Tales and Tunes at the Irish Centre

By Richard O’Neill MBE

On the 25th of June 2025, during Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month something truly special happened at the Irish Centre in Hammersmith, London. It wasn’t just a performance, it was a homecoming of sorts. Tales and Tunes brought together an incredible mix of singers, dancers, a comedian, and a storyteller, all sharing their talents in an atmosphere of warmth, respect, and celebration. For me, it was the closest I’ve come in a long time to the magic of those storytelling nights I grew up with in my Romani family, before technology took over.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of sitting around a fire on a camp, a fair, or gathered around a table in a pub, listening to stories and songs that captured our history, our humour, and our hearts. Those gatherings were more than entertainment, they were rituals of remembrance and resilience. We honoured our ancestors, we laughed until we cried, and sometimes we just cried. But we always came away feeling more connected. The joy, the sadness, the wisdom and the daftness of life and a feeling of being ready for the future were all there, shared in community.

That’s what Tales and Tunes felt like. No fire this time, but the stage at the Irish Centre became its own hearth, drawing people in, lighting them up with song, story and spirit. I had the joy of performing alongside such a talented and diverse group of artists. Each one brought something unique, and each was met with warmth and applause from a truly engaged audience.

What made the night so powerful was the sense of mutual respect. There was no hierarchy, no sense of one act outshining another, beautifully and elegantly compered so that everyone had their moment, and everyone was lifted by the spirit of the evening. It wasn’t just about performance, it was about presence. About standing proud in who we are and what we bring to the world.

For me, storytelling has always been a way of understanding and celebrating identity. I was inspired as a child by the way storytellers could hold a crowd, make us laugh one minute and reflect deeply the next. I wanted to grow up and do the same, to make people feel lucky to be part of something bigger, a living, breathing culture passed down through generations.

At the Irish Centre that night, that dream felt fully realised. We weren’t just telling tales, we were reclaiming them. Reclaiming our voices, our histories, our humour, and our right to entertain and be heard on our own terms. It was a night of pride. A night of culture not just preserved, but performed with heart and style.

Tales and Tunes was more than a show. It was a reminder of how powerful it is when we gather together in solidarity and community and share who we are. That fire may burn in a different form now, but it still brings light, warmth, and joy. And it still brings us together.