BIS History

The Bahrain Irish Society was established in 1975. The focus of the Bahrain Irish Society is to promote Irish Culture here in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Since its foundation in 1975, the society has always taken an active approach in contributing to local Bahraini charities, organising events & working in partnership with the community of Bahrain. Our ongoing commitment is to establish a multicultural society from all walks of life & all age groups that can fuse together to celebrate a culture traditionally known to open its arms & embrace life in all its form.

In recent years the Bahrain Irish Society has forged links with other Irish associations on the island most notably the Arabian Celts Gaelic Football Club and the Bahrain Irish Business Network. Through these partnerships we have seen the development of the Bahrain Irish Festival grow in stature every year with record numbers of Gaelic Football Teams travelling in from around the Gulf and great acts like The Commitments headlining the Feile Cheoil during the Festival weekend. Also high profile visits to the country have been co-ordinated through the Society like the visit of Uachtaran Na hEireann Mary McAleese and former Taoiseach & EU Ambassador to the United States John Bruton.