Irish Heritage Month in Omaha

March 10th, 2025

The Irish music scene in Omaha is experiencing a resurgence, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Omaha Irish Cultural Center (OICC). For years, the OICC has focused on preserving and promoting Irish heritage and culture in the city. Now, it is expanding its reach to revitalize Irish music in the community.

To kick off Irish Heritage Month, the OICC hosted an Irish music event on March 1, bringing popular folk bands, including the Chancey Brothers, to Nebraska. The initiative aims to reintroduce traditional Irish sounds to local audiences.

“We’re really excited for that kind of a new thing that us folks in Omaha haven’t really heard yet,” said Lynn Johnson-Miles, an OICC board member.

Omaha once had a vibrant Irish music scene, but interest waned as key figures in the community retired or moved away. To counter this decline, the OICC has stepped up its efforts to renew enthusiasm for Irish culture. Johnson-Miles emphasized the significance of bringing back traditional Irish sounds, particularly as St. Patrick’s Day approaches.

“I’m really excited to bring a band back to Omaha with some of those traditional sounds, some of those things that we love to hear around St. Patrick’s Day,” she said.

In addition to music, the OICC is fostering Irish culture through other artistic avenues. This year, the center hosted an Irish film festival, featuring filmmakers from Ireland and screening works such as The Last of the Hand Weavers, A Lady of Paris, and The Irish Question. These events are part of the OICC’s broader mission to enrich Omaha’s cultural landscape and engage the community with Irish traditions.

Johnson-Miles hopes these efforts will inspire a new generation to embrace and contribute to the Irish cultural scene in Omaha.

“We would love to see some young folks get involved and contribute their perspective of what it is to be Irish. Or you don’t even have to be Irish,” she said. “As long as you love Irish music, you love Irish literature, you love Irish culture, you’re absolutely welcome to be part of our group.”

More information about the Omaha Irish Cultural Center can be found at www.omahairishculturalcenter.org.