A BRADFORD lottery has been set up to raise funds for an Irish cultural centre in the city.

The Celtic Community Lottery, launched last night, has a £25,000 jackpot and the first draw is next month. Some of the money will go to local causes.

The lottery - which went live yesterday with a launch in City Park, where Mirror Pool fountains and City Hall turned green to celebrate - is organised by Bradford Irish Society Ltd, which wants to re-introduce Irish culture to Bradford.

“Since the closure of the Irish Club in 2013 Bradford’s Irish community has been without a permanent home, for the first time since 1882,” said Paul Meszaros from the society.

“Bradford has a significant Irish community, spread across the district. Irish labourers built Bradford. For over 150 years Bradford has been an important destination for Irish men and women, who came initially to flee the famine in Ireland or to work in mills. By 1840 numbers had grown dramatically.

“Bradford’s Irish Club, on Rebecca Street, was a big focal point for the Irish community. I had my wedding reception there and my children did dance classes there. We want a new community centre to keep Irish culture alive - music, dance, literature, films, sport, even Irish language workshops.”

Mr Meszaros, whose Irish mother came to England aged 17 to train as a nurse, said Bradford people are being consulted on the facility. “We want to hear what people want,” he said. “Working men’s clubs aren’t fashionable now; people want child-friendly places. We want to offer more for families, to keep Irish culture alive for the future. You only have to go out in Bradford on St Patrick’s Day to see the importance of Irish culture to the district.

“We’re consulting widely on this, what we’re hearing is that people want a centre in town, to bring people in.

“We don’t know how much it will cost at this stage, or where it will be. The lottery tickets cost £1, we get 40p in every £1 and 5p goes to good causes. There are nine numbers and the top prize is £25,000. The first draw is Saturday, March 16, the day before St Patrick’s Day. It will be drawn every Saturday at 8pm, and winners will be emailed.”

Bradford’s Irish community was traditionally based in and around Rebecca Street and Chain Street, near the Irish Club and St Patrick’s Church. Mr Meszaros hopes a new community centre will re-establish an ‘Irish quarter’.

“We have Little Germany and Eastern European clubs in Manningham. We want a place where Irish culture can flourish, but somewhere for everyone - you don’t need an Irish connection to be part of this,” he said. “We share a passion for helping others and are proud of the rich diversity of our area, where we can bring people together and make sure Bradford remains a city to be proud of.”

Gerry Sutcliffe, former Bradford South MP, said: “I wish the Irish Society all the best trying to raise money for a new community centre.

“Culture and pride in place are important for all our communities in Bradford and it is important that the Irish community have somewhere we can all celebrate their culture and contribution to our city.”

l For tickets visit celticlottery.org. Players must be over 16. For more about the Irish centre plans visit bradfordirishsociety.org