About Us

The Irish Canadian Cultural Association of New Brunswick (ICCANB), known locally as the New Brunswick Irish Association, was founded in 1983 for the purpose of raising public awareness of the profound history, vibrant culture, and enduring artistic expressions of the Irish diaspora in our province and our country.

From the coastal heritage of Bathurst and the historic river valleys of the Miramichi; from the cultural touchstones of Moncton and our Provincial capital of Fredericton;  from the bustling historic port of Saint John, down to our southern shores overlooking the Passamaquoddy River, our mission is to ensure the undeniable influence of the Irish on New Brunswick and Canada is celebrated, understood, and preserved for generations to com.

What we do

In support of our mission, our activities focus on core pillars: 

• Public Education: to broaden public awareness of historical Irish contributions beyond basic folklore, we hold public lecture series, school presentations, and historical exhibits and participate in community and school heritage fairs.

• Celebrating our living culture: for maximum impact, activities focus on two streams of activity;  education events and entertainment events, although we fully acknowledge that, when done correctly, educational events can also be highly entertaining.  From organizing learning sessions of traditional music, dance , theatre and visual arts, to promoting contemporary Irish-Canadian arts and culture, there is something for everyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Irish culture in our province.

• Spreading awareness of the Irish impact in our communities: Researching and identifying how Irish immigrants structurally developed our province and Canada and ensuring the information is recorded provides opportunities to develop educational programs about Irish landmarks and the family registries and stories associated with them.

• Bridging generations through community engagement: Creating accessible cultural workshops open to people of all backgrounds and ages, our goal is to connect historical diaspora narratives with modern Atlantic Canadian identity.

How we operate:

To better reflect the different Irish-related development and settlement patterns around the province, the New Brunswick Irish Association has established regional delivery arms, known as ‘Chapters’.  Operating under the umbrella of our corporate body, each Chapter has its own elected Executive to manage operations in its region, including member recruitment and management, research projects, and cultural and educational events.

For those wishing to become a member but who are not close to one of our Chapters or who do not live in New Brunswick, we also have a ‘Members at Large’ category, members of which are managed though the central body of the Association.

Chapter Information:

PLEASE NOTE: joining a particular Chapter automatically makes you a member of the Association as a whole.  If other Chapters have events taking place, members from any Chapter are welcome to attend. If there is a fee for admission that includes a different price for members, you would pay the member’s price regardless of which Chapter’s event you are attending.

In addition to notifications of events and special notices, members in good standing (current paid membership) will also receive June and December issues of the Shamrock Leaf, the official newsmagazine of the Irish Canadian Cultural Association of New Brunswick.

The ICCANB has four Chapters in New Brunswick: 

Bathurst Area Chapter:                      covers the counties of Gloucester and Restigouche

 Capital Area Chapter:                         based in Fredericton, covers the counties of York, Sunbury and Queens.

 Westmorland/Albert/Kent Chapter:  based in Moncton, covers the counties in its name

 Saint John Area Chapter:                   covers the counties of Kings, Saint John and Charlotte

Members at Large:                              For those not close to one of our Chapters, including those people  inside New Brunswick,

from other parts of Canada or internationally.

In conclusion, we would like to invite everyone – not just those of Irish descent – to participate in whatever activities catch your interest as we offer events and services that help to fulfill our mission. Become part of the living legacy of the Irish pioneers who built, shaped, and inspired Atlantic Canada and beyond.  Join us in celebrating our distinct cultural identity and the impact of our profound Irish roots.

• Discover Your Roots: Get to know our province and its people better by exploring our history and genealogy materials.
• Attend an Event: View our News and Events for information on upcoming public lectures and cultural festivals.
• Support the Legacy: Become a member or volunteer to help keep our shared history alive for future generations.

Visit our Membership section to learn more about the benefits of joining our Association.