Irish Massachusetts

Singer and actor Damian McGinty has signed on as a "Cultural Champion" for his home town of Derry City, Northern Ireland, which has been named the UK's Cultural Capital in 2013.  “Like everyone else I was so happy when the city won the honour of City of Culture for 2013," McGinty told the Derry Journal newspaper recently.  "There are so many talented people and creatives in the city. I know that from my own experience of the music scene at home. The city is bursting at the seams with talented musicians and performers. Growing up in Derry you are surrounded by music and that played a big part in moulding me into the performer that I am today." McGinty was a member of the group, Celtic Thunder , which toured the world for several years and was a favorite on Public Radio Stations around the United States, before joining the cast of the hit television show Glee .  For year round details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit Iri...

The Irish Pastoral Centre of Boston is holding an event to honor long-time volunteers Rita O'Leary-Stones and Chris Lavery at the Black Rose Pub near Faneuil Hall on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. Live music is being presented by Kevin Doherty and Friends . There is no cover charge but a donation is requested at the door to support the Irish Pastoral Centre, which has provided immigration and social services outreach to thousands of Irish and Irish Americans in the greater Boston area over the past 25 years. For more about the Irish Pastoral Centre, click here .  Located at 160 Street in downtown Boston, the Black Rose recently celebrated its 35th year as one of America's great Irish pubs. For year round information about great Boston's Irish community and cultural activities, visit IrishBoston.org . 

Kevin O'Hara , whose award-winning books recount life growing up in an Irish Catholic family and community in Western Massachusetts, is recipient of the 2012 John F. Kennedy Award given out annually by the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee . The prestigious award was first bestowed on John F. Kennedy in 1958, and later named in his honor.  Other recipients over the years include Cardinal Richard Cushing, House Speaker Congressman John McCormack , actress Maureen O'Hara, philantrophist Thomas J. Flatley , Congressman Richard E. Neal  , Senator Ted Kennedy , and Raymond L. Flynn , former Mayor of Boston and US Ambassador to the Vatican. Read this story on Mr. O'Hara's award by Elizabeth Roman in the Republican Newspaper. For a full list of St. Patrick's Day parades in Massachusetts and other places click here .  Find year round information on Irish events, Irish pubs, gift shops and cultural groups by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com .

The Dublin City Ramblers - one of Ireland's best known ballad and folk groups - are launching their 2012 American tour at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, Massachusetts on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Led by Sean McGuinness, the Dublin City Ramblers have been entertaining fans for forty years, in Ireland and throughout the world. Tickets to the show are $32 each and can be purchased online . The doors open at 6:00 p.m. for dinner and seating. For year round details on Irish cultural events in Massachusetts this St. Patrick's Day, visit BITA's March calendar . For visitor and hotel information, visit MassVacation.com .

John Logan, Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh at the Oscar Wilde Awards Photo by: Alberto Rodriguez, Getty Images for US-Ireland Alliance The US-Ireland Alliance hosted its 7th annual Oscar Wilde Awards on Thursday, February 23, 2012 in Santa Monica, California, as a lead-in to the Oscar Awards taking place on Sunday, February 26. Three Academy Award nominees – John Logan , Melissa McCarthy and Michelle Williams – were honored at the ceremony, which took place at J.J. Abrams Santa Monica production company, Bad Robot. Attending the ceremony was George Mitchell, former US Senator and President Clinton's Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, for whom the US-Ireland Alliance named its Scholarship Program. The US-Ireland Alliance is 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.  It was formed by Trina Vargo . Previous recipients of the ...

Irish harpist and vocalist Aine Minogue is performing a concert in celebration of her new CD - Close Your Eyes, Love - at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI, on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. You can find a full schedule of concerts this winter and spring at Blackstone River Theatre here . For year round details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

Solas , one of the top traditional Irish bands on the music circuit, is performing at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville, Massachusetts on Saturday, February 25, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. The concert is presented by World Music/CRASHArts .  Tickets are $28 and can be purchased online . Formed in 1996, Solas is celebrating its 15th anniversary as one of the most influential Irish bands of its generation. The Boston Herald called it "The first truly great Irish band to emerge from the United States." For a list of upcoming concerts hosted by World Music/CRASHArts, click here . Find year-round information on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England region at IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .

Ged Foley, Orla Harrington and Andrew MacNamara   The Burren Pub in Davis Square, Somerville, is continuing its Back Room Series with a concert by a group of great musicians on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. Hosted by Brian O'Donovan , popular radio host of the weekly WGBH show, Celtic Sojourn , the concert features Andrew MacNamara on button accordion, Ged Foley on vocals and guitar and Orla Harrington on fiddle.  The trio will be joined by special guest Joey Arbata on uilleann pipes. Tickets are $23 in advance and $25 at the door, and WGBH members receive a $5 discount.  You can order tickets through Brown Paper Tickets . The Burren Pub is the premier place to hear traditional Irish music in the greater Boston area.  It was founded in 1996 by stellar musicians Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello .  For more Irish music performances coming up in Massachusetts and New England this St. Patrick's Day, visit BITA's March Calendar ...

Left to right: Stephen Smith, Enda Kenny, T.D. and Joe Kennedy III Photo by Rick Friedman/John F. Kennedy Library Foundation The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston welcomed Ireland's An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny , T.D. last Friday, February 17, 2012, for a luncheon before local business leaders and the Irish-American community. Prime Minister Kenny was presented with a bust of President Kennedy from Stephen Kennedy Smith , son of former US Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith , and Joseph P. Kennedy III , grandson of Robert F. Kennedy .  For more information about the JFK Library, located at Columbia Point in Boston, visit JFKLibrary.org Find year round details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England region by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com .  

Richard and Rick Hoyt - the inspirational father and son team that run in the Boston Marathon each year and over 1,000 other races in the past thirty-five years - are the Grand Marshalls at the Cape Cod St. Patrick's Day parade taking place on Saturday, March 10, 2012. The father-son team has been an inspiration to millions of fans who watched their courage, joy and determination over the years. Past Grand Marshalls of the Cape Cod parade have included Bruins players Bobby Orr and Terry O'Reilly , former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn , and boxing great Irish Micky Ward among others.  This year's parade begins at 11:00 a.m. For more information click here . For a schedule of parades in Massachusetts and other places, visit BITA's Parade Page .  For cultural events taking place in March, click here . For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com or CapeCodChamber.org .

The world famous Irish traditional music group, The Chieftains , is performing at Boston Symphony Hall on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at 8:00 p.m.  The concert is hosted by Celebrity Series of Boston , one of the city's foremost purveyors of staging high quality music from around the world. Tickets to the show range from $57 - $75 and can be purchased online . Winners of six Grammy Awards, The Chieftains are celebrating its 50th anniversary, serving as Ireland's ambassadors to traditional music and helping to spawn an enthusiasm for Irish culture around the world. Check out this video of the the Chieftains: It's only appropriate that The Chieftains - one of the world's great traditional music ensembles is performing at Boston Symphony Hall , one of the world's great concert venues since it opened in 1900. For a full schedule of upcoming concerts from Celebrity Series of Boston, click here . For Irish concerts in Massachusetts this St. Patrick...

The Boston Irish Tourism Association is giving away free pairs of tickets to some of the best Irish concerts coming to Massachusetts over the next six weeks.  You can view the entire list by going to BITA's Contest Page , or go to the individual dates below: February 21 Flogging Molly at the House of Blues in Boston February 25 Solas at Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville Friday, March 2 Makem & Spain Brothers at Rogers Center for the Arts in N. Andover Friday, March 2 Dublin City Ramblers at Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley Saturday, March 3 Ronan Tynan at Mechanics Hall in Worcester March 9 The Merry Ploughboys at Mechanics Hall in Worcester  March 9 The Saw Doctors at House of Blues in Boston March 10 Altan at Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville March 16 Celtic Woman at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH March 17 St. Patrick's Day Celtic Sojourn at Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford March 24 St. ...

Three great traditional musicians - Irish fiddler Brian Conway , Cape Breton fiddler Kimberly Fraser , and guitarist Mark Simos are performing in concert at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.. Tickets to the show are $15. The trio exemplifies an impressive range of traditional music rooted in Celtic traditions and styles, combined with a mastery of their respective instruments. You can find more great concerts at the Blackstone River Theatre by clicking here . For year round information on Irish music and culture in Massachusetts and the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

The world-famous Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums is marching in the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday, March 18, 2012, and the Quebec City St. Patrick's Day Parade in Quebec, Canada on Saturday, March 24, 2012.  The band formed in 1992 and has become one of the city's treasured icons.  It has represented Boston with distinction everywhere it goes, winning the best pipe band award at the Cork City Parade ; performing alongside the Dropkick Murphys , at Boston Bruin games, and aboard the USS Constitution .  And the Police have played at hundreds of charity events to help a number of worthy causes. You can follow the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums on Facebook for its full schedule of St. Patrick's Day activities.  For full details on St. Patrick's Day parades in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Quebec City and Dublin, Ireland, visit BITA's parade page . For a schedule of Irish concerts, theatre, pubs, gift sh...

The Dublin City Ramblers - one of Ireland's best known ballad and folk groups - are launching their 2012 American tour at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, Massachusetts on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Led by Sean McGuinness, the Dublin City Ramblers have been entertaining fans for forty years, in Ireland and throughout the world.  Tickets to the show are $32 each and can be purchased online .  The doors open at 6:00 p.m. for dinner and seating. You can also take a chance to win a pair of tickets through the Boston Irish Tourism Association .  To enter the contest click here .  For year round details on Irish cultural events in Massachusetts this St. Patrick's Day, visit BITA's March calendar. For visitor and hotel information, visit MassVacation.com .

Check out these great Irish pubs in the Boston area on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Black Rose Pub 160 State Street Downtown Boston Tom O’Carroll, at 4:00 p.m., followed by The McTaggarts at 9:00 p.m. Burren Pub Davis Square Somerville Spitting Vinnies in Back Room at 9:00 p.m. and Traditional Irish Session in Front Room. Cuff's - An Irish Bar Back Bay Hotel 350 Stuart Street Back Bay, Boston Owned by the Doyle Collection in Dublin. Four Green Fields Pub One Boston Place Downtown Boston Irish music and giant television screen for sports.  Skellig Pub 240 Moody Street Waltham Rock Band Scattershot at 9:00 p.m. You can find other pubs and restaurants throughout Massachusetts by clicking here . For more Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

The Irish ballad band, Makem & Spain Brothers, play at the Rogers Center for the Arts at Merrimack College in N. Andover, MA on Friday, March 2, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 general admission and $18 for seniors and students, and can be purchased online .  You can also take a chance to win a pair of free tickets from the Boston Irish Tourism Association.  To enter the contest click here . Makem & Spain Brothers is a quintet of male vocalists and multi-instrumentalists, who are musical heirs of the great traditional Irish music exemplified by Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers, and other traditional singers from Ireland.  See a schedule of upcoming concerts at the Rogers Center . For a schedule of musical performances coming to Massachusetts and the New England region this St. Patrick's Day, visit BITA's March Calendar of Events. For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com .

( Courtesy of Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee ) As part of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations taking place in Massachusetts this season, check out these three road races the weekend of March 17-18, 2012.  The 37th annual Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race takes place on Saturday, March 17 at 1:00 p.m. The 10 K (6.2 mile) race starts at Maple Street in downtown Holyoke.  There are timing clocks at each mile for  runners and a giant electronic clock for spectators.  The Children's Fun Run starts on Maple Street this year. Ras na hEireann 5K Road Race in Somerville takes place on Sunday, March 18, at 11:00 a.m.  The 3.1 mile run begins on Elm Street in Davis Square, right in front of the famous Burren Irish Pub , and winds its way through the streets of Somerville.   Check out the after-party at the Burren afterwards. The South Boston 5K Road Race takes place on Sunday, March 18, at 11:00 a.m., a great Southie tradition es...

Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) today released its 2012 schedule of St. Patrick's Day activities - including six Irish parades and dozens of cultural events - taking place this March in cities and towns across Massachusetts.  With nearly 24% of residents claiming Irish ancestry, Massachusetts is the nation's most Irish-American state, according to the US Census. The nation's first St. Patrick's Day celebration took place in Boston on March 17, 1737. Among the renowned musicians performing in the coming weeks are Irish traditional music bands Altan and Dervish; Celtic Woman and Riverdance of PBS fame; Irish tenors Ronan Tynan and Anthony Kearns; fiddle champion Seamus Connolly and Celtic Sojourn, hosted by WGBH's Brian O'Donovan; and Irish rockers the Saw Doctors and Boston's own Dropkick Murphys.   BITA is giving away free concert tickets to many of the concerts.  Go to the Contest Page for more details. In...

West Coast Irish punk rock band Flogging Molly comes to the House of Blues in Boston on Tuesday, February 21, 2012, on its 8th annual Green Tour. The Boston Irish Tourism Association has a pair of free tickets to give away.  To enter the contest, visit BITA's Contest Page and submit your entry. Or, you can order tickets online . Flogging Molly is joined on the Green Tour by Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears , and T he Devil Makes Three . For a schedule of upcoming events at House of Blues, click here . To find more Irish and Celtic music in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .

Irish traditional band Solas is coming to the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville, on Saturday, February 25, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. The concert is presented by World Music/CRASHArts .  Tickets are $28 and can be purchased online . You can also enter the Boston Irish Tourism Association's contest to win a pair of tickets to the show.  To enter the contest, click here . Formed in 1996, Solas is celebrating its 15th anniversary as one of the most influential Irish bands of its generation. The Boston Herald called it "The first truly great Irish band to emerge from the United States." For a list of upcoming concerts hosted by World Music/CRASHArts, click here . Find year-round information on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England region at IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .

  Britanny Haas Blackstone River Theatre is presenting a Valentine Day concert featuring celebrated roots musicians Darol Anger and Emy Phelps , Lissa Schneckenburger and Corey DiMario , and Brittany Haas and Kai Welch   The concert takes place on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door or by calling  ( 401) 725-9272. For a schedule of great concerts coming up at Blackstone River Theatre this year, click here .  To find Irish and Celtic concerts throughout Massachusetts and the New England region year-round, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

The Rotary Club of Worcester is hosting a special concert by Ronan Tynan , internationally acclaimed Irish tenor, at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. Tickets are $41.50 and $51.50 and can be purchased online or by calling 508 752-0888. Born in County Kilkenny,  Tynan first gain critical acclaim as a member of the Irish Tenors, and has since gone on to create a stellar solo career, performing the National Anthem at the New England Patriot and Boston Red Sox games, and at the 9/11 Tribute in New York City. For upcoming activities at Mechanics Hall, click here . To find out more about the Rotary Club of Worcester, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2012, click here .   For year round details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com. For visitor information about staying in the Worcester area, go to MassVacation.com and Central  Massachusetts.

ArtsEmerson is presenting  69 º S. (The Shackleton Project) at the Paramount Theatre in Boston on February 7-12, 2012.   Anglo-Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 trans-Antarctic expedition is reignited by a contemporary dilemma: a changing environment and the planet’s uncertain future.  The performances uses theatre, dance, puppetry, photography and film to create impressionistic and stunning tableaux vivants.  For ticket information click here .  Find a schedule of upcoming events hosted by ArtsEmerson . For year round details on cultural performances in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . For tourist information go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .

(February 5, 2012) -- Tickets go on sale today for the final Boston performances of Riverdance , the Irish dance extravaganza that has swept the world since it opened in 1996. To purchase tickets, call Ticketmaster at 1 800 982-2787 or visit the web site BroadwayinBoston.com Riverdance is performing five shows at the Boston Opera House from April 13-15, 2012.  Tickets can be purchased at the Opera House ticket office starting Monday, February 6, 2012. Riverdance has been seen live by over 22 million people, and changed the way Irish dance was perceived by the entire world.  Don’t miss this final tribute to one of the most successful Irish shows in history. Here's a schedule of upcoming shows by Broadway in Boston . For year round details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .

The legendary Irish bagpipe group, Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums , was called upon to play at the wake and funeral of former Boston Mayor Kevin H. White this week. The public wake took place at the Parkman House on Beacon Hill, the mayoral mansion where Mayor White held court for his three terms in office (1968-84).  The funeral took place at St. Cecilia Church in Boston's South End. To hear and read the NPR coverage of the funeral, click here . In 2006, the City of Boston unveiled a statue to Kevin White in Faneuil Hall.  The statue is along Boston's Irish Heritage Trail .   For year round details on Boston's Irish culture and activities, visit IrishBoston.org . For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .