The McClelland Irish Library at the Irish Cultural Center is almost complete!  What an exciting day this will be for the Irish community of Phoenix as well as the community at large.  The soft opening of the Library is slated for June 15th.  We still have a few engraved stones left to purchase to complete the entry way into the Library.  Make sure you go down in history by claiming your historical space on the steps of the McClelland Irish Library.  The stones are 1' square and are available for $500 each. They make the perfect gift to acknowledge and honor loved ones, past and present.
Simply download the  attached form to order your engraved stone today or visit this link https://secure.qgiv.com/for/icclesc/   However, stones must be purchased by May 28th to be finished and placed in the entry way for the soft opening celebrations. 
Don’t miss being a significant part of Arizona’s Irish history!! Thank you in advance for your support and generosity!  For more info contact, Bridget Costello – 480-217-1806 bridget@emeraldconsulting1.com

Opening June 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona, the McClelland Irish Library is dedicated to preserving the Irish and Celtic cultures. The library will feature an extensive collection of Irish and Celtic books, manuscripts, paintings and photographs spanning from the classics to modern writers. Our hope is that the library will educate, inspire and connect you and other visitors to this rich heritage. The McClelland Irish Library will also be the leading Irish genealogical research center in the country with tools and resources to discover your heritage.

Stepping Stone Campaign to pave the way to the new ICLF Library

Nearly 200 stones will be sold to those interested in supporting the library with their own personally engraved pavers. The stones are available, for a limited time only, for just $500 each. To purchase a stone and make your mark on the library go to www.azirishlibrary.com and look under “ways to help.”  Or, download the attached form and return the form and payment to the address indicated on the form.  

The library was funded through private donations. Nearly $8 million is still needed. In addition to the stones, there are other naming opportunities available throughout the library. Construction of the Irish Cultural Center Library, the only one of its kind in the Western United States, began in February. When completed in 2012, the 15,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art library will feature more than 6,000 books including masterpieces by the great Irish writers.  For further information or to purchase an engraved stone contact Bridget Costello at 480-634-4001. 

By Kathleen Wood (Originally published in May - June issue of The Desert Shamrock, reprinted with permission.)

Ask any visitor why he or she comes to the Irish Cultural Center. You are likely to hear about fiddle lessons or ceili dancing, concerts or exhibits, or the great-grandmother who came to America from Ireland decades ago. Sometimes it is just curiosity about the rustic stone buildings with slate roofs that share the urban Phoenix environment with new condos and light rail.