Irish Massachusetts

Jose McIntyre's , Boston's only Irish-Mexican pub/restaruant, is hosting its annual Cinco de Mayo, a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture with a distinct Irish flavor on Wednesday, May 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m..  Appearing at the celebration are morning radio hosts Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb of 98.5 The Sports Hub .  The event is free and open to the public. For some of the best pubs and restaurants in Boston, check out the Glynn Hospitality Group . For year round Irish activities in Boston, visit IrishBoston.org

Boston’s Irish community is holding a fundraiser for the children of Haiti devastated in the aftermath of the recent earthquake. The event - Irish Hearts for Haiti -  features local Irish bands and a silent auction and takes place on Sunday, May 2, 2010, from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Marriott Boston Quincy Hotel, 1000 Marriott Drive, Quincy, Massachusetts. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the group, Friends of the Orphanage and the St. Damien Pediatric Hospital which has been carrying for orphans from the earthquake. Among the Irish bands participating: Erin's Melody, Andy Healy, Noel Henry's Irish Showband, Fintan Stanley, John Connors and the Irish Express, and Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann , featuring traditional fiddler  Larry Reynolds . For more information about Irish Hearts for Haiti call 617 696 8585. Irishheartsforhaiti.com Boston Irish Tourism Association : IrishBoston.org

Irish tenor Anthony Kearns is performing live at Mechanics Hall in Worchester, Massachusetts, on Sunday, May 2, at 3:00 p.m.  Tickets are $30-$60. Kearn, from Kiltealy, County Wexford, has been a leading singer on the Irish musical scene since 1995, when he was named best male vocalist at the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera.  He is one of the stars on the group, the Irish Tenors , which enjoys international acclaim among popular audiences and opera fans alike. Mechanics Hall is considered one of the acoustically perfect concert venues in the world.  It is located at 321 Main Street in Worcester, a short distance from Boston, Providence and Hartford. For a list of upcoming events at Mechanics Hall, click here . For details on year round cultural events in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

Vincent Rellis , Master Rheintour Cutter and Waterford Ambassador, is appearing at the Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton Company Store on Sunday, April 25, 2010, from Noon to 6:00 p.m. The store is located at Wrentham Village Premium Outlets in Wrentham, Massachusetts. Rellis, a master in the art of flat-cutting crystal, will sign Waterford Crystal purchases throughout the day and also talk about the craft of making crystal.  Customers unable to attend can pre-select items at the Wrentham location and Mr. Rellis will sign them. Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton Company Wrentham Village Premium Outlets One Premium Outlets Blvd., Suite 245 Wrentham, MA 1-888-200-6480 or 508 384-7503 For details on Irish events and businesses in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

One of the premier touring bands of the Celtic/World music circuit - Gaelic Storm - is performing live at Showcase Live in Foxborough, Massachusetts, this Thursday, April 22, 2010. The band leapt into the public eye through its performance in the movie blockbuster, Titanic , a decade ago, and since then Gaelic Storm has toured the world playing its special blend of Irish, Celtic and Rock music. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. (dinner and best seating) and the show starts at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $20   (limited seating). Showcase Live 23 Patriot Place Foxborough 508 543-5640 For more Irish/Celtic music events in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

As part of school vacation week, the John F. Kennedy Library in Dorchester is presenting Jabberwocky by the Crabgrass Puppet Theatre.  It's an innovative adaptation of Lewis Carroll's whimsical adventure, featuring stunning puppets and fantastic scenery. Jabberwocky is one of the best known poems in children's literature, and a fun way to celebrate National Poetry Month . The performance starts at 10:30 a.m. and is free for children.  Reservations are required, so for more information call 617 514-1644. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum Columbia Point, Boston JFKLibrary.org

Broadway Across America is presenting Cats , Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony Award-winning musical, at the Colonial Theatre in Boston, from Tuesday, April 13 through Sunday, April 18, 2010. Winner of seven Tony Awards , including Best Musical, Cats is the longest running, most popular North American Touring Production in history! For a list of Broadway Across America shows coming to Boston this year, click here . For information on year round cultural events in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com

Jay Mulligan , artist, raconteur, and former owner of Connie Dolan's Pub in Cobh, County Cork, has created a wonderful portfolio of portraits, landscapes and seascapes during his career that depict rural and small-town Ireland as well as Boston and New York.  This spring some of Mulligan's original paintings are on sale through his web site. "Some of my favorite paintings will be featured on a variety of products," Mulligan says from his studio, the Spilled Pint Studios in Quincy, MA.  The South Boston native is known for more than just his artwork.  Mulligan first entered the public eye in 1994 when he bested 31,000 other contestants to win a pub in County Cork.  The contest, sponsored by Guinness, asked contestants to describe a pint of Guinness in 50 words or less, and to demonstrate their bartending skills and the ability to play a decent game of darts! Mulligan walked away with the prize and ran the pub while also serving as an intern...

Cape Cod's singing sensation Siobhan Mangus is one of the final contestants on the hit television show, American Idol . The Marston Mills native comes from a musical family and honed her craft doing musicials at Barnstable High School.  She credits her parents with giving her a love of music. The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce has been spreading the word throughout the Cape and beyond to vote for Siobhan each week, distributing free posters and sending out messages on Facebook and Twitter . The Irish-American singer was also profiled in the March issue of Travel & Culture Guide published by the Boston Irish Tourism Association .

Professor William Matthews of UMASS/Amherst gives a lecture entitled “Eamon DeValera: The Man Who was 20th Century Ireland" at the Worcester Hibernian Center on Thursday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m. Professor Matthews'  lecture covers Dev’s early life, to his rise to power, his refusal to accept the Treaty, his role in the Irish Civil War, and Ireland post WWII. For year round Irish cultural events, visit IrishMassachusetts .

Chulrua - a trio of exceptional musicians performing Irish traditional music - has two shows in New England this week. On Thursday, April 8, the group performs in Massachusetts at Boston College, as part of the Gaelic Roots program created by master fiddler Seamus Connolly.  The concert is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Connolly House.  On Saturday, April 10, Chulrua performs at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, Rhode Island.  The concert starts at 8:00 p.m. For year-round information on Irish activities, visit IrishMassachusetts.