Irish Massachusetts

Superbowl Party at Clerys Pub in Boston on Sunday, February 5

2012-01-30T17:36:00.001-05:00

Clerys in Boston's South End is having a Super Bowl party on Sunday, February 5, 2012, to root on the New England Patriots in Superbowl XLVI.

Admission cost is $15 and includes a guaranteed seat for your group, two drink tickets and a tailgate buffet for the first half of the game. Clerys is also rolling out the 1st annual Wing Eating Contest.

Located at 115 Dartmouth Street at the corner of Columbus Avenue, Clerys is a great neighborhood watering hole, just steps away from Bay Bay T Station and Copley Square. Here are directions.

Check out other pubs and restaurants owned by the Glynn Hospitality Group.

For year round Irish cultural activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org.

Four Green Fields Pub in Boston is Hosting a Super Bowl Party on Sunday, February 5

2012-01-30T16:03:00.001-05:00

Four Green Fields Irish Pub in downtown Boston, which boasts one of the biggest television screens in the entire city, is throwing an all-day Superbowl party on Sunday, February 5, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. until closing.

The game between the New England Patriots and New York Giants starts at 6:00 p.m., so get your seats early.

In addition to the optimal viewing experience of the giant screen , check out the great menu of dinner, appetizers and snacks, as well as a fully stocked bar with your favorite beers and beverages.

Please call Four Green Fields at 617 367-4747 for more information.

For a list of Irish cultural activities taking place in greater Boston visit IrishBoston.org

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Patriot Fans: Get in Shape for the SuperBowl Tonight

2012-01-30T14:13:00.000-05:00

Preparing for the Super Bowl this Sunday? Here's a great way to get in shape for a long day of cheering, eating, drinking, and cheering some more.

Take the 5K Bur-Run through Somerville, sponsored by the Burren Pub in Davis Square. You can change into your running gear in the Back Room of the Burren, then return after the race for a meal and some great acoustic music.

Go Pats!

For a list of Irish pubs in greater Boston where you can watch the Super Bowl, click here.

US Census Reports Irish is second largest ethnic group in USA

2012-01-30T08:30:00.000-05:00

The US Census Bureau released its annual Irish Heritage Month statistics in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day in March. The findings reveal that 34.7 million Americans claim Irish ancestry, which is more than seven times the population of Ireland itself.

"Irish was was the nation's second most frequently reported ancestry, trailing only German," the report noted.

In February 2011, the Bureau reported that Massachusetts is the most Irish state in America, with nearly 24% of residents claiming Irish ancestry.

Here is a breakdown of the towns in Massachusetts with the highest Irish ancestry:

47.5 Scituate
46.5 Braintree
45.8 Hull
45.6 Marshfield
44.9 Avon
44.9 Pembroke
44.6 Milton
44.5 Abington
44.3 Whitman
44.2 Hanover
43.4 Weymouth
43.0 Walpole
42.2 Holbrook
41.4 Duxbury
41.2 Norwell
40.8 Hanson

To find out about Irish heritage in Massachusetts, visit IrishHeritageTrail.com

For year round details on Irish cultural activities, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

To find out about visiting Massachusetts, go to Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism at MassVacation.com.

State Senator Jack Hart is Appointed Assistant Majority Leader in Massachusetts Senate

2012-01-29T16:07:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to South Boston State Senator Jack Hart, who was named Assistant Majority Leader in the Massachusetts Senate by State Senate President Therese Murray earlier this month.

Senator Hart replaces former Senator Stephen Tolman from Brighton, who is now president of the AFL-CIO in Massachusetts.

"I am honored to be afforded this opportunity by Senate President Murray, a woman and a leader whom I greatly admire," Hart said. "In this position, I hope to work with the leadership and the members to continue to do good things for the people of the Commonwealth."

A lifelong resident of South Boston, Senator Hart presides over the annual St. Patrick's Day breakfast in Boston each year that precedes the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Hart has also been a strong advocate for cultural tourism and is an active member of the T5 Committee, an initiative by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority to make Boston one of the top five convention destinations in the United States.

For year round details on Boston's Irish cultural community, visit IrishBoston.org.

Feast of St. Brigid Being Celebrated at Irish Pastoral Centre in Boston on Feburary 4

2012-01-29T14:04:00.000-05:00

The Irish Pastoral Centre of Boston is celebrating the Feast of St. Brigid, one of Ireland's beloved patron saints, on Saturday, February 4, 2012, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at St. Brendan's Parish in Dorchester.

The event begins with a craft workshop for children, who will learn to make a St. Brigid's cross, and discover the history of Saint Brigid, who lived in the 5th century and is known as The Mary of the Gael.

At 5:00 p.m. Father John McCarthy will celebrate Mass at St. Brendan's Church, and that is followed at 6:00 p.m. by supper and traditional Irish music and dancing. Musicians will be performing from Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and Céol Trad.na hEiréann

Tickets are $15 at the door or $12 in advance for adults, $5 for children ages six or above. Children under five are free. To order tickets in advance, please call the Centre at 1 855-479-2472 or organizer Maureen McNally at 781 871-1247. Here are directions to St. Brendan's.

Formed in 1987, the Irish Pastoral Centre of Boston is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year assisting Irish immigrations in making a positive transition to living in the United States. Read a recent story on the Centre in the Boston Pilot.

For a calendar of upcoming activities at the Irish Pastoral Centre, click here.

For year round details on Irish cultural activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org.

Irish Band Devri Performing at Boston's Black Rose Pub on January 27-28

2012-01-26T14:33:00.000-05:00

Popular Boston Irish band Devri is performing for the first time at the Black Rose Pub near Faneuil Hall on Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28, 2012 on the Main Stage, from 9:30 p.m. to closing.

The legendary Black Rose, which just celebrated its 35 year anniversary, has live music seven nights a week and is a popular watering hole for local residents and visitors from throughout the world. And it has a full menu of food selections including great fish n chips, beef stew and a wide selection of Irish and American fare.

For more details on Irish cultural activities in greater Boston visit IrishBoston.org.

Hanneke Cassel Band Performing at Boston College Gaelic Roots Program on Thursday, January 26

2012-01-24T16:49:00.000-05:00

The Hanneke Cassel Band is performing at the Gaelic Roots music series at Boston College on Thursday, January 26, 2012, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.

The event takes place at BC's Brighton Campus, located at 2101 Commonwealth Avenue, formerly known as the Cardinal's Residence. For directions click here.

The band includes Hanneke Cassel on fiddle, Ariel Friedman on cello and Christopher Lewis on guitar.

The concert is part of the Gaelic Roots Music program founded by Seamus Connolly, All Ireland Fiddle Champion and Sullivan Artist in Residence at Boston College. For a schedule of upcoming Gaelic Roots concerts this winter and spring, click here.

For year round details on Irish music, dance, theater, literary, festivals, parades and other cultural activities, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com.

JFK Library in Boston Releases 45 Hours of Tapes Recorded at the White House in Final Months of the Kennedy Administration

2012-01-24T15:49:00.001-05:00

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum today announced that it has declassified and made available the final 45 hours of White House recordings that were secretly taped during President John F. Kennedy’s time in office. Today’s release encompasses meetings held during the three months leading up to the end of the Kennedy Administration.

“The Library has been systematically reviewing and opening these secretly recorded tapes since 1993,” said Tom Putnam, Kennedy Library Director. “We are thrilled to have completed the process and know researchers will be fascinated with these recordings from John F. Kennedy’s final days as President.”

Some of the recordings covered pertinent issues of the time - including Vietnam, relations with the Soviet Union, and plans for the 1964 Democratic convention - while other recordings captured the president's children, John and Caroline, in the Oval Office.

For a schedule of upcoming forums and lectures coming to the JFK Library, click here. And for free family programs held at the library, click here.

To read about the Kennedy Family and its Irish roots in Massachusetts, click here.

To find year round Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Traditional Irish Music Trio Performing at Chatham Fiddle Company on Cape Cod, January 28

2012-01-23T09:15:00.004-05:00

Check out this concert of bright young traditional Irish music stars at the Chatham Fiddle Company at 875 Main Street in Chatham on Cape Cod.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door or by calling 917 416-0139.

The concert features fiddler player Armand Aromin, uilleann piper Joey Abarta and guitarist and vocalist Lindsay Straw. For directions click here.

For year round details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Jackie Kennedy's Literary Career is Discussed at the JFK Library on January 23

2012-01-23T08:32:00.002-05:00

A forum to discuss the career of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis takes place at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library on Monday, January 23, 2012 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Colleagues and writers, including Joe Armstrong, Betty Sue Flowers, Harriet Rubin and David Stenn share their memories of working with Jacqueline during her time as an editor in New York City. Greg Lawrence, author of Jackie as Editor, moderates.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is recommended.

For a schedule of upcoming Kennedy Library Forums, click here.

For year round details on cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Celtic Music Master Neil Pearlman Performing at Passim's in Harvard Square on Sunday, January 22

2012-01-22T14:28:00.003-05:00

Pianist and mandolinist Neil Pearlman and his band perform at Passim's in Harvard Square, Cambridge on Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the show are $12 and can be purchased online or at the door.

The son of acclaimed Scottish fiddle master Ed Pearlman and Scottish dancer Laura Scott, Neil is rooted in the intricate and swinging traditions of Cape Breton piano playing, and he is also an accomplished step dancer.

For a schedule of upcoming performances at Passim's, click here.

For year round details on Irish and Scottish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

The Bohemian Quartet Performing Gypsy Music at Blackstone River Theatre on January 21

2012-01-20T06:45:00.000-05:00

The Bohemian Quartet is performing a selection of Romanian gypsy music at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI on Saturday, January 21, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door or by calling (401) 725-9272.

The Providence Journal wrote, "Watching the Bohemian Quartet perform live is like listening to history being preserved. In many ways, this gifted and exhilarating act is simply keeping a rare musical flame alive."

For a complete schedule of upcoming acts at Blackstone River Theatre this winter, click here.

Find year round details on cultural activities, including music and dance, theater and literary events, campus programs and more by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com.

Boston House of Blues adds third Dropkick Murphys concert in March

2012-01-19T14:34:00.001-05:00

The House of Blues in Boston has added a third Dropkick Murphys show for Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Tickets for this show go on sale on Friday, January 20, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.

The other two Dropkick shows at House of Blues, scheduled for March 15-16, are sold out.

Prices for the March 14 concert range from $32.50 for standing room and $60 for reserved seating and can be ordered online.

Check out the full schedule of events at Boston's House of Blues.

For additional St. Patrick's Day activities in Massachusetts this March, including parades, concerts, theater, pub events and cultural activities, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

New White House Initiative on Tourism Would Make USA the World's Number One Travel Destination

2012-01-19T13:03:00.001-05:00

(Image Courtesy of Massport)

President Barack Obama plans to make the United States the world’s top travel and tourism destination, according to a White House initiative announced today that would significantly increase travel and tourism to the United States while also adding jobs to the economy.

Read full details from today's Press Release.

“Every year, tens of millions of tourists from all over the world come and visit America. And the more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work,” said President Obama.

One of the highlights of the initiative is to focus attention on America's national parks,cultural and historic sites, monuments and other public lands.

This would be a tremendous tourism boost for Massachusetts, which is filled with significant historical and cultural sites, including the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, the Adams National Historical Park, the Cape Cod National Seashore, and dozens of important monuments and memorials along the Freedom Trail, Black Heritage Trail, Irish Heritage Trail and more.

President Obama was an early supporter of a national tourism initiative while campaigning in 2008. He signed into law the bi-partisan National Travel Promotion Act into law on March 4, 2010, helping to stimulate domestic and international tourism to the United States.

For a full list of national heritage sites and parks in Massachusetts, click here.

For more about visiting Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com.

Dublin Singer Colm O'Brien Performing at Four Green Fields on January 19

2012-01-19T06:37:00.001-05:00

Colm O'Brien, the talented singer, songwriter and guitarist from Dublin, is performing at the Four Green Fields Pub in Boston on Thursday, January 19, 2012 starting at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Born into an illustrious family of traditional musicians, O'Brien has been performing in the United States for over a decade; he toured with the Prodigals for several years before embarking as a solo performer, releasing his acclaimed album, It Is What It Is, in 2005. He'll be playing songs from his new album Rud Eile.

Four Green Fields opened at One Boston Place in downtown Boston in February 2011 and has Irish music regularly throughout the year. You can follow Four Green Fields on Facebook.

For more about Irish music and culture in greater Boston visit IrishBoston.org.

Irish Pubs and Hotel Bars Get Ready for the Beer Summit in Boston on January 20-21

2012-01-18T12:38:00.002-05:00

The Beer Summit Winter Jubilee is coming to Boston on Friday, January 20 and Saturday, January 21, 2012, to celebrate and pour over specialty beers from 66 brewers. The event attracts master brewers and connoisseur beer drinkers from around the country.

Participants are expected to check out some of greater Boston's popular Irish pubs and hotel bars during their visit, including famous Irish pubs like the Black Rose, Four Green Fields and Burren Pub, and classic hotel bars like the Last Hurrah at the Omni Parker House, Cuff's at Back Bay Hotel, and Tamos at Seaport Boston Hotel.

For a list of cultural activities taking place in Boston over the weekend, including museums, concerts, exhibits and theater, visit IrishBoston.org.

For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

ArtsEmerson Showing Film Classic, Singin in the Rain, Starring Gene Kelly, on January 20-21

2012-01-18T08:44:00.000-05:00

ArtsEmerson in Boston is showcasing one of America's classic films, Singin in the Rain, starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, at the Paramount Theatre on Washington Street on Friday, January 20 at 8:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 22, 2012.

Tickets are $10 general admission, $7.50 for members and seniors and $5 for students. You can purchase tickets online.

First released in 1952, Singin in the Rain is considered one of the greatest Hollywood musicals ever made, and showcased the athletic and graceful footwork of Kelly.

The screening is part of ArtsEmerson's film series, Gotta Dance: The American Movie Musical 1929-1953. For a schedule of upcoming films in this series, click here.

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

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Newspapers from Ireland available at The Butcher Shop Market in Boston

2012-01-17T08:02:00.002-05:00

The Butcher Shop Market in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood is now carrying Irish newspapers from around the 32 counties.

Owner Alan Gibson says that he gets customers from all parts of Ireland into his shop, and many of them are looking for newspapers from home they can read each week. New issues of the papers will arrive each Saturday.

The shop is located at 782 Adams Street in Adams Village, Dorchester, a popular destination for Irish emigrants and Americans who like authentic Irish meats and imported products. For a list of products, click here.

The Butcher Shop Market also has a dining area in the back, Mrs. Murphy's Kitchen, which serves Irish breakfast and other meals throughout the day.

For more information call 617 288-5100. For directions click here.

You can follow Butcher Shop Market on Facebook to find daily specials and other news about other Irish products.

For year round details on Boston's Irish community, visit IrishBoston.org.

For visitor information contact MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

ArtsEmerson Presents Sugar, by Robbie McCauley, January 20-29

2012-01-17T07:20:00.003-05:00

ArtsEmerson is presenting Sugar, by Robbie McCauley at the Paramount Theatre in Boston from January 20-29, 2012.

Written and performed by McCauley, a professor of Performing Arts at Emerson College, Sugar is a vivid portrayal of McCauley's life and her battle with diabetes. Maureen Shea is the Director, and original music is by Chauncey Moore.

For a schedule of upcoming events presented by ArtsEmerson, click here.

For year round cultural activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

JFK Library presents forum - Discussing Obama's Presidency - on Sunday, January 15

2012-01-13T11:47:00.000-05:00

The John F. KennedyPresident Library in Bostonis hosting a forum entitled, Assessing Obama's Presidency, to take place onSunday, January 15, 2012 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Participants include JonathanAlter, author of The Promise: President Obama, Year One, and Hendrik Hertzberg, columnist forThe New Yorker, analyze the Obama presidency as the 2012 presidential racebegins. Moderator is former Boston Globe Editorial Page Editor Renee Loth.

For a list of upcoming public forums at JFK Library, click here.

For year round information on cultural activities, lectures,theatre, festivals and special events in Massachusetts,visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Irish, Scottish, and Maritime songs at Blackstone River Theatre on Friday, January 13

2012-01-11T10:26:00.001-05:00

Dan Milner

The Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI is hosting a trio of musicians performing Irish, Scottish, and Maritime songs, on Friday, January 13, 2012, at 8:00 p.m.

The musicians include Irish singer Robbie O'Connell, Scottish singer Ed Miller and Maritime folk singer Dan Milner. Tickets to the event are $15.00 at the door.

For a full schedule of musical events at Blackstone River Theatre this winter, click here.

For year round details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For information about visiting Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com.

Boston's Famed Chef Barbara Lynch is Profiled in New York Times

2012-01-05T23:12:00.002-05:00

Master chef Barbara Lynch of South Boston was profiled this week in the New York Times. To read the story click here.

Lynch started her cooking career at the local church rectory and moved quickly up the ranks, moving to Italy to learn from culinary masters, then opened her first restaurant No 9 Park, in downtown Boston in 1998.

Today she runs a group of restaurants, cooking programs and shops that are spread across Boston's South End and South Boston. Her first cookbook, Stir: Mixing it up in the Italian Tradition, was published by Houghton Mifflin Publishers in 2009.

For year round news on cultural activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org.

Actress Michelle Williams to receive the Oscar Wilde Award on February 23 from US-Ireland Alliance

2012-01-05T09:13:00.000-05:00

Actress Michelle Williams is to receive an 'Honorary Irish" award at this year's Oscar Wilde: Honoring the Irish in Film awards ceremony on February 23, 2012 in Santa Monica, California.

Now in its seventh year, the Oscar Wilde event is organized by the US-Ireland Alliance, a non-profit organization based in Virginia that promotes strong ties between Ireland and the United States in the fields of education, politics, business and the arts.

Ms. Williams, who starts in the new film on Marilyn Monroe called My Week With Marilyn, is the first honorary Irishwoman honored by the Alliance, and follows in the footsteps of honorary Irishmen Paul Rudd, JJ Abrams and James L. Brooks.

Additional honorees for the Oscar Wilde awards will be announced in the coming weeks, according to Trina Vargo, founder and president of the Alliance.

Find more information about US-Ireland Alliance.

For ongoing Irish cultural activities, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

God of Carnage opens at Huntington Theatre Company in Boston on Friday, January 6

2012-01-04T11:26:00.000-05:00

Yasmina Reza

God of Carnage, a comedy of manners by by French playwright Yasmina Reza, opens at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston on Friday, January 6 and runs through Sunday, February 5, 2012. For ticket information click here.

The Tony Award-winning play involves two sets of parents meeting for the first time to settle a schoolyard dispute between their respective sons. The New York Times calls it "90 minutes of laughter that comes from the gut." For more details and press reviews, click here.

The Huntington Theatre Company is celebrating its 30th season as one of New England's premier professional theater companies. For a full schedule of upcoming plays in the 2012 season, click here.

For year round details on cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Boston Celtic Music Festival Taking Place on January 6-7 in Harvard Square

2012-01-02T17:48:00.001-05:00

The 9th annual Boston Celtic Music Fest takes place on Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7, 2012 at three music venues in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The grass-roots organization, founded and run by musicians, features Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and other Celtic and Celtic-inspired music in the Greater Boston area.

The music takes place at three venues: The Atrium, Club Passim, and the First Parish Church. For ticket information click here.

Among the performers in this year's Fest: the Boston Urban Ceilidh, Kimberly Fraser, Neil Pearlman, Hanneke Cassel, Flynn Cohen and Matt Heaton, and the Stoneybatter Band.

A special concert for children is slated at the First Parish Church on Saturday, January 7, featuring storyteller Joe Keane, Hannah Sanders and Liz Simmons, Bridget Fitzgerald and Shannon Heaton, and a hurdy gurdy workshop.

For a complete schedule of this year's Boston Celtic Music Festival, click here.

For more details on Irish and Celtic cultural events in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org.

Free Irish Dance Lessons Tonight at Hibernian Cultural Centre in Worcester

2012-01-02T14:03:00.003-05:00

The Hibernian Cultural Centre in Worcester, Massachusetts is giving free Irish dancing lessons on Monday, January 2, 2012 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

The lessons cover ceili dancing, set dancing and ballroom steps such as the foxtrot and waltz. The lessons are given every Monday night through May 2012, and is sponsored by the Worcester Hibernian Cultural Foundation.

For a schedule of upcoming events at the Hibernian Cultural Centre, click here. For directions, click here.

For year round Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Celebrate New Year's Eve at the Black Rose Pub in Boston

2011-12-27T16:53:00.000-05:00

The world-famous Black Rose Pub in Boston is offering a New Year's Eve Dinner on Saturday, December 31, 2011 from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. The $60 cost includes a three-course dinner, two drinks and a Guinness toast at midnight!

Plus. there is a full schedule of live Irish music starting in the afternoon at 4:00 p.m., and featuring Jim Coyle, Celtic Clan and Sunday's Well.

Owned and operated by the Glynn Hospitality Group, the Black Rose is celebrating its 35th anniversary as one of Boston's favorite watering holes.

For New Year's Eve celebrations at other pubs and restaurants, click here.

For year round Irish activities in greater Boston visit IrishBoston.org.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com.

Kennedy Library in Boston presents a free performance by the Catskills Puppet Theatre on Wednesday, December 28

2011-12-27T16:27:00.002-05:00

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston is presenting the Catskills Puppet Theatre's production of The Willow Girl on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Suitable for children five years old and up, the event is free and open to the public but reservations are required. Register online or call 617 514-1644.

The Willow Girl is about a young Chinese girl who immigrates to the American frontier, where she faces discrimination in a swirl of other immigrants and cultures. The performance features an animated giant willow tree and blends humor, mystery, drama, and magical effects.

For a schedule of other Celebrate! Events activities at the JFK Library, click here.

For cultural activities taking place year round in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Boston's Irish Music School Announces Online Registration for Winter/Spring Courses

2011-12-22T11:29:00.001-05:00

Boston's School of Traditional Irish Music, run by the group Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, is now taking online registration for the winter/spring 2012 classes.

Registration ends on Saturday, January 14, 2012, and classes run from Saturday, January 28 through April 28, 2012. For more information about the school, including class times, location and more, click here.

Weekly classes are offered Saturdays during the term in Fiddle, Flute, Whistle, Anglo Concertina, Button Accordion, Uilleann Pipes, Harp, Guitar, Tenor Banjo, Mandolin, Singing and Bodhrán.

Instructors in the school include some of the region's best traditional musicians, including fiddler Tina Lech, flutist Shannon Heaton and guitarist Matt Heaton, button accordionist Mike Reynolds, and bodhran and bones player Steve Brown. See a full list of faculty.

For a recent story about the 60th anniversary Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, click here.

For year round details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com.

Prodigals Performing at Four Green Fields in Boston on New Year's Eve

2011-12-20T12:49:00.003-05:00

The Prodigals are ringing in the New Year in Boston this year at the Four Green Fields Pub in Downtown Boston. The show starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 and includes a champagne toast at midnight.

Four Green Fields is also offering a New Year's Eve special Prime Rib Dinner, including salad, shrimp cocktail, prime rib, baked or mashed potato and desert for $49.95. The price includes reserved seating for the show. For reservations call 617 367-IRISH.

You can also follow Four Green Fields on Facebook.

For year-round Irish activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org.

50 Winter Adventures in Massachusetts under $50

2011-12-20T11:17:00.001-05:00

The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism has issued a list of 50 winter adventures under $50 for couples or a family of four. With twelve ski resorts and hundreds of skating ponds, ice skating rinks and cross-country trails, plus museums, shopping outlets, and holiday events, Massachusetts is the place to be this winter.

For a full schedule of winter events in Massachusetts this winter, click here.

For information about year round visits to Massachusetts, visit MassVacation.com.

Last Minute Shopping: Wexford House Irish Gift Shop near Worcester

2011-12-20T10:45:00.004-05:00

Jewelry by Celtic Artist Keith Jack

Wexford House Irish Imports

Hibernians Christmas Party at Fiddler's Green in Worcester on December 17

2011-12-17T08:13:00.001-05:00

The Worcester Hibernian Cultural Center is holding its annual Potluck Christmas Party on Saturday, December 17, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. It is sponsored by the AOH/ Ladies AOH.

The event is free but guests are encouraged to bring their favorite dish or desert.

Entertainment features Irish singer Terry Brennan in the Center as well as Karoke with Outrageous Greg in Fiddler's Green Pub.

For a schedule of upcoming activities at the Cultural Center/ Fiddler's Green, click here.

For year round Irish activities in Massachusetts and the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Charles Dickens Performance at the Omni Parker House on Sunday afternoon, December 18

2011-12-17T07:13:00.000-05:00

The historic Omni Parker House in downtown Boston hosts a dramatic performance of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol on Sunday, December 18, 2011 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Actor Al LePage brings this classic tale to life in the very hotel where Dickens himself first read his story in America. He plays 26 different characters, including Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim.

Tickets to the show are $18.67 and can be purchased online.

Opened in 1855, the Omni Park House is America's oldest continuously operating hotel. It's located at 60 School Street, at the corner of Tremont Street, in historic downtown Boston.

For more cultural activities in greater Boston this holiday season, visit IrishBoston/ChristmasMusic.

Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown Introduces Irish Immigration Fairness Bill in Congress

2011-12-16T15:42:00.000-05:00

US Senators Scott Brown (R-MA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) have introduced the Irish Immigration Reform and Encouragement (IRE) Act of 2011, which adds the Republic of Ireland to the E-3 visa program, providing 10,500 employment visas that have no limit on the number of renewals allowed.

“Legal immigration is the foundation of America, and we must continue to find ways to improve our visa and green card programs, especially when it comes to the treatment of our strongest allies and closest friends,” said Senator Brown.

For more about the Irish community in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Irish Harpist Aine Minogue and Fiddler Brendan Bulger Performing in Concert on December 17

2011-12-15T13:10:00.002-05:00

Irish harpist, singer and composer Aine Minogue and All-Ireland fiddle champion Brendan Bulger are performing a concert entitled "To Warm the Winter's Night" on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at the Common Fence Point Community Hall in Portsmouth, RI, at 8:00 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 p.m.).

Tickets to the concert are $20 in advance and can be purchased online, or $23 the day of the show at the hall.

The concert is part of Common Fence Music's "Picnic Series," where the audience is encouraged to bring a picnic basket of food to the concert; there are also home made soups, deserts and beverages for sale from the kitchen. For directions to the hall click here.

For other Irish concerts in Massachusetts and the New England states this Christmas season visit IrishMassachusetts.com

Elegant Irish Cooking, the ultimate Irish cookbook by the late master chef, Noel Cullen

2011-12-14T15:49:00.001-05:00

Ten years after it was first published in 2001, Elegant Irish Cooking by the late Noel Cullen is still a classic cookbook on traditional and contemporary Irish cuisine.

Considered one of Ireland's great master chefs, Chef Cullen was a faculty member at Boston University School of Hospitality for over a decade, and a beloved teacher at the school. He passed away after a brief illness in 2002.

Cullen was a president of the American Culinary Federation and in 2010 was posthumously inducted into the ACF Hall of Fame.

Read an informative article of Chef Cullen's cookbook, in BU Today, March 2001 issue.

The Boston Irish Tourism Association has a limited quality of Chef Cullen's now-out-of-print book. You can order a copy of the Elegant Irish Cooking from BITA's website. Cost is $35 and includes postage and handling costs. The book contains 166 recipes as well as a fascinating history of food in Ireland dating back hundreds of years.

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

Governor Deval Patrick Honors Civil War Irish Regiment in Massachusetts

2011-12-12T16:51:00.002-05:00

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has issued an official order proclaiming December 13, 2011 as 28th Massachusetts Irish Volunteers Day, in honor of the all-Irish volunteer who enlisted in the American Civil War and mustered into service on December 13, 1861.

"Roughly one-quarter of the 1,746 men who served in the 28th Massachusetts unit were killed, died orf wounds or disease, were taken prison or reported missing," the proclamation notes.

In 1984, a group of Civil War enthusiasts and Irish-Americans formed a re-enactors group for the 28th Massachusetts Regiment, and have kept the story of the famous regiment alive through education and public events. To find out more about the re-enactors group, click here.

The other Irish volunteer group from Massachusetts was the 9th Irish Regiment, commanded by Colonel Thomas Cass.

For more about Irish heritage in Massachusetts, visit IrishHeritageTrail.com. For cultural events visit IrishMassachusetts.com. For Civil War resources and commemorative events in Massachusetts, click here.

For tourist information in Massachusetts visit MassVacation.com.

Shopping in Cambridge: Check out Irish Imports on Mass Ave

2011-12-11T11:49:00.001-05:00

The Irish Import Shop in Cambridge, Massachusetts has a great selection of high quality gifts from Ireland at its shop, located at 1737 Massachusetts Avenue, located between Harvard Square and Porter Square.

The imports come from renowned crafts persons and artisans at Kerry Woolen Mills, Studio Donegal and Kennedys of Ardara. Started by owner Virginia Greenblat in 1973, Irish Imports has a sterling tradition of bringing authentic Irish products to New England.

Irish Imports Ltd. Corporation

1737 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138
617 354-2511 | Phone orders: (800) 356-2511

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

Christmas Celtic Sojourn concert at Music Hall in Portsmouth NH on Saturday, December 10

2011-12-10T14:34:00.001-05:00

The popular holiday show, Christmas Celtic Sojourn, is appearing at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH on Saturday, December 10, 2011 for two shows at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the concert are $32-$42 and can be ordered online, by phone or at the theatre.

Hosted by Brian O'Donovan, whose show Celtic Sojourn airs each week on WGBH in Boston, this year's show features musical guests like Ruth Moody, the Canadian singer who is a regular on Garrison Keller's Prairie Home Companion; Hannake Cassel and her extraordinary band Halali; folk singer Len Graham from Derry, Northern Ireland; Simon Chrisman, hammer dulcimer virtuoso, and uillleann piper Kieran O'Hare.

For details about visiting New Hampshire, including travel, hotels, and restaurants, visit New Hampshire Travel & Tourism.

For a full schedule of performances this month for Christmas Celtic Sojourn, click here.

For more Christmas and Celtic music in New England in December click here.

For year round details on Irish events, pubs and restaurants, cultural groups, gift shops, hotels and visitor spots around Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For visitor information on Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com.

Boston Tourism Group Wins Hospitality Award from Irish Echo Newspaper

2011-12-09T13:46:00.001-05:00

The Boston Irish Tourism Association, which promotes cultural tourism in Massachusetts,has been named to the “Irish Hospitality Top 50” list by the Irish Echo Newspaperin New York Cityfor the second straight year. The awards were announced in the December 7-13,2011 issue of the weekly paper.

BITA foundersMichael and Colette Quinlin were cited by the Echo for connecting grassroots culturalgroups and small businesses to the state’s convention and visitors industry,which attracts over 27 million tourists to Massachusetts each year. They were praised for strengthening tourismindustry ties between Irelandand the New England region.

TheIrish Hospitality Top 50 awards are sponsored by Tourism Ireland, Ireland’sofficial tourism agency which markets the entire island of Irelandin the North American market.

OtherMassachusetts winners of this year’s award include Colin Breen, owner of theFour Green Fields Pub & Restaurant, which opened in downtown Boston inFebruary, 2011; Brendan O’Connor, owner of O’Connor’s Restaurant & Bar inWorcester; and Ginny and Craig Conroy, owners of Saltwinds Bed & Breakfast and Guesthousein Hyannis, Cape Cod.

Founded in 2000,the Boston Irish Tourism Association is a membership group that has promotedthousands of Massachusettscultural events, concerts, theatre, literary readings, art exhibits, festivalsand parades to residents and visitors alike. BITA issues a free magazine, Travel& Culture Guide three times a year, operates six web sites and issuesdaily blogs and tweets about cultural activities, hotel specials and travelpackages. It has also created the Boston Irish Heritage Trail, a walkingtour of 20 landmarks that tell the Boston Irish story, and published a booklet,Finding Your Irish Roots in Massachusetts.

For moreinformation, visit IrishMassachusetts.com, call 617 696 9880 or follow BITA onTwitter.

Christmas Shopping for Irish Gifts in Massachusetts

2011-12-08T21:26:00.001-05:00

Celtic Jewelry by Keith Jack

If you're looking for authentic Irish gifts this Christmas - from jewelry and clothing to crystal and food products - here are four excellent shops recommended by the Boston Irish Tourism Association:

Irish Imports Ltd. Corporation

1737 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138
617 354-2511 | Phone orders: (800) 356-2511
Since 1973, owner Virginia Greenblat has carried the very best products from Ireland, including Kerry Woolen Mills, Studio Donegal and Kennedys of Ardara.

The Butcher Shop Market

782 Adams Street, Adams Village, Dorchester, MA 02124
617-288-5100 | fax: 617 288-5101
Top quality meats, homemade sauces, Irish products and superior customer service make this a popular place for Irish immigrants and Irish-Americans. Owner Alan Gibson is from Sligo.

Waterford Wedgwood Company Store

Wrentham Village Premium Outlets

1 Premium Outlet Blvd (Cross Street: I-495)
Wrentham, MA 02093 | (508) 384-7503 | 1-888-200-6480
In 1783 two brothers from Waterford vowed to "create the finest quality crystal for drinking vessels and objects of beauty for the home." Their legacy remains intact today.

Wexford House Irish Imports

9 Crescent Street, West Boylston, (Worcester) MA 01583
1 800 807 6677 | 508 835-6677
Owner Kathryn Trow has amassed an exquisite inventory of Irish clothing, pottery, china and crystal and jewelry by famed artists like Keith Jack and others.

For more details on these an other gifts shops, visit BITA Gift Shops page.

For year round cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Christmas in Quebec City - Holiday Travel Ideas

2011-12-06T17:33:00.001-05:00

Winter is magical in Québec City, a wonderland where, snow, fun and a festive atmosphere are guaranteed!

In Old Québec and across the region, local residents and visitors attend joyous get-togethers with family and friends. Many parts of the city are strung with lights and decorations from early December to the middle of January. You can visit seasonal exhibits, take in a Christmas concert or two and bring the children to family-oriented activities.

See a list of holiday concerts in Quebec City this season, and a full list of holiday activities.

You can find full details about visiting Quebec City and the region, including hotels, travel packages, shopping offers and more, by contacting Quebec City Tourism.

Ireland has great off-season deals this winter

2011-12-06T17:15:00.001-05:00

Royal Irish Academy of Music

Check out these travel ideas for visiting Ireland in the off-season this winter and spring. There are plenty of great holiday events, concerts and scenic tours from December 2011 through April 2012, including classical concerts, traditional music gatherings, a tango festival, and commemorations on the 100th anniversary of the Titanic.

You can also visit two American-based companies that have some exciting travel packages to Ireland in 2012: Inroads Ireland and Isle Inn Tours.

For complete details on traveling to Ireland visit DiscoverIreland.com.

For details on Boston's Irish community, visit IrishBoston.org

A Christmas Celtic Sojourn kicks off at Hanover Theatre in Worcester on December 9

2011-12-06T14:09:00.001-05:00

A Christmas Celtic Sojourn kicks off its 2011 season at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2011 at Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester. Tickets to the concert are available online.

Now in its 9th year, the show brings together a stellar cast of Irish and Celtic musicians, singers, dancers, poets and storytellers to recreate a traditional Christmas in Ireland. The show is hosted by Brian O'Donovan, whose weekly show, Celtic Sojourn, runs on 89.7 WGBH.

For a complete list of concert venues where A Christmas Celtic Sojourn is playing in December click here.

For a list of similar holiday concerts taking place this Christmas in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Boston Pops opens its Holiday Season on Wednesday, December 7

2011-12-04T16:21:00.001-05:00

The 2011 season of the Boston Holiday Pops opens on Wednesday, December 7, at 8:00 p.m. at Boston Symphony Hall. Tickets can be purchased online.

Guest conductor Peter Fiedler will conduce Sleigh Ride and children's author and illustrator Jan Brett will narrate Twas the Night Before Christmas.

For a full schedule of Holiday Pops performances, from December 7-24, click here.

For more holiday performances throughout Massachusetts and New England, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Win Tix to See the Canadian Tenors Performing at Wilbur Theatre in Boston on Monday, December 5

2011-12-01T13:23:00.001-05:00

The Canadian Tenors are performing at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston on Monday, December 5, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. and the Boston Irish Tourism Association is offering a pair to tickets to the show.

To enter to win, visit BITA's Contest Page and follow the instructions.

You can also purchase tickets online.

Hailed as one of the great new musical groups coming out of Canada, the Tenors consists of four extraordinary vocalists who have all had successful solo careers. They'll be performing songs from their new holiday CD, The Perfect Gift, . including their hit song Hallelujah .

For a schedule of concerts coming up at the Wilbur Theatre, click here.

Find more Irish cultural activities and concerts by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com.

A Classic Irish Christmas with Andy Cooney is coming to Mechanics Hall in Worcester on December 15

2011-11-29T14:20:00.001-05:00

A Classic Irish Christmas starring Andy Cooney and a cast of great performers is taking place at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $25 - $32.50 and can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 508 752-0888.

Considered one of the world's great acoustic concert halls, Mechanics Hall is the perfect venue to enjoy the warmth and traditional culture of Ireland.

For a schedule of upcoming performances at Mechanics Hall this winter, click here.

To find out more about the Irish-American community in Central Massachusetts, visit the Worcester Hibernian Cultural Centre.

For year round details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Irish Stepdancing with a Brazilian Flair

2011-11-28T17:51:00.001-05:00

Photo by Vic Dvorak

Irish stepdancer and concertina player Caitlin nic Gabhann wooed the audience at last year's Christmas Celtic Sojourn by dancing to the Brazilian classic Tico Tico.

Here's the video:

The Boston Irish Tourism Association is raffling off some free tickets to see this year's show. To enter to win, go to BITA Contest Page and follow the instructions.

Or visit WGBH web site for details of this year's line-up and directions for purchasing tickets.

For year round information on cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

One Day Sales Event for ArtsEmerson's 2012 Season: Today Only!

2011-11-28T09:40:00.001-05:00

Boston's ArtsEmerson is holding a one-day sale for its 2012 theatre season , with tickets available for the extraordinary price of $25. The sale takes place on Monday, November 28, 2011 and is applicable for six plays coming to Boston between January-April 2012.

Click here for more details.

Launched in 2010, ArtsEmerson brings to Boston a series of world class theatre, films, and lectures throughout the year. More about ArtsEmerson.

For year round details on cultural activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Holiday Concerts in Massachusetts - From Boston Pops to Celtic Music

2011-11-25T16:45:00.001-05:00

The Boston Irish Tourism Association has compiled a selection of great holiday music coming up in December - ranging from the Boston Pops' annual holiday shows to a variety of Irish and Celtic performances.

To view the schedule click here.

For year round information on Irish and other popular cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com

Boston's Black Rose Pub rolls back price of Guinness to 1976 prices to celebrate 35th anniversary

2011-11-25T11:47:00.001-05:00

To celebrate its 35th birthday, the Black Rose Pub in Boston is rolling back the price of a pint of Guinness to $2.50 - which is what it charged when the Rose first opened its doors in 1976. The special offer lasts the week of November 27, 2011.

The normal price of a pint today is $6.75.

“Our patrons can feel like it is 1976 again and in this economic time, it’s a really great deal. I am honored to raise a pint in celebration with our loyal patrons. Slainte!“ said Paul Wilson, Operations Manager at The Glynn Hospitality Group.

Considered one of the great Irish pubs in America, the Black Rose has live Irish music seven nights a week. It has served over three million pints of Guinness, 300,000 fish and chips, and 250,000 bowls of Irish beef stew in the past 35 years.

To read about the history of the Black Rose, click here.

For year round information on Irish cultural activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org.

Four Celtic Voices in Concert at Rogers Center for the Arts at Merrimack College on December 2

2011-11-23T13:34:00.001-05:00

Four Celtic Voices, an exciting new ensemble of virtuoso musicians, performs at the Rogers Center for the Arts at Merrimack College in North Andover on Friday, December 2, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online.

An all-women group, consisting of Celeste Ray, Erin Hill, Carol Crittenden and Maria Johnson, Four Celtic Voices released its debut CD on March 17, 2009 on QVC television and have since performed in concert halls around the country.

For a schedule of upcoming events at the Rogers Center for the Arts, click here.

For more Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Homecoming Concert at Blackstone River Theatre on November 26 Features Top Irish, Celtic and Folk Performers

2011-11-23T12:48:00.001-05:00

Sheila Falls

The Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI is hosting a homecoming concert featuring some of the best traditional musicians in the region on Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.

Performers include Atwater-Donnelly, Blue Around the Edges, Sheila Falls, The Miller Family from Smithfield, RI, Robbie O'Connell, Torrin Ryan, and Pendragon.

Tickets to the event are $20 and help support the year round programming of the Blackstone River Theatre.

For a schedule of upcoming concerts at Blackstone River Theatre this winter, click here.

For year round Irish and Celtic cultural activities throughout Massachusetts and the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

John F. Kennedy National Historic Site in Brookline Open on Tuesday, November 22 to Mark the Death of President Kennedy

2011-11-22T08:55:00.001-05:00

The John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site is open to the public on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 in recognition of President John F. Kennedy and the 48th anniversary of his assassination. Located at 83 Beale Street in Brookline, the site is the birthplace of President Kennedy, and the place where he spent his childhood.

The site is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and admission is free. National Park Rangers are holding a brief memorial ceremony outside the house at 1:00 p.m. and guided tours are offered throughout the day.

The JFK National Historic Site also offers a free audio tour of the facility. To access the audio tour dial 617-992-9172, then click mobile phone. For directions to the site, click here.

Also in Boston, visit the JFK Library & Museum in Dorchester.

For more about Boston's Irish history, visit IrishHeritageTrail.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Mayor Richard Daley is Visiting Fellow at Harvard's Institute of Politics

2011-11-21T17:24:00.001-05:00

Richard Daley, mayor of Chicago from 1989 to 2011, has been invited as a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, the week of November 28, 2011.

"We are excited to welcome Mayor Daley to Harvard," said Trey Grayson, Director of Harvard's Institute of Politics. "His extensive management experience running a major U.S. city will be invaluable to students and to the dozens of new city leaders attending the Institute's Newly Elected Mayors Conference."

For more information about the Institute of Politics at Harvard University, click here.

To find out about Irish cultural activities year round in the Boston area, visit IrishBoston.org.

Caroline Kennedy Presents New Frontier Awards to Mayor of Pittsburgh and Founder of Unite for Sight

2011-11-21T16:42:00.001-05:00

Caroline Kennedy, President of the JFK Library Foundation, is presenting the 8th annual New Frontier Awards to Luke Ravenstahl, Mayor of Pittsburgh, and Jennifer Staple-Clark, Founder and Chief Executive of Unite for Sight.

The awards are being presented on Monday, November 21, 2011 during a ceremony at the Institute of Politics at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. You can watch a Live Web Cast of the ceremony starting at 6:00 p.m.

Kennedy called Ravenstahl and Staple-Clark,“ inspiring public servants who exemplify my father’s belief that every person can make a difference."

To read more about the event, and for biographies of Mayor Ravenstahl and Jennifer Staple-Clark, click here.

For more information on the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, visit JFKLibrary.org.

For year round cultural activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org.

US-Ireland Alliance Announces Winners of the George J. Mitchell Scholarship

2011-11-21T10:57:00.001-05:00

The US-Ireland Alliance has announced the George J. Mitchell Scholars for the class of 2012-13. The twelve recipients, who were selected out of a field of over 300 applicants, will embark on a one-year post-graduate course of study in their respective disciplines in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The scholarship was formed in 2001 by Trina Vargo, founder of the US-Ireland Alliance, in honor of Senator George J. Mitchell's role in the Northern Ireland peace talks. It is designed to connect future American leaders to the island of Ireland. For more about the George J. Mitchell Scholarship, click here.

For information on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England region. visit IrishBoston.org.

Historian David McCullough Honored at American Ireland Fund Gala in Boston

2011-11-21T09:52:00.001-05:00

Steve Greeley, David McCullough and Jim Boyle

Historian David McCullough was honored by the American Ireland Fund at its 30th annual Boston Gala at the Westin Hotel on Thursday, November 17, 2011.

"McCullough addressed the capacity crowd and was feted with a resounding standing ovation," said Steve Greeley, Executive Director of AIF, who added that 1,100 guests attended the gala and raised over $2.3 million to support the American Ireland Fund.

The 2011 Gala was chaired by James R. Boyle, President of John Hancock Financial Services and Peter Eastwood, President and CEO of Chartis U.S. served as Vice Chairman.

Earlier this year, McCullough was given the John F. Kennedy National Award by the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade committee.

The mission of The American Ireland Fund is to be the largest worldwide network of people of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland dedicated to raising funds to support programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development throughout the island of Ireland.

For more information on the American Ireland Fund, click here.

For year-round cultural activities, hotel packages, gift shops and Irishpubs in Massachusetts, visit www.IrishMassachusetts.com.

For details on vacationing in Massachusetts, contact the MassachusettsOffice of Travel & Tourism at www.massvacation.com and www.Bostonusa.com.

Dropkick Murphys win Artist of the Year Award in Boston

2011-11-21T07:01:00.001-05:00

Dropkick Murphys, the Boston-based Punk-Irish band, won the Artist of the Year prize at the annual Boston Music Awards ceremony held at the Liberty Hotel on Sunday, November 20, 2011. The Murphys also scooped the Best Live Artist of the Year award.

The Boston Herald has a for a full list of winners in all of the categories.

For year round Irish concerts and cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com.

Celtic Harpist Patrick Ball performing at Blackstone River Theatre on November 19

2011-11-18T16:29:00.001-05:00

Famed Celtic harpist and noted storyteller Patrick Ball is performing in concert at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $13 in advance and $15 the day of the show. For information call (401) 725-9272.

Born in California, Ball has emerged as one of the world's leading Celtic harpists, having produced nine musical CDs and three spoken-word albums.

For a full schedule of upcoming events at Blackstone River Theatre, click here.

For year round Irish and Celtic activities in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Live Jazz in Massachusetts on Friday, November 18 in Concert Halls, Jazz Clubs, Colleges and Restaurants

2011-11-18T08:25:00.001-05:00

Brian Evans

There's great live jazz, blues and world music taking place all across Massachusetts on Friday, November 18, 2011. Here is just a sampling from MassJazz:

Cambridge

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Celebrity Series of Boston
Sanders Theatre

Black Sea Salsa Band
Ryles Jazz Club
212 Hampshire Street
Inman Square, Cambridge

John Scofield Quartet
Regattabar Jazz Club
Charles Hotel
Harvard Square

MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble:

The Art of Transformation

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Kresge Auditorium

Boston

Spyro Gyro

Scullers Jazz Club

Doubletree Suite @ Hilton

400 Soldiers Field Road, Allston

Tato Torres and Yerbabuena

Villa Victoria Centerfor the Arts

85 W. Newton Street

South End

Vinx, with special guests Flynn and Emily Musolino

Café 939

939 Boylston Street

Back Bay

Metro Boston/Central Mass

Shemekia Copeland

Bull Run Restaurant

Route 2A, Shirley

Hannah Rose and Harvey Diamond Jazz Quartet

Concord’sColonial Inn

48 Monument Square, Concord

CaliforniaGuitar Trio and

MontrealGuitar Trio

Center for the Arts in Natick

14 Summer Street, Natick

Western Mass

Seth Glier and Liz Longley

Iron Horse Music Hall

20 Center Street, Northampton

North of Boston

Rockport Music Presents
Brian Evans
Shalin Liu Performance Center
37 Main Street, Rockport

Cape Cod

Mark Booth, jazz guitar

Ardeo Restaurant

644 Main Street

Hyannis

Bittersweet Live

Cape Codder Grand Cru Wine Bar

Route 28

Hyannis

Latin and Salsa Dance Night

Cultural Center of Cape Cod

307 Old Main Street

South Yarmouth

For year round jazz in Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com.

Fighting Irish: Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly Facing Boston College

2011-11-17T10:38:00.001-05:00

Brian Kelly, head coach of the University of Notre Dame Irish football team, is taking on the Boston College Eagles at South Bend this weekend.

Kelly was born in Everett and grew up in Chelsea, a working class city bordering Boston.

After attending St. John's Prep School in Danvers, Kelly attended Assumption College in Worcester, where he played football and became a three-year defensive coordinator for the team upon graduating in 1983. He's been a football coach since then, working his way around the country and leading the University of Cincinnati football program to a 34-6 record from 2007-09. This is his second year as Notre Dame's coach.

Kelly has been described as "a winner everywhere he goes" in a profile published by the Worcester Telegram.

In an interview with ESPN reporter Mark Schlabach, Kelly described a painting hanging in his office entitled The Original Fighting Irish:

"You don't see faces. You see blue-collar. You see a bit of a swagger. You see toughness. Growing up as an Irish Catholic in Boston, that's what I remember Notre Dame being. That's been one of our goals every day - to get that fight back in the Fighting Irish. It's good because that's who I am anyway."

For Irish cultural activities taking place in the Boston area this weekend, visit IrishBoston.org.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com.

American Ireland Fund holds 30th Annual Gala in Boston on November 17

2011-11-15T18:14:00.001-05:00

The American Ireland Fund is holding its 30th annual Boston Gala at the Westin Hotel on Thursday, November 17, 2011. Cocktails begin at 6:30 p.m. with the dinner program starting on 8:00 p.m., followed by dancing.

The mission of The American Ireland Fund is to be the largest worldwide network of people of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland dedicated to raising funds to support programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development throughout the island of Ireland.

For more information on the American Ireland Fund, click here.

For year-round cultural activities, hotel packages, gift shops and Irishpubs in Massachusetts, visit www.IrishMassachusetts.com.

For details on vacationing in Massachusetts, contact the MassachusettsOffice of Travel & Tourism at www.massvacation.com and www.Bostonusa.com.

ArtsEmerson Presents Angel Reapers - play about the Shakers - on November 15-20

2011-11-15T17:55:00.001-05:00

Angel Reapers: A Shaker Musical opens today, November 15, in Boston and runs through November 20, 2011. The show, presented by ArtsEmerson, takes place at the Culter Majestic Theater in downtown Boston. Tickets are available online.

Angel Reapers is described as a lively song and dance piece, inspired bythe life of Ann Lee, founder of the Shaker movement. Mother Ann, as she came tobe known, was a visionary, mystic and powerful spiritual leader. Hercategorical denial of sexuality and determination to erase it from herself andher followers inspires the stunning, rhythmic and often hilarious choreographyin Angel Reapers.

For a full schedule of upcoming shows presented by ArtsEmerson, click here.

For year-round cultural activities, hotel packages, gift shops and Irishpubs in Massachusetts, visit www.IrishMassachusetts.com.

For details on vacationing in Massachusetts, contact the MassachusettsOffice of Travel & Tourism at www.massvacation.com and www.Bostonusa.com.

Boston tourism group releases new Travel & Culture Guide, with holiday concerts, hotels and pubs, and cultural activities through the winter

2011-11-14T13:54:00.001-05:00

(Boston)— The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) released its Travel &Culture Guide (fall/winter issue)of Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts. The 28-page color magazine details upcoming holiday concerts, dances andtheatre from November 2011 to March 2012 It lists selected Irish pubs,gift shops and cultural groups in the Bay State plus hotels and travel agenciesfor visitors from out-of-town.

The Guide is available for free at tourism centers across thestate and at museums, hotels and cultural venues. For location near you go to distribution centers.

“Visitors looking for the very best Irish and Celtic music canfind it right here in Massachusetts,”said BITA director Colette Quinlin.

The fall/winter 2011 Travel & Culture Guide includesstories on the new public art exhibit at Terminal E, Logan Airport and the ButcherShop Market in Adams Village, Dorchester, plus profiles of Mia Tavan, MarketingDirector at Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, and Paul Wilson,Operations Manager at the Glynn Hospitality Group and its flagship pub, theBlack Rose.

There is also a travel story on Irelandin the Off-Season with tips for traveling to Ireland this winter.

The Boston Irish Tourism Association was formed in 2000 topromote cultural tourism year round. It publishes three travel andculture guides each year, and has created an Irish Heritage Trail highlightingIrish landmarks in Bostonand around the state.

For further details on the festivals and concerts, as well asyear-round Irish and cultural activities, hotel packages, gift shops and Irishpubs, visit www.IrishMassachusetts.com.

For details on vacationing in Massachusetts, contact the MassachusettsOffice of Travel & Tourism at www.massvacation.com and www.Bostonusa.com.

More than 24% of residents in Massachusettsclaim Irish ancestry, making it the most Irish state in the United States,according to the US Census.

Boston Irish Tourism Association is a membership organization that represents dozens of grass roots cultural groups, pubs and gift shops, as well as hotel, tourism agencies, museums and concert venues. To find out more about joining BITA, click here.

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BITA ONLINE

IrishMassachusetts.com

IrishHeritageTrail.com

Boston.com/famine

PSGilmore-Society.org

IrishMassachusetts.blogspot.com

IrishBoston.blogspot.com

Twitter:@TheBostonIrish

Novelist Stephen King appearing at JFK Library in Boston on Monday, November 7

2011-11-07T10:46:00.004-05:00

Writer Stephen King is appearing at the JFK Library in Boston on Monday, November 7, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss his new novel, 11/22/63. He'll discuss his long literary career with fellow writer Tom Perrotta.

You can view a live webcast of the conversation.

The event is part of the JFK Library's Forum, a series of lectures on a diverse array of political, historical and cultural topics. For a schedule of upcoming Forums at the JFK Library, click here.

For more about the Irish connections of the Kennedy Family, click here.

For year round cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Great Deals in Boston for Visitors!

2011-11-04T06:40:00.000-04:00

Searching for an affordable vacation where you can do all the things you want at a reasonable price?

You can get great deals in Boston on hotels, museums, cultural activities, tours around Boston and family friendly activities, thanks to the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau.

ArtsEmerson Presents One-Man Show on Moby Dick

2011-11-03T06:40:00.001-04:00

ArtsEmerson is presenting an engaging one-man show by Irish actor Conor Lovett, from Ireland's famed theatre troupe, the Gare St. Lazare Players. The play holds audiences spellbound with this classic tale of a mythic sea monster, vengeful Captain Ahab, and the epic journey aboard the Pequod.

The performance runs from November 7 - 12, 2011 at the Paramount Theatre in Boston.

The music by Marin Lewis provides a poetic counterpoint to Ahab’s fanatical quest, based on the novel by Herman Melville, and adapted to stage by Conor Lovett & Judy Hegarty Lovett.

For a schedule of upcoming events by ArtsEmerson, click here.

For year round Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Frankie Gavin and DeDannan Perform at Burren Pub on November 11

2011-10-28T09:20:00.002-04:00

Irish Fiddler Frankie Gavin and DaDannan are peforming at the Burren Pub in Davis Square, Somerville, MA on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 7:30. Tickets are $28 in advance and can be purchased online.

The concert is part of the Backroom at the Burren series recently launched at one of the top traditional Irish music pubs in the world. The series is hosted by Brian O'Donovan, host of the popular radio show, Celtic Sojourn, heard on WGBH 89.7 FM.

For a full schedule of Irish concerts in the greater Boston area, visit IrishBoston.org.

Irish Echo Hosts 4th annual Golden Bridges Awards in Boston on November 10-11

2011-10-28T08:33:00.000-04:00

The Irish Echo Newspaper is hosting its 4th annual Golden Bridges Awards & Showcase at the Seaport Boston Hotel on November10-11, 2011. The awards spotlight Bostonians who are building businessalliances and academic partnerships between Bostonand Ireland,with an emphasis on the Northwest of Ireland.

Along with the awards luncheon is a series of stimulatingseminar discussions by key business leaders, public officials and communityrepresentatives about investing in Ireland.

Tickets to the seminars and luncheon are $140, or you canattend just the seminars for $50 or luncheon for $100. Discounts are alsoavailable to select Boston Irish organizations, and tables are available forpurchase.

For more information on tickets and to purchase online, click here.

Among the speakers at the Irish Echo Golden Bridges Awardsand Showcase:

Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Fein, in conversation withKevin Cullen, Boston Globe

MA State Senate President Therese Murray

MA State Representative Charles Murphy

MA State Representative Eugene O'Flaherty

For a full schedule and list of speakers, click here.

For year round details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New Englandstates, visit IrishBoston.org.

Win Tix to See Josh Groban live in Manchester and Providence

2011-10-27T16:20:00.004-04:00

As part of his North American tour, singer-songwriter sensation Josh Groban is coming to the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH on Tuesday, November 8, and the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, RI on Wednesday, November 9, with his Straight to You Tour, named for a song from his album Illuminations.

The Boston Irish Tourism Association, in association with LiveNation, is giving away a pair of tickets to each of these shows. The lucky winners will be notified and announced here on Friday, November 4, so be sure to check back then for the winning announcement! To enter the contest click here.

For a complete schedule of Josh Groban's tour, click here.

For more changes to win tickets to great concerts in New England, visit the BITA Contest Page.

For year round details on cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Logan International Airport Features Boston Irish Heritage Trail Murals in Terminal E

2011-10-25T17:38:00.002-04:00

The Boston Irish Heritage Trail is one of several iconic destinations featured at a new public art exhibit unveiled on October 18 at Logan International Airport in Boston.

The exhibit was created by staff at Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), the agency that runs Logan Airport. It is located in the Terminal E area where passengers from Aer Lingus and Southwest Airlines arrive to collect their luggage.

The Irish Heritage Trail was created by the Boston Irish Tourism Association as a way to showcase the history and heritage of the Boston Irish community dating back to the 18th century. It features 20 landmarks, from the Rose Kennedy Garden on the Waterfront to Fenway Park, which was built by Irish immigrant Charles E. Logue in 1912.

Other trails featured in the Terminal E exhibit include the Freedom Trail and the Black Heritage Trail.

Several cultural institutions are highlighted in the exhibit, including the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Boston Symphony Hall and Tanglewood, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of African American History and the Sports Museum.

Travel agencies in the exhibit include Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Cambridge Office of Tourism and Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

Logan Airport was named in honor of Edward L. Logan, a first generation Irish-American from South Boston whose family emigrated from Ballygar, County Galway. Logan was a celebrated military leader, civic leader and municipal judge during his illustrious life.

For more about the Irish Heritage Trail, contact irishmassachusetts@comcast.net or call 617 696 9880.

Irish Honors Awards Taking Place at Seaport Boston Hotel on October 20

2011-10-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

Joe Corcoran

The second annual Irish Honors Luncheon, sponsored by the Boston Irish Reporter, is taking place on Thursday, October 20, at Boston's Seaport Hotel.

The luncheon honors local Irish-American families, and this year's award recipients include the Corcoran, Hunt and Mulvoy families from Dorchester. Also being recognized this year: State Senator Thomas J. Kennedy of Brockton and former Boston Police Commissioner Kathleen O'Toole, according to Ed Forry, publisher of BIR and the Dorchester Reporter.

Master of Ceremonies is writer, actor and humorist Dick Flavin, who recently acted in the one-man show, According to Tip.

For year 'round information on Irish activities in Massachusetts and New England, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Irish Echo editor Ray O'Hanlon speaking at Boston Public Library in West Roxbury on Saturday, October 15

2011-10-12T09:57:00.003-04:00

Ray O'Hanlon, noted editor of the Irish Echo, and author of the acclaimed thriller, The South Lawn Plot, is speaking at the West Roxbury branch of the Boston Public Library on Saturday, October 15, 2011, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public, and sponsored by the Friends of the West Roxbury Branch Library. The Library is located at 1961 Centre Street in West Roxbury. For directions click here.

O'Hanlon's book, The South Lawn Plot, is published by Gemma Media, a Boston-based publisher that specializes in quality literature from Ireland and the United States.

For year round Irish activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org.

9th annual Christmas Celtic Sojourn - Tickets on sale!

2011-10-11T18:23:00.000-04:00

The wildly popular Christmas Celtic Sojourn concert, hosted by WGBH radio personality Brian O'Donovan, is back for its 9th season, and tickets are now on sale.

The concert evokes an old-fashioned Christmas in rural Ireland in days gone by, with plenty of music, dancing, singing, storytelling and poetry throughout the evening.

This year the concert has expanded to ten performances at five venues around New England, including:

Hanover Theatre, Worcester, MA
Friday, Dec. 9, 7:30pm
Get tickets >>

The Music Hall, Portsmouth, NH
Saturday, Dec. 10, 3pm and 8pm
Discounted tickets are only available via phone or in person:
603-436-2400; 28 Chestnut Street, Portsmouth, NH

Zeiterion Theatre, New Bedford, MA
Sunday, Dec. 11, 7pm
Discounted tickets are only available via phone or in person:
508-994-2900; 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA

Shalin Liu Performance Centre, Rockport, MA
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7:30pm
Discounted tickets are only available via phone or in person:
978-5467391; 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA

Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College
Friday, Dec. 16, 8pm
Saturday, Dec. 17, 3pm and 8pm
Sunday, Dec. 18, 1pm and 5pm
Get tickets >>

You can support WGBH by purchasing tickets to these concerts online.

For a complete list of Irish cultural events year round, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

JFK Library presents Forum on new biography of Ernest Hemingway on Wednesday, October 12

2011-10-10T10:13:00.003-04:00

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library is presenting author Paul Hendrickson to discuss his new biography of Ernest Hemingway on Wednesday, October12, 2011, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Tickets are free but you must register to attend.

The book, entitled Hemingway's Boat: Everything He Loved and Lost in Life, 1934- 1961, explores Hemingway's life as seen through his long relationship with his beloved boat, Pilar.

The JFK Library houses the Ernest Hemingway Collection, a collection of the writer's materials that were donated by Mary Hemingway,his wife.

This event is part of the Kennedy Library Forums that take place throughout the year to foster public discussion on historical, cultural and political topics. For a schedule of upcoming events, click here.

For other cultural activities taking place in Massachusetts throughout the year, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Cripple of Inishmaan at the Worchester Hibernian Center on October 14-15, 21-23

2011-10-07T15:45:00.002-04:00

Pilgrim Soul Productions is presenting the Cripple of Inishmaan by Irish playwright Martin McDonagh at the Worchester Hibernian Cultural Center on October 14-15, 21-23, 2011. The director is Aimee Kewley

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on October 14, 15, 21 and 22, with a Sunday matinee at 2:00 p.m. on October 23. Tickets are $15 each or $12 for groups of ten or more.

The Hibernian Cultural Center is run by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 36.

For more events coming up at the Center, click here.

For year round details on Irish cultural activities throughout Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Boston Pops Holiday Season Tickets on Sale

2011-10-07T15:14:00.004-04:00

Tickets for the 2011 Holiday Pops concerts by the famed Boston Pops Orchestra are on sale for this year's Holiday Pops season, which runs from Wednesday, December 7 through Saturday, December 24, 2001.

The concerts are being led by maestro Keith Lockhart, who invites a number of special guest conductors and performers throughout the season.

A total of 37 concerts are planned, including a number of weekend matinees for children and families. For a full schedule, click here.

The Boston Pops was initiated in 1900 by Henry Lee Higginson and since then has become one of the world's most endearing orchestras. For a history of Boston Pops, click here.

For year round cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Singer Andy Irvine at Four Green Fields in Boston on Thursday, October 6

2011-10-04T08:07:00.000-04:00

Legendary Irish singer Andy Irvine is performing at the Four Green Fields Pub & Restaurant in Boston on Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 9:00 p.m. The concert is $10 general admission.

Irvine has influenced Irish music throughout his 45 year career, performing with Sweeney's Men, Planxty, Patrick Street and other top Irish bands.

Four Green Fields opened in Boston in February 2011 and is located at One Boston Place, at the corner of School and State Street. Here is a full schedule of pub activities in October. You can follow Four Green Fields on Facebook.

Four Green Fields is near Boston City Hall and the Massachusetts State House, and a block from the Irish Famine Memorial on Boston's Irish Heritage Trail.

For year round information on Irish festivals, parades, concerts, sessions, pubs, gift shops and heritage sites, visit IrishBoston.org.

For tourist information, visit BostonUSA.com.

In Memory of Michael Cummings: Cherished Boston Irish Leader

2011-10-03T08:58:00.000-04:00

1924-2011

Michael J. Cummings of Milton, Massachusetts died on Saturday, October 1, 2011 after a decade long battle with Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was 87 years old.

His wake is taking place on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at the Al Thomas Funeral Home in Milton, between 4:00 -8:00 p.m. His funeral mass takes place on at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at St. Agatha's Church in Milton. For more details read Boston Globe obituary

In the fields of Irish sports, music and dance, culturalheritage and immigration reform, Cummings was a formidable leader in Boston’s Irish communityfor over sixty years.

Mike arrived in Boston in 1947from Ballygar, County Galway as a heraldedyoung football star. His talents as anathlete were immediately on display as he led the Galway Football Club in Boston to fiveconsecutive championships from 1948-1952. He was elected the youngest president of the Gaelic Athletic Association in New England, a group he continued tosupport through his life.

In the 1950s, Mike became active in Boston’sIrish cultural community, teaching set dancing classes at the IntercolonialHall in Dudley Square,Roxbury and at Harvard University. He joined and supported Irish cultural groupslike the Eire Society of Boston, Charitable Irish Society, Galway County Cluband many similar groups.

His leadership and knowledge were sought on manyfronts. In 1956 he helped the popular NCBtelevision series, Wide Wide World, film a documentary on Boston’s Irish community, where Mike himselfwas interviewed on both the fine points of football and set dancing.

In 1964, when the Kennedy family took steps to create apresidential library for John F. Kennedy, Mike helped form the Irish AmericanCommittee for the John F. Kennedy Memorial Fund, which allowed small donors to contributeand feel part of the JFK legacy.

Mike’s most lasting contribution to Irish heritage may behis extraordinary work over five decades on the life and music of Patrick S.Gilmore (1829-92), the great 19th century bandleader and composer who was bornin Mike’s town of Ballygar, Galway.

Gilmore’s name was nearly consigned to the footnotes ofhistory until Mike became interested. In1968, he formed the Patrick S. Gilmore Society, a musical appreciation groupthat organized annual band concerts on Boston City Hall Plaza and the CharlesRiver Esplanade, encouraging a new generation of musicians to rediscoverGilmore’s music.

Using original research he conducted over years at the Boston Public Library and through public records, Mike wrote numerous articles aboutGilmore’s life and lectured frequently at the Eire Society, Milton Historical Society, and local libraries. In1972 he helped archivists organize an exhibitat the Boston Public Library on Gilmore’s musical accomplishments, and gotIreland’s Tourist Board to unveil a plaque to Gilmore in Ballygar.

In 1992, to commemorate the centenary of Gilmore’s death,Mike led a fund raising drive to finally put a gravestone at Gilmore’s grave at Calvary Cemeteryin Queens, New York.

In 2004, Mike donated his extensive collection of Gilmoreresearch, music, lithographs and ephemera to the John J. Burns Library at Boston College. Mike’s dedication to Gilmore lasted until thefinal months of his life, as he continued to respond to inquires frommusicians, educators, doctoral students, genealogists and historians fromaround the world.

In a similar vein, Mike undertook considerable research onLawrence Logan, also a Ballygar native who lived in Boston and was an acclaimedmilitary leader, commanding the 26th Yankee Division during World War I. Boston’s Logan International Airport is named after Logan’s son Edward.

As an amateur historian, Mike’s curiosity extended beyondthe Irish: in 1976 he was Chairman of the Bi-Centennial Committee of Milton, Massachusetts.

Throughout his life, Mike was generous in offering hisleadership and talents to Irish causes. When illegal Irish immigration became a pressing issue in the 1980s,Mike and local Irish leaders formed the Massachusetts Immigration Committee,enlisting US Congressman Brian Donnelly to help amend America’s immigration laws.

In July 1986, Mike traveled with his longtime friend Thomas J. Flatley to Washington, DC, where Flatley testified in favor of theDonnelly Visa Bill, which passed and gave relief to nearly 20,000 Irishimmigrants. This activism in Boston led to the formation of Boston's two immigrant service centers: the Irish International Immigration Center and the Irish Pastoral Centre.

In the 1990s, Mike and Tom Flatley formed the Boston Irish Famine Memorial committee, which raised $1 million to build a Famine Memorial Parkin downtown Bostonto commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine. The park opened onJune 28, 1998, with 7,000 people attending. In addition to helping select thememorial location, Mike was one of the wordsmiths who crafted the narrative onthe eight plaques encircling the Memorial.

Tom Flatley wrote about his friend:

“Mike Cummings is a man of commitment to his God, hisfamily, his country and in particular his ‘old country.’ For close to half acentury, Mike has been my friend, my historian and a man who on numerousoccasions told me during moments of hesitation, ‘Tom, you can do it.’ After a few minutes with Mike, I would feelas if I could build the Empire State Building.”

Mike’s lifelong devotion to the Irish community provided himwith many awards and acclamations during his life. Among these awards:

The New England GAA honored him at its 1976 annual banquet,“for the tremendous contributions to the games and traditions of his nativeland.”

In 1999 the Famine Memorial Committee gave Mike a specialproclamation and ceremony for his great contribution to that project. And the Irish Cultural Centre and GAArecognized Mike at the ten year anniversary of the Centre.

In 2005 the Charitable Irish Society bestowed itsprestigious Silver Key Award to Mike “for his visionary leadership andgrassroots activism.”

Since 2000, Mike was a strong supporter of and adviser to the Boston Irish Tourism Association and the Boston Irish Heritage Trail.

Mike’s influence, leadership and contributions to Boston’s Irish community and to Ireland will remain intact for manyyears to come.

- Michael P. Quinlin

Irish Musicians Association (Comhaltas) Celebrates 60 Years

2011-09-30T09:31:00.000-04:00

"For sixty years, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann – Irish Musicians Association – has been spreading the gospel of traditional Irish music all over the world, setting up over 400 community-based branches, including 44 in North America.

Today many consider Comhaltas to be one of Ireland’s most successful cultural groups, having trained generations of Irish to study, perform, promote and preserve traditional Irish culture. Tens of thousands of youngsters have learned to play music on traditional instruments, while over two million people attend the sessions, concerts, festivals and workshops sponsored by Comhaltas annually."

Read the full article by Michael Quinlin in Irish America Magazine.

Madeleine Peyroux in Concert at Berklee Performance Center in Boston on Friday, October 7

2011-09-27T09:48:00.001-04:00

Jazz and roots singerMadeleine Peyroux is returning to Boston onFriday, October 7, 2011 for a 7:30 p.m. concert at the Berklee Performance Centerin the Back Bay.

You can purchase tickets here, or enter the MassJazz Contest to win a pair of tickets.

The singer/songwriter, who garnered acclaim for her richinterpretations of Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf, has a new album, Standing on the Rooftop, which includes eight original compositions andcovers of songs by Robert Johnson, Bob Dylan and the Beatles.

Directions to Berklee Performance Center located at 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston.

For year round jazz concerts, festivals, brunches, campus events and other jazz-related activities across Massachusetts, visit MassJazz.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com.

Canadian Singer Sean McCann Performs at Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury on October 6

2011-09-27T09:22:00.000-04:00

Séan McCann , a founding member of Great Big Sea, performing with his group, The Committed, at the Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury, Massachusetts on Thursday, October 6, 2011, at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $25 and can be purchased online.

Also, the Boston Irish Tourism Association is raffling off two pairs of tickets to this special show. If you want to enter the contest, visit the Contest Page.

McCann, a talented singer/songwriter from Newfoundland who excels on the guitar and bodhran, is joined on this tour by two veteran Canadian musicians: Kelly Russell on concertina, fiddle and tin whistle; and Craig Young on slide guitar, mandolin and background vocals.

For more upcoming concerts at the Blue Ocean Music Hall, click here.

For ongoing cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

A Brief History of the Irish Social Club in Boston

2011-09-24T12:43:00.000-04:00

Irish fiddler Larry Reynolds of Comhaltas

by Michael P. Quinlin

An all-day effort to raise funds for the Irish Social Club in Boston's West Roxbury neighborhood is taking place on Saturday, September 24, 2011, from noon to midnight. Admission is $10 and children under 12 are admitted free.

The event features dozens of top Irish bands from the New England region, including Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, the Harney School of Irish Dance, Dervi and more.

Brief History of the Club

Like the history of the Irish in Boston itself, the Irish Social Club has an illustrious story. The Club dates back to June 27, 1945, when it was first incorporated as a non-profit group by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It operated out of Hibernian Hall in Dudley Square, Roxbury, where the Club held Sunday afternoon ceili dances each week, created step dancing feisanna for children, and beginning in 1962, organized charter flights from Boston to Ireland for its members.

Founding members included Nora (O'Brien) Hart, the first president of the Irish Social Club, who died in 1946, and Mary Concannon, who was described as the 'heart and soul of the organization' until her death in 1975.

The early days of the Irish Social Club were vibrant, as returning GIs from World War II and a new generation of Irish immigrants vitalized the Boston Irish community. This was particularly true about Dudley Street in Roxbury where the Irish congregated, as recounted in the book, See you at the Hall.

A November 1945 story in the Irish World newspaper by columnist Eva Connor reported that over 500 people attended a recent Irish Social Club dance at Hibernian Hall. " A fine group of musicians furnished the music including Mrs. Nora McCarthy, Johnny Fitzgerald, James Concannon and Tom Senier," she wrote.

Later, when Hibernian Hall shut down in the 1960s (it was restored and reopened in 2005 as the Roxbury Center for the Arts), the Irish Social Club shifted its events to Metropolitan Hall in Jamaica Plain, and then moved to its own club house at 79 Stanton Street in Dorchester, where it stayed until 1975. Then between 1975-1980 the Irish Social Club met at the T. J. Roberts American Legion Post in West Roxbury, according to the Irish Social Club's literature.

On May 28, 1980, the Irish Social Club held its grand opening and formal dedication at its current home at 119 Park Street in West Roxbury. Speakers at the ceremony included Damien Boyle, vice-consulate of Ireland, Andrew J. Sheehan, president of the Irish Social Club, and Reverend James Harrold, S.M.A., Club Chaplain.

The program booklet at the dedication stated, "That this beautiful building was built without a mortgage, clearly indicates the magnitude and viability of the organization."

At the height of its popularity, the club boasted 15,000 members, some from as far away as Florida and California. But in recent years, due to aging membership, competition from other Irish venues, and the gradual assimilation of the Irish into American society, the club dwindled and was nearly dissolved in April 2011.

But then a new effort got underway to revive the Irish Social Club and restore it to its past standing as a popular gathering place for people interested in enjoying their Irish culture and heritage. You can follow the progress on the Irish Social Club Facebook.

For more about Boston's Irish history, visit IrishHeritageTrail.com. For ongoing information on Irish activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org.

(Author's Note: I am grateful to Jack Concannon of Braintree for sharing information on his mother, Mary Concannon and her work on behalf of the Irish Social Club.)

Copyright information.

Live Irish Music at Boston's Black Rose Pub on Saturday, September 24

2011-09-24T09:24:00.002-04:00

The Black Rose Pub in Boston has live Irish music this afternoon and evening - Saturday, September 24, 2011.

The action kicks off at 4:00 p.m. with Dublin singer Tom O'Carroll performing downstairs. Then at 9:30 p.m the Celtic Clan perform downstairs while the McTaggerts play in the upstairs room.

Now celebrating its 35th year, the Black Rose Pub has live Irish music seven days a week.The Rose opened at 160 State Street in Boston in 1976, when Richard Ford was US President and a few months before Faneuil Hall first opened. Since then it has gained a world-wide following, and offers live Irish music seven nights a week, a great menu and drinks selection, and a special ambiance that keeps people coming back. For a schedule of upcoming entertainment click here.

Today the Black Rose Pub is owned by Glynn Hospitality Group, a family-run business with roots in County Galway, which has eight dining and entertainment locations in Boston.

You can follow Black Rose Pub on Facebook, or visit the BlackRose web site.

For details on Irish activities in greater Boston and Massachusetts year round, visit IrishMassachusetts.com. For more on Boston's Irish Heritage visit IrishHeritageTrail.com.

Joe Derrane at Boston College on Thursday, September 22

2011-09-22T14:37:00.000-04:00

Boston accordion master Joe Derrane is the subject of a lecture by Earl Hitchner this evening at Gasson Hall, Boston College campus, on Thursday, September 22, 2011 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Afterwards, Derrane will play some tunes with mandolinist John McGann, professor of strings at Berklee College of Music, and Seamus Connolly, All-Ireland fiddle player and head of the Gaelic Roots Irish Music program at Boston College.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more details on Boston College's Gaelic Roots fall schedule, click here.

For year round information on Irish music, dancing, theatre, literary events, as well as Irish gift shops, pubs, cultural centers and more, visit IrishBoston.org.

Irish Singer Paul Brady Performs at Blackstone River Theatre on Thursday, September 22

2011-09-20T18:45:00.000-04:00

Legendary Irish singer and songwriter Paul Brady is performing at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI, on Thursday, September 22, 2011, at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the show. To reserve tickets call 401 725-9272.

Brady, from Strabane, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, has been a seminal figure in Irish music since the 1960s, melding Irish traditional music with folk, rock and jazz while maintaining a distinctly Irish sound. His songs have been recorded by various artists including Bonnie Raitt, Tina Turner, and Carlos Santana.

For a full schedule of great musical events this season at Blackstone River Theatre, click here.

For year round information on Irish music, dance, theater, culture and special events, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan Performing at the Rogers Center on Saturday, October 1

2011-09-19T15:38:00.002-04:00

Famed Irish tenor Ronan Tynan is performing at the Rogers Center at Merrimack College in North Andover on Satuday, October 1, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets to the concert are $35 ($32 for seniors) and can be reserved online.

Also, the Boston Irish Tourism Association is raffling off three pairs of tickets to lucky contestants who enter the contest. The winners will be announced on the site on Thursday, September 29.

Tynan is an inspirational figure and rare talent who has gained a loyal following of music lovers that crosses generations and musical genres. He has performed before presidents and prime ministers, and in opera houses and ballparks, including Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium.

The Rogers Center for the Arts is a magnificent, 600 seat concert venue with wonderful acoustics and a welcoming ambiance. For a complete schedule of upcoming events, click here.

For year round information on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For information about visiting Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com.

130 Pipe Bands Perform This Weekend at New Hampshire Highland Games on Loon Mountain

2011-09-17T10:44:00.003-04:00

One hundred and thirty bagpipe bands from across Canada and the United States are convening at the 36th annual New Hampshire Highland Games at Loon Mountain this weekend, September 16-18, 2011.

Many of the bands and individual pipers are competing in competitions taking place on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m on Sunday, with the Pipe Band awards and closing ceremonies taking place on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

For a complete schedule of this year's Highland Games, click here.

For tourist information, including hotels, restaurants, and sightseeing opportunities, visit New Hampshire Travel & Tourism.

For year round details on Irish and Celtic activities in Massachusetts and the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Shane Dunn Performs at Four Green Fields in Boston on Saturday, September 17

2011-09-17T10:24:00.001-04:00

Singer Shane Dunn is performing at the Four Green Fields Pub in Boston on Saturday, September 17, 2011, at 8:00 p.m., as part of the pub's Halfway to St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

Four Green Fields opened in Boston in February 2011 and is located at One Boston Place, at the corner of School and State Street. It's near Boston City Hall and the Massachusetts State House, and a block from the Irish Famine Memorial on Boston's Irish Heritage Trail.

You can follow Four Green Fields on Facebook.

For year round information on Irish festivals, parades, concerts, sessions, pubs, gift shops and heritage sites, visit IrishBoston.org.

For tourist information, visit BostonUSA.com.

New Hampshire Highland Games Taking Place at Loon Mountain on September 16-18

2011-09-12T12:30:00.002-04:00

The 36th annual New Hampshire Highland Games is taking place this weekend, on September 16-18, 2011 at Loon Mountain. The three-day event features a rich assortment of Scottish music, dancing, athletic competitions, and other cultural activities for people of all ages.

For a schedule of music and dance performances click here.

You can get full details on visiting New Hampshire, including hotel information, local restaurants, and other fun things to do, by visiting New Hampshire Travel & Tourism, or by calling (603) 271-2665.

Black Rose Pub Celebration Features Joshua Tree on September 17 in Boston

2011-09-12T12:14:00.000-04:00

Joshua Tree

The Black Rose Pub, Boston's most famous Irish pub, is celebrating halfway to St. Patrick's Day n Saturday, September 17, 2011, featuring Joshua Tree, the premier tribute band to U2, who perform starting at 9:30 p.m.

The event is part of the world-famous Black Rose 35th anniversary celebrations taking place in 2011. The Rose opened at 160 State Street in Boston in 1976, when Richard Ford was US President and a few months before Faneuil Hall first opened. Since then it has gained a world-wide following, and offers live Irish music seven nights a week, a great menu and drinks selection, and a special ambiance that keeps people coming back.

Today the Black Rose Pub is owned by Glynn Hospitality Group, a family-run business with roots in County Galway, which has eight dining and entertainment locations in Boston.

You can follow Black Rose Pub on Facebook, or visit the BlackRose web site.

For a full schedule of Irish activities in greater Boston and throughout Massachusetts year round, visit IrishMassachusetts.com. For more on Boston's Irish Heritage visit IrishHeritageTrail.com.

Mediaeval Baebes Performing at Blackstone River Theatre on September 10

2011-09-09T09:15:00.000-04:00

The Mediaeval Baebes, one of Britain's most popular singing ensembles, is performing at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets to the show are $28 in advance and $32 the day of the show. To make reservations, call 401 752 9271.

Formed in 1990, Mediaeval Baebes has revived a rich opus of medieval music from across Europe, as well as poetry set to music and original compositions. The musicians capture the medieval sound using vintage instruments like the auto-harp, hurdy gurdy, and recorder alongside the guitar, violin and piano.

This show opens the 11th season of the Blackstone River Theatre, one of New England's most innovative cultural programming venues. For a full list of concerts taking place, visit Blackstone River Theatre.

For music and cultural activities throughout the year in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

New Exhibit on Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years, Opens at JFK Library on Wednesday, September 14

2011-09-06T09:13:00.000-04:00

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum is opening a new exhibit on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, entitled In Her Voice: Jacqueline Kennedy The White House Years.

The exhibit is based on an oral history series of conversations in 1964 between Mrs. Kennedy and historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., in which she speaks about her years at the White House and about President Kennedy.

Caroline Kennedy, president of the JFK Library Foundation, is releasing the interviews in a new book, Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy, schedule for publication on September 14, 2011. To read an interview with Caroline Kennedy in Parade Magazine, click here.

For details on upcoming events at the JFK Library, click here.

For year round information on Irish culture, heritage, and history in the Boston area, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Huntington Theatre Company in Boston Presents Candide, September 10 - October 16

2011-09-01T09:41:00.000-04:00

The Huntington Theatre Company, celebrating its 30th season, is presenting Candide by Voltaire from September 10 through October 16 2011.

Featuring Leonard Bernstein's soaring score and lyrics from some of the wittiest writers of all time, this acclaimed new production directed by the Tony Award-winning Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses) enchants with some of the most memorable music ever written for Broadway.

For ticket and seating information, click here.

Check out the full schedule of Huntington Theater Company's 2011-2012 season.

For more cultural activities in Massachusetts throughout the year, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com.

Wix Tix to see Eileen Ivers, Calley McGrane, Makem & Spain Performing at Newport Irish Festival on Labor Day Weekend

2011-08-29T21:31:00.000-04:00

The Boston Irish Tourism Association is raffling off free tickets to the 13^th annual Newport Waterfront Irish Festival taking place September 3-5, 2011 at the Newport Yachting Center in downtown Newport, RI.

This Labor-Day festival features fiddle star Eileen Ivers, the Screaming Orphans, Makem & Spain Brothers, Calley McGrane & The Exiles and more.

To enter the contest, go to BITA's Contest Page and follow instructions.

For a full schedule of entertainment at the Newport Irish Festival, click here.

You can also purchase tickets online to the Festival. And there’s a special snug package available this year that provides VIP amenities and opportunities for guests.

For year round details on Irish cultural activities in the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

Canadian band Great Big Sea performing at Lowell Music Series on Friday, August 26

2011-08-23T16:37:00.000-04:00

Great Big Sea, the eclectic band from Newfoundland in the Canadian Maritimes, is performing at the Lowell Summer Music Series in Lowell Massachusetts on Friday, August 26, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $26 in advance and $30 the day of the concert, and can be purchased online.

Great Big Sea has been performing for nearly 18 years, bringing to audiences around the world a unique blend of rock, pop, Celtic and original music blended into the band's distinctive sound.

For a complete schedule of concerts at the Lowell Summer Music Series, located at Boarding House Park in downtown Lowell, click here.

For year round information on Irish, Canadian and Celtic cultural activities in Massachusetts and New England, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.

For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com.

Irish Singer Damian McGinty Wins Role on Glee Project

2011-08-22T15:09:00.000-04:00

Damian McGinty from Derry, Northern Ireland, a member of the famous singing group Celtic Thunder, has been named the winner of the Glee Project competition, announced in Los Angeles at the conclusion of the show.

McGinty, along with co-winner Samuel Larson, will appear in guest roles in seven episodes of the hit show, Glee on Fox TV. For coverage by Hollywood Reporter, click here.

Over 40,000 people applied for the two coveted spots last December.

"It is a huge step in my bid to be a successful recording artist," Damian said. "I am joining such a massive force. I feel honored, I feel amazed, I just feel incredible."

You can follow Damian McGinty on Facebook.

For year round Irish events in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.