Still working at 80: the Gaybrook man who was first manager of Leeds Irish Centre

Its 50 years since the UK’s first purpose-built Irish Centre was opened – and one man who remembers well the significance of that is the Mullingar man who managed it for its first three years.

Peter Newman, originally from Gaybrook, was just 19 and working in a bar in Dublin when he went to Leeds to see a friend who was working as a tailor there.

That was 1959, and Peter is still in Leeds – and at the age of 80, still working!

In 1970, Peter became manager of the Leeds Irish Centre, which has announced details of a book it is releasing to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The centre was due to host a number of celebrations and commemorations in June 2020 but the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown put plans on hold until 2021.

Work continued with the book, which charts the story of half a century of its community and charity work, sporting and social events and the celebrities the centre has hosted in five decades.

Peter hasn’t disclosed whether it was a case of midlanders looking after each other, but the performer on the opening night was Brendan Shine.

A former CBS Mullingar boy, Peter was in the same class at school as the late singer Joe Dolan. Peter still stays in contact with home: his parents, jack and Madge, who farmed at Gaybrook, had a large family, most of whom still live around Mullingar, and Peter likes to get home twice a year.

Peter left his job at The Irish Centre to begin work selling construction equipment. A few years later he set up a construction business with Sean Kenny from Athlone and Tommy Harrington from Roscommon.

He and wife Margaret, a native of Kilkenny, have been married for 57 years and they have a son and daughter and one grandchild.

Like others in the Irish community in Leeds, Peter was looking forward to the celebrations, but is delighted at the release of the book, ‘50 Years In The Making – Leeds Irish Centre 1970 – 2020’, on sale from late November.

Two versions will be released – a hard back, limited edition at £20 plus postage, and a paperback at £10 plus postage.

Tommy McLoughlin, manager of the centre for 45 of its 50 years, said: “The book will be published 50 years and five months since the doors officially opened. I am so proud of ‘50 Years In the Making’ as it celebrates our successes in all fields and pays tribute to our past as well as looking to the future.”

Liam Thompson, chairman of the Irish Centre’s committee, said: “The book marks a milestone in our history so far and provides a unique opportunity to look behind the doors of one of the best venues in the UK.”

Brendan Shine, who performed at the 1970 official opening and was due to play at the 50th anniversary celebrations in June, credits the centre for boosting his early career: “You could say we have grown together and stood the test of time,” he says. Likewise, Nathan Carter recalls how his teenage days of singing at the centre were often to a small group of customers while they watched football on TV – but a series of bookings allowed him to buy a van to tour. “I will never forget the opportunities the centre gave me,” he said.

The book was penned by Yorkshire journalist Sheron Boyle, whose family left Ireland for work and who also has strong family links with the centre.

She said: “My dad came to England as a young man and my story is the stories of the Yorkshire Irish diaspora who have gone before us. The book has been a labour of love but even I was surprised by the millions of pounds this one centre has raised for charity over the years, most of which has gone to regional organisations.

“Stories of the famous names, including Oasis, who have trod the stage were fascinating to hear about but I loved telling the Irish community’s own stories.”

To order the book, email book@leedsirishcentrebook.co.uk.