Stretford Public Hall, Leeds Irish Arts Foundation, and Liverpool Irish Festival are also on board, helping to ensure that these workshops reach as many women as possible.

Documenting all Irish walks of life

The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive. Women from all walks of life—elders with stories of migration decades ago, young artists exploring their dual identities, and those of mixed heritage navigating what it means to be both Irish and British—are coming forward to be part of St. Brigid’s Arms.

For Rosarie, this is personal. Her own journey mirrors the themes of the project: leaving Ireland for economic reasons, carving out a new home in Manchester, and now, feeling a renewed pull toward her roots.

“I think the further you move away from your heritage, the more you either cling onto it or shy away from it completely,” she muses. “For me, Gaelic football was a way to stay connected. I never played it in Ireland, but I did in New Zealand and then again here. Now, my kids play in Stretford, and it’s a way for them to understand where they come from.”

But the project is not just about nostalgia—it’s about contemporary experiences, too. “We’ll be capturing stories from women who came here decades ago but also from those who’ve arrived recently—whether due to economic hardship, LGBTQ+ persecution, or other personal reasons,” Rosarie explains. “Irishness today is more diverse than ever, and we want to reflect that.”

beginning a bigger conversation

As St. Brigid’s Arms takes shape over the next two years, Rosarie and Lydia hope that this will be just the beginning of a much larger conversation. They envision an ongoing platform where Irish women’s voices are continuously collected, shared, and honoured.

For now, their focus is on reaching as many women as possible. “We want this to be a space for everyone with Irish heritage, no matter their background,” says Rosarie. “The Irish experience in the UK is varied, complex, and deeply emotional. Through this project, we hope to bring those stories to life in a way that does them justice.”

As Irish women across the UK step forward to share their experiences, St. Brigid’s Arms is set to become more than just an art project—it’s a home for stories, a beacon of identity, and a testament to the enduring strength of Irish women past, present, and future.

Emerald Lens CIC

Emerald Lens CIC is the key driving force behind St. Brigid’s Arms, leading the effort to document and amplify the experiences of Irish women in the UK. The organization specializes in using art, storytelling, and digital media to preserve cultural narratives, ensuring that underrepresented voices are heard. Their expertise in community engagement and creative expression is shaping the project’s workshops, exhibitions, and digital platform.

You can find out more about Emerald Lens CIC by clicking here