Driving down Central Avenue in Phoenix is always an enjoyable experience with all of the new, exciting shops, restaurants, and modern high-rise structures constantly popping up. But if one looks to the west of the modern avenue, it would appear the city has been invaded by 12th-century Normans.
A castle sits nestled between Hance Park and the FOUND:RE hotel. Venture inside the gated grounds, and you’ll discover the Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library, a slice of Ireland (no Vikings included) in the heart of the Arizona desert.
Immediately upon entering the center, visitors come face-to-face with the McClelland Library, designed after a 12th-century Norman castle. The largest of its kind in the Western United States, it houses more than 8,000 books by Irish authors, poets, and genealogical sources, as well as a permanent exhibit on the 9th-century Book of Kells.
To the right is the Great Hall, where guests can enjoy Irish dancing, film premieres, and other cultural events. Inside are authentic utensils once used in ancestral Irish homes alongside artwork from Irish and Celtic artists.
Visitors can also step back in time at the Cottage, a replica of an 1850s Irish home, or reflect at The Great Hunger Memorial, a stone arch dedicated to An Gorta Mór, the Great Famine that spurred mass Irish emigration to the United States.
This place is a unique hidden gem and a chance to visit Ireland, without leaving the state.