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To: Committee of Chorlton Irish Club

Save Chorlton Irish Club

Chorlton Irish Club is under threat of closure. A meeting has been called for April 3rd at which it is expected that plans to close the venue and sell the site will be put to a members’ vote.

We the undersigned believe that the venue is central to the life of the Irish and wider local community. We request that the committee withdraws their proposal to sell the site and allows time for alternative plans to save the club to be developed and assessed.

Why is this important?

1. The following is a list of groups/classes that have used the club over the past 12 months approx (split into broad categories of ‘Irish’ and ‘Community’):

Irish: Keegan Academy dancing classes, Sunday music sessions, Tara O'Carolan music classes, St Lawrences GAA, Singing Sessions, Carousel Sessions (folk concerts), Irish Mancunian (film/culture), Dancercise/Reel Deal, Roscommon Association, Mayo Association, Mcr Irish Language Group, NW Uilleann Pipers, Echoes of Erin, Set Dancing Festival, Irish Community Care, Mirk Over the Irk (Irish/Jewish concert)

Community: Chorlton Comedy, Bop Local, St Johns Primary School PTA, Tickle Your Fancy, Temptation/Pretty in Pink, Silent Party People, Fusion, Still Wild, Funked It Up, Soul Town, Body Sculpt, Pregnancy Yoga, Zumba classes (adult & children), Dance Like A Mother, Salsa classes, Arabic Dancing, Dancing in the Dark

The club is also used for a wide range of private functions such as birthdays, christenings, funerals etc.

2. The club stopped accepting new membership applications via its website on 6th March 2019. Only members will be able to vote at the EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting). The club's website states that it is owned by its members.

3. The committee’s proposal, as stated in an email to members on 6th March 2019, is as follows:
“…it is proposed that the Club premises is sold and that the Irish Association should live on as a charitable trust, working together with the Irish Association Golfers in raising money via various annual events - including the annual dinner dance - and supporting relevant local causes and charities.”

4. The "Friends of Chorlton Irish" group opposes plans to close and sell the club. Our email address is [email protected].

5. Please consider ticking the box for email updates and also adding a comment when signing. Please share widely. Many thanks.

Chorlton, Manchester

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Updates

2019-04-26 13:09:57 +0100

Update 26th April 2019:

As part of a "re-launch" by the club, the membership scheme has been re-opened.

Full membership costs £25 per year. We understand this offers benefits such as discounts on drinks & function room hire, as well as “full voting rights” (as per the club’s website). On this basis, we understand that Full Members would have a vote at general meetings, on matters such as the election of a new committee and the future survival of the club's premises (in line with club rules).

We encourage all supporters of the club to join as Full Members as soon as possible.

Currently membership application forms are only available direct from the club.
We continue to request that the club re-open online applications as soon as possible.

Please share this news widely and encourage all those who use the club premises and have its best interests at heart to join as Full Members.

2019-04-26 13:00:47 +0100

Update 5th April 2019:

• In a post on the club's Facebook page on 5th April 2019 the Trustees stated that they had "seized control" of the club and cited the reason for this to be the management committee’s "successive years of failure to manage the VAT accounts of the club and recent failure to produce Annual Accounts to the members". The Trustees stated that they had been issued with a bill by HMRC in December "for amounts in excess of £117,000 for unpaid VAT and other taxes due by the club". (https://www.facebook.com/chorlton.irish/posts/2178944045750069)

• The announcement attracted widespread media coverage (https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/chorlton-irish-club-saved-tax-16083605).

• The Trustees also stated that they were "assembling a new committee to manage the day-to-day affairs of the club...as a matter of urgency" and that "debts outstanding will be honoured".

2019-03-20 21:23:48 +0000

5,000 signatures reached

2019-03-15 12:12:13 +0000

1,000 signatures reached

2019-03-15 08:55:29 +0000

500 signatures reached

2019-03-15 00:57:37 +0000

100 signatures reached

2019-03-14 23:50:55 +0000

50 signatures reached

2019-03-14 23:24:46 +0000

25 signatures reached

2019-03-14 23:04:27 +0000

10 signatures reached