They've wiped every trace of our heritage

IRISH CLUB REGULARS SAY THEY NO LONGER FEEL WELCOME

-  JOSEPH TIMAN

'A HUNDRED thousand welcomes, says the Gaelic sign above the door at St Kentigern's Social Club.

But regulars who have been going to the club in Fallowfield for decades - many of whom were born to Irish families - say they no longer feel welcome. "They've wiped every trace of Irish heritage, according to Mario Conway, whose father was a founding member.

Stories of the club's closure have been circulating on social media, but the Diocese of Salford, which owns it, insists they are untrue.

The club's long-standing and much-loved manager, Kevin Fitzpatrick, left in June.

And the following week, a sign on the door said the vault, previously open most nights of the week, was closed. The main function room remains open and is still used for a variety of weekly activities.

The Diocese says that the closure of the vault was due to a 'decline in behavior' in recent years and denies claims that it plans to sell the club, saying that it remains a 'community resource in keeping with the mission of the church' But some suspect there is more to it.

Soon after Mr left, Fitzpatrick's memorabilia displayed around the club allegedly started to disappear. Some of it was returned to donors but other items, including awards which the club has won over the years, are no longer displayed, members claim.

They say murals of leprechauns in the main room have been painted over and claim they are not getting answers as to why.