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Showing posts from 2011

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

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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 Cla n 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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

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  Jewelry by Celtic Artist Keith Jack 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.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 Toda y, 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 detai

Governor Deval Patrick Honors Civil War Irish Regiment in Massachusetts

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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 C

Shopping in Cambridge: Check out Irish Imports on Mass Ave

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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

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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 .

Boston Tourism Group Wins Hospitality Award from Irish Echo Newspaper

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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 Newspaper in New York City for the second straight year. The awards were announced in the December 7-13, 2011 issue of the weekly paper. BITA founders Michael and Colette Quinlin were cited by the Echo for connecting grassroots cultural groups 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 tourism industry ties between Ireland and the New England region.             The Irish Hospitality Top 50 awards are sponsored by Tourism Ireland, Ireland’s official tourism agency which markets the entire island of Ireland in the North American market. Other Massachusetts winners of this year’s award include Colin Breen, owner of the Four Green Fields Pub & Restaurant , which opened in

Christmas Shopping for Irish Gifts in Massachusetts

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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 |

Christmas in Quebec City - Holiday Travel Ideas

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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. 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 p

Dropkick Murphys win Artist of the Year Award in Boston

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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

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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

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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 Bosto n 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

Fighting Irish: Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly Facing Boston College

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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. 

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

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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 Irish pubs in Massachusetts, visit www.IrishMassachusetts.com .     For details on vacationing in Massachusetts, contact the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism at www.massvacation.com and www.Bostonusa.com .

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

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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 by the life of Ann Lee, founder of the Shaker movement. Mother Ann, as she came to be known, was a visionary, mystic and powerful spiritual leader. Her categorical denial of sexuality and determination to erase it from herself and her followers inspires the stunning, rhythmic and often hilarious choreography in Angel Reapers.  For a full schedule of upcoming shows presented by ArtsEmerson, click here .  For year-round cultural activities, hotel packages, gift shops and Irish pubs in Massachusetts, visit www.IrishMassachusetts.com .   For details on vacationing in Massachusetts, contact the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism at www.massvacation.com and w

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

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(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 and theatre from November 2011 to March 2012  It lists selected Irish pubs, gift shops and cultural groups in the Bay State plus hotels and travel agencies for visitors from out-of-town.  The Guide is available for free at tourism centers across the state 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 can find it right here in Massachusetts,” said BITA director Colette Quinlin.   The fall/winter 2011 Travel & Culture Guide includes stories on the new public art exhibit at Terminal E , Logan Airport and the Butcher Shop Market in Adams Village, Dorchester, plus profiles of Mia Tavan, Marketing Director at Massachusetts Conventi

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

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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!

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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

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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 .