Guide Tour of Boston's Irish Heritage Trail this Sunday, May 26 at Boston Common

The Boston Irish Tourism Association is offering guided tours of the Boston Irish Heritage Trail on Sunday, May 26, 2013, starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Boston Common Visitors Information Center.
 

The 75 minute walk led by an experienced tour guide takes you on 300 fascinating years of Boston’s unique Irish history and heritage.
 

You’ll discover the Irish role in the Revolutionary War, learn about the 19th century Famine generation and the Irish part in the Civil War.  And you’ll discover famous politicians - from James Curley and Kevin White to John Collins and the Kennedy family - who put their indelible stamp on the history of the city and the nation.

The tour begins at the Visitor Information Center on Boston Common, which is located at 148 Tremont Street in downtown Boston.

$15 per adult, $8 for children under twelve

  

You can purchase tickets at the Visitor Information Center front desk prior to the tour.

For more information on Irish culture in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com. 

Exhibit of Irish Oil Paintings by Artist Daniel Roy at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton starting May 18

The Irish Cultural Centre in Canton is opening an exhibit of paintings by Daniel P. Roy on Saturday, May 18, 2013, with a reception from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.  The reception is open and free to the public.

Roy, from Woodstock, CT, has produced a series of surreal paintings of sheep and landscapes inspired by trips to the Irish countryside, specifically County Galway and the west of Ireland. 

The exhibit is on display in the pub through the end of May. 

Find out more information about year round activities at the Irish Cultural Centre.  

And the Centre's annual Boston Irish Festival is right around the corner, schedule for June 7-9, 2013.  

Find year round details on Irish activities in the region by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com.

Believe in Boston: Reflections on the Boston Marathon

Here is an article entitled Believe in Boston: Reflections on the Boston Marathon, by Michael Quinlin, in the June-July issue of Irish America Magazine, published in New York.

Also, a fine editorial on the marathon entitled Grace and Healing by Patricia Harty, editor-in-chief of Irish America Magazine.

Folllow TheBostonIrish on Twitter.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Senate President Therese Murray Lead Trade Mission to Ireland

Governor Deval Patrick and Taoiseach Enda Kenny

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Senate President Therese Murray led a trade delegation to Dublin, Ireland this week to promote expanding opportunities for economic development and job creation between Massachusetts and Ireland.  They met with Prime Minister of Ireland Enda Kenny, and with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Ireland Eamon Gilmore.

The trade delegation attended the Digital Health and Life Sciences Trade Summit, sponsored by the Massachusetts’ Life Sciences Center and the HealthXL Accelerator Program.  They also met with the Ireland-Massachusetts Partnership.

View more photos of the trip. 

In 2012, Ireland was the Commonwealth’s 14th largest export partner, with over $509 million in goods and services to Ireland.  Massachusetts is also Ireland’s sixth largest import partner. The Commonwealth imported over $1.2 billion worth of goods and services from Ireland last year.

For year round details on the Irish cultural community in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com. 

Boston Irish Fiddler Seamus Connolly Receiving the Ellis Island Medal of Honor on Saturday, May 11, 2013

Seamus Connolly, a noted Irish fiddle player whose music, compositions and teaching have influenced a generation of Irish musicians, is a recipient of the 2013 Ellis Island Medal of Honor on Saturday, May 11, 2013. 

The ceremony, which is organized by the National Ethnic Coalition Organizations, takes place on Ellis Island. The medal is given annual to outstanding American citizens, from all walks of life, who have distinguished themselves through their significant contributions to the United States.  Connolly is one of 90 people across all ethnic communities to receive this year's award.  Here is a full list of the 2013 recipients.

The Sullivan Artist in Residence at Boston College and founder of the school's Gaelic Roots program, Connolly grew up in County Clare and is a ten-time All Ireland champion on the fiddle.  He has recorded numerous albums and issued several books on Irish music.  Here is a profile of Seamus Connolly and one of his recent projects.

There is currently an exhibit on The Musical Roots of Seamus Connolly at the John J. Burns Library at Boston College, running through May 23, 2013.

For year round details on the Irish community in greater Boston, visit IrishMassachusetts.com. 

Guided Tour of Boston's Irish Heritage Trail this Sunday, May 5, Starting on Boston Common

The Boston Irish Tourism Association is offering guided tours of the Boston Irish Heritage Trail on Sunday, May 5, 2013, starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Boston Common Visitors Information Center.
 

The one-hour walk led by an experienced tour guide takes you on 300 fascinating years of Boston’s unique Irish history and heritage.
 

You’ll discover the Irish role in the Revolutionary War, learn about the 19th century Famine generation and the Irish part in the Civil War.  And you’ll discover famous politicians - from James Curley and Kevin White to John Collins and the Kennedy family - who put their indelible stamp on the history of the city and the nation.

The tour begins at the Visitor Information Center on Boston Common, which is located at 148 Tremont Street in downtown Boston.

$15 per adult, $8 for children under twelve

  

You can purchase tickets at the Visitor Information Center front desk prior to the tour.

For more information on Irish culture in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com. 

Irish Traditional Music Duo Vallely and McGiver Performs in Chatham on Cape Cod on Sunday, April 28

Irish traditional musicians Cillian Vallely and Ryan McGiver are performing a concert at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 28 at the Chatham Fiddle Company in Chatham, Cape Cod.

Suggested donation is $20 and tickets can be purchased at the venue.

Located at 875 Main Street, The Chatham Fiddle Company sells a variety of hand-made traditional stringed musical instruments and carvings, and offers music lessons on several instruments.  The shop presents high quality music concerts throughout the year.  For directions click here.

Find year round details on Irish music and culture in Massachusetts by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com.