Although the London Irish Centre was a refuge and also a "home from home" for hundreds of thousands of Irish people over fifty years, its history can easiest be remembered through the variety of different priests who were directors or chaplains of the building. Frs Tom McNamara and Owen Sweeney had been appointed by the Diocese of Westminster, but those who followed belonged to an order known as the Oblates. Tom McNamara, from Newtownshandrum, Co Cork, was the Centre's first director in 1955. Having been a member of the Irish Priests' Committee which had argued the case for such a Centre's existence from the late 1940's, "Fr Mac", as he was known, left an almost indelible mark on welfare provision for Irish emigrants to London. His foresight had placed hostel accommodation as a major priority for the emigrant, and his network of contacts ensured that many were placed in lodging houses when there was no available space in the hostels. Fr Owen Sweeney: Director 1964-1967 with Paddy O'Connor, first Irish Mayor of Camden Fr Tom McNamara: Director 1955-1964 Fr Owen Sweeney from Falcarragh, Co Donegal followed him into Camden Square in 1964. Because of the workload, the Westminster Diocese also assigned a second chaplain, Fr Paddy Murray, from Kildare, who arrived in August 1965. Owen Sweeney suffered from serious chest problems and was assigned back to Ireland, away from London's pollution, in January 1967. His departure left the Westminster Diocese in something of a dilemma as to who might replace him. In spite of the experience of his chaplain Paddy Murray, who left later in the year, it was felt there was no priest from the diocese able to take on the challenge.