The Christchurch Irish Society extends a warm welcome, Fáilte, to all Irish people, those of Irish heritage, and those who identify as Irish, along with their whānau and friends. Established in 1948, the Society was formed to promote Irish culture, support the Irish community, and strengthen bonds of friendship between Irish people and the people of Christchurch, many of whom have Irish ancestry themselves.
The Society's stated mission is to promote understanding and development of Irish culture while fostering bonds of friendship with other Irish communities throughout New Zealand, and to provide a place where Irish people and their friends can meet and socialise. Today, that mission plays out through a regular calendar of social and cultural events, a hall available for hire, a community business directory, and news coverage that includes Irish current affairs and sport.
The Society also maintains a strong connection to its own history, including its origins in 1948 and its heritage as home to one of New Zealand's earliest Irish Society Pipe Bands, with public performances dating back to 1957.