FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I join the Club?

You can join the Club simply by mailing your dues by check payable to the Irish American Club, PO Box 1683, Portland, ME 04104, or paying via Pay Pal on this website. All we need is you contact information, including your mailing address, to enroll you. We will process your membership usually within 24 hours, and you will be on our mailing and email lists.

How Irish do I need to be to join the Club?

None. We are a social club that is designed to enjoy and pass on Irish culture, not hoard it. Think of it like taking a French language class, an Italian cooking class, or a Flamenco dance class—it’s the beauty of the culture that matters, not the pedigree of the students. We welcome all kinds from all paths of life.

When does the Club meet?

The Irish American Club hosts business meetings on the third Tuesday of September, January and May at 6:30 pm at the Maine Irish Heritage Center and holds social meetings on occasion throughout the year. Watch for notices on the website.

What is the difference between the Irish American Club and the Maine Irish Heritage Center?

When discussing the two entities, we call them the “Club” and the “Center” to differentiate. The Irish American Club is a 501(c)7 non-profit social club. The Club was founded in 1973 and puts on mostly social events. The Club has a Board of Directors and a voting membership. Donations to the Club are not tax-deductible.

The Maine Irish Heritage Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit facility. The Center was established in 2002 after the acquisition of the former Saint Dominic’s Church in order to restore and renovate the building into an Irish cultural forum. Donations to the Center are tax-deductible. The Center has an Executive Director, a board, and offers memberships. These two organizations, while often collaborating in endeavors, are entirely autonomous.