Irish Massachusetts

The Huntington Theatre Company is presenting The Luck of the Irish , a story about race relations in the Boston area, at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA from March 30 through April 29, 2012. The play, written by Kirsten Greenidge and directed by Melia Bensussan , revolves around a Black family who 'ghost purchase' a home in a Boston suburban with the help of a White family, leading to a series of misunderstandings and predicaments in subsequent years. Tickets range from $15-$65 and can be purchased online or at the theatre.  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 greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org. Find visitor information at MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com . 

    Ivy Leaf  The Ivy Leaf , a traditional Irish music ensemble based in the Boston area, is performing in concert at the Irish Ceilidhe Club in Cranston, RI on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. The concert, which is free and open to the public, celebrates the release of the band's first CD.  Band members include Lindsay Straw (bouzouki/guitar/vocals), Caroline O’Shea (flute/whistles/vocals), Daniel Accardi (fiddle/concertina) and Armand Aromin (fiddle/whistle).  For more info on the band click here . The Irish Ceilidhe Club of Rhode Island was formed in 1956 by Irish immigrants who wanted to preserve and perpetuate Irish traditional music, dance and culture in the area.  Among the resident musicians and instructors at the Club are fiddle master Jimmy Devine and his daughter Hannah, singer Bridget Fitzgerald, flutist Andrea Cooper, and Ceili dance instructor Annie Hennessey. You can follow the Club on Facebook . Find year round details on Ir...

Seamus Connolly (photo by Lee Pellegrini) Seamus Connolly , head of Boston College's Gaelic Roots program and Sullivan Artist in Residence, is hosting an Irish Dance and Ceili at Gasson Hall Irish Music Room on campus on Thursday, March 29, 2012 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Irish dancer Kieran Jordan directs the dancing, with Connolly and friends providing live music.  The performance is free and open to the public.   A ten-time All Ireland fiddle player, Connolly is regarded as one of the most prominent Irish musicians of his generation.   The native of County Clare emigrated to the United States in the 1970s.  In addition to his accomplishments as a musician, Connolly has also evolved as a scholar of traditional Irish music and an important collector of rare Irish and Celtic tunes played by musicians in Ireland, Canada and the United States.  For a schedule of upcoming concerts in the Gaelic Roots series, click here , email irish@bc.edu or ...

Runa, an exquisite Irish traditional music ensemble, performs at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. Drawing on the diverse backgrounds and expertise of its members, Runa melds a sophisticated blend of Irish traditional music and original compositions against a backdrop of Irish, Celtic, jazz and classical influences to produce a rich, contemporary texture of music that remains true to the tradition.   Check out the full schedule of upcoming concerts at Blackstone River Theatre this spring. For year round details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

A dynamic duo of traditional music from Prince Edward Island, Gorden Belsher and Richard Wood , perform in concert at the Fiddlers Green Pub at Hibernian Cultural Center in Worcester on Friday, March 23, 2012 from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door. Wood is an outstanding fiddler who has won many awards as both a musician and stepdancer. Belsher is an accomplished guitarist and vocalist who has performed throughout the world.  For a schedule of upcoming events at the Hibernian Cultural Center, located at 19 Temple Street in Worcester, click here . For year round cultural events in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . 

The 13th annual Irish Film Festival Boston is underway and presenting some great films over this weekend.  This year's festival runs from March 22-25, 2012 at the Brattle Street Theatre in Cambridge and the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville. Check out the full schedule and ticket information .  Among the highlights of this year's festival is The Road to Moneygall , a documentary about the famous village in Ireland where President Barack Obama's ancestors hailed from; and a 60th anniversary salute to The Quiet Man , the classic Irish-American film by director John Ford staring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Find more details about the Irish Film Festival Boston . For year round details on Irish cultural activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org . For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.co m.

The ever-popular St. Patrick's Day Celtic Sojourn , hosted by Brian O'Donovan of WGBH and now in its seventh season, is finishing up its 2012 tour with a concert a at Sanders Theatre at 45 Quincy Street in Harvard Square, Cambridge on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the show are $25, $35 and $45 and can be purchased online . The concert features the great Dublin vocalist Susan McKeown along with rising vocal start Michael Brennock. They're joined by The Bee Eaters, an exciting string band/hammer dulcimer ensemble, fiddle virtuoso Jerry Kittel, and duo Jefferson Hamer  and Eamonn O'Leary. Dancer Kieran Jordan is back with an exciting set of dancing and percussive displays, and a star-studded trio of great musicians - fiddler Tina Lech, uilleann piper Joey Arbata, and flustist/five-string banjoist Mark Roberts - makes an appearance. For more details on Irish cultural activities throughout the year, visit IrishMassachusetts....

Restaurant Week Boston - one of the most popular culinary occasions in New England - runs from March 18-23 and 25-30, 2012,  at hundreds of restaurants throughout greater Boston. The popular dining celebration is presented by the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) and American Express. Some of the participating restaurants from the Boston Irish Tourism Association include: 606 Congress @ Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel Aura Restaurant @ Seaport Boston Hotel Parker's Restaurant @ Omni Parker House Stanhope Grille @ Back Bay Hotel For a full list of participating restaurants, click here . Proceeds from Restaurant Week Boston go to Melmark New England , a private, not-for-profit, community-based group serving children with autism spectrum disorders. For year round cultural activities in Boston and throughout Massachusetts, visit IrishBoston.org .

Massachusetts will be awash in Irish heritage this Sunday, March 18, 2012, as four St. Patrick's Day parades take place around the Bay State. Here is information on the parades: Abington / Starts at 1:00 p.m. in Abington Center. Holyoke / Starts at 11:50 a.m. in Downtown Holyoke Scituate / Starts at 1:00 p.m. at Gate Middle School on First Parish Road. South Boston / Starts at 1:00 p.m. at Lower Broadway in South Boston For a calendar of other Irish activities taking place in Massachusetts in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com . 

Parade route published in Boston Globe, March 17, 1901 South Boston's famous St. Patrick's Day/Evacuation Day parade starts in South Boston and ends in South Boston, and has done so for generations.  See the route of the 2012 parade here. But the very first parade on Monday, March 18, 1901 has a very different route, according to newspaper reports. It started in South Boston but ended up at Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston! According to a map printed in the Boston Globe on March 17, 1901, the Southie parade started at Marine Park on Pleasure Bay, where various military bands and regiments convened.  It proceeded up East Broadway, turned onto G Street and marched around the Dorchester Heights Monument , then back out to E. Broadway. It headed onto West Broadway to the end of the road, before crossing the Broadway Bridge out of South Boston and into Boston. There the procession turned right onto Washington Street, headed to Park Square, then down Charles ...

Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston takes place on Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 1:00 p.m., starting at the beginning of West Broadway at Dorchester Avenue, proceeding through the neighborhood, and ending up at Andrew Square.  See the parade route here . Among the marchers this year is the world-famous Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums, which has played around the world and is one of Boston's favorite Irish bands. The parade also celebrates Evacuation Day, which occurred on March 17, 1776, when General John Sullivan aimed cannons from South Boston's Dorchester Heights down into Boston Harbor, forcing the British to evacuate the city of Boston. It was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. The tradition started in March 2001, on the 125th anniversary of Evacuation Day, and South Boston held a number of patriotic events to commemorate the anniversary.  But it quickly doubled as a St. Pa...

Joshua Tree Happy St. Patrick's Day. There's great Irish traditional music taking place in Irish pubs in greater Boston and Worcester on Saturday, March 17, 2012. Here are some suggestions from Boston Irish Tourism Association . Black RosePub 160 State Street Downtown Boston Starting at noon, two great house bands rock the house.  Sunday's Well brings its special brand of ballads, fiddle tunes and rock songs downstairs, while upstairs, Celtic Clan plays a great mix of U2, Van Morrison, Clancy Brothers and Chieftains. Burren Pub 247 Elm Street Davis Square Somerville Traditional Irish musicians play nightly in the front room of the Burren.  In the back room, U2 tribute band Joshua Tree, takes the stage from noon to 3:00 p.m, followed by Johnny Come Lateies and then closing out the night with Dave Foley. Claddagh Pub and Restaurant 300 Canal Street Lawrence Join the AOH Division Eight of Lawrence in this all day celebration.  Beyond ...

Swiss Public Radio has produced an excellent 48 minute show in German and English called Irisches Boston: Wo alles begann/ Irish Boston:Where it all began. The segment was done by reporter Kateri Jochum, who spent several days in Boston last August, interviewing a number of Bostonians like Tom McNaught , director of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation , Michael Quinlin , president of the Boston Irish Tourism Association , and Brian O'Donovan , host of the WGBH show, Celtic Sojourn . The program includes live segments from a step dancing class at the Burren Pub in Davis Square, Somerville a Gaelic Athletic Association game at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton, and a walk along Boston's Irish Heritage Trail .  And it includes recorded music from Irish fiddler Grainne Murphy , who grew up in the Boston area. While the program is in German, much of the interviews are in English. To listen to the full show, click here . For year round details on the Irish-American ...

State Senator Jack Hart and special guest Joe Biden   The annual political roast known as the St. Patrick's Day Breakfast is taking place in South Boston on Sunday, March 18, 2012, starting at 10:00 a.m. Southie’s popular state senator Jack Hart expects to welcome over 1,000 people to attend the breakfast at the majestic Boston Convention Center , headed by another South Boston native, Jim Rooney . The two-hour slag fest of songs, stories, jokes, lampoons, and maneuvering often has repercussions on the local, statewide and even national political stages.  It is televised live on New England Cable News throughout the region to millions of viewers. “It is a day to come together especially during these difficult economic times to be lighthearted and to enjoy the wonderful Irish spirit of laughter and song,” said Senator Hart . “I have no doubt the material will be the best in years given the nature of this interesting and exciting political time.” The ann...

There's great Irish traditional music taking place in greater Boston and Worcester on Friday, March 16, 2012. Here are some suggestions from Boston Irish Tourism Association . Black RosePub 160 State Street Downtown Boston Two great house bands take over both floors of the Black Rose on St. Patrick’s Day eve: Sunday's Well brings its special brand of ballads, fiddle tunes and rock songs downstairs, while upstairs, Celtic Clan plays a great mix of U2, Van Morrison, Clancy Brothers and Chieftains. Burren Pub 247 Elm Street Davis Square, Somerville Traditional Irish musicians play nightly in the front room of the Burren.  It's an acoustic session with some of Boston's most talented musicians. Fiddlers Green 19 Temple Street, Worcester Check out The Stone Clovers , a popular local folk group, at Fiddlers Green Pub at the Hibernian Cultural Centre in Worcester, a great place to hear traditional Irish music and ballad singing. Four Green ...

Celtic Woman - the internationally acclaimed female singing group that has appeared PBS stations - performs at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH, on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. The Irish band is on a national tour in celebration of its 7th album, Believe , with a new repertoire of beautiful Irish ballads, classical and spiritual songs and popular standards. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster online or can be purchased at the door. To find more Irish cultural activities taking place in New England in March, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . For information about visiting New Hampshire, go to VisitNH.gov

Ace flute player Mark Roberts is one of the performers at this year's St. Patrick's Day Celtic Sojourn hosted by Brian O'Donovan of WGBH. The show takes place on March 17, 2012 at the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford, and on March 24 at the Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. Roberts, who also plays banjo, whistle and a number of other instruments, is joined by Tina Lech on fiddle, and Joey Arbata on Irish bagpipes. Here's a video of Mark playing a few tunes on the flute, courtesy of WPRI Television Station in Rhode Island. For more details on Irish cultural activities this St. Patrick's Day, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .  Find tourism information at MassVacation.com . 

Seamus Connolly  An all-star cast of traditional Irish musicians, singers, storytellers and dancers are coming together for the 14th annual A Little Bit of Ireland concert taking place at the Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston in Waltham on Saturday, March 17, and Sunday, March 18, 2012 for three shows. The Boston Irish Tourism Association is giving away free pairs of tickets to all three shows, courtesy of Reagle Music Theatre.  To enter the context, click here . You can also purchase tickets online to one attend one of the shows, which take place on Saturday, March 17 at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m, and Sunday, March 18, at 1:00 p.m. This year's show is headlined by Seamus Connolly , ten-time All Ireland fiddle champion and Sullivan in Residence Artist at Boston College, where he directs the Gaelic Roots music program.  Among the other performers are Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eirean n, led by Galway fiddle master Larry Reynolds ; Broadway leading lady Sarah P...

There's great Irish traditional music taking place in greater Boston on Thursday, March 15, 2012. Here are some suggestions from Boston Irish Tourism Association . Beehive 541 Tremont Street South End, Boston Irish traditional music band The Ivy Leaf , a quartet of musicians playing  fiddles, flute & whistle, concertina, vocals and bouzouki and guitar accompaniment.  Black RosePub 160 State Street Downtown Boston Sunday's Well , the longstanding house band for the Black Rose, brings its special brand of ballads, fiddle tunes and rock songs to Boston's famous Irish pub. Burren Pub 247 Elm Street Davis Square, Somerville Traditional Irish musicians play nightly in the front room of the Burren.  It's an acoustic session with some of Boston's most talented musicians. Four Green Fields One Boston Place Downtown Boston  Colm O'Brien , singer, songwriter and ace guitarist from Dublin, performs at Boston's newest Irish pub, which recent...

Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade   Massachusetts will be awash in Irish heritage this Sunday, March 18, 2012, as four St. Patrick's Day parades take place around the Bay State. Here is information on the parades: Abington / Starts at 1:00 p.m. in Abington Center. Holyoke / Starts at 11:50 a.m. in Downtown Holyoke Scituate / Starts at 1:00 p.m. at Gate Middle School on First Parish Road. South Boston / Starts at 1:00 p.m. at Lower Broadway in South Boston For a calendar of other Irish activities taking place in Massachusetts in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com . 

The Chieftains - one of Ireland's foremost musical exports over the past 50 years - is performing in concert at Boston Symphony Hall on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the show - presented by Celebrity Series of Boston - range from $57 to $75 and can be purchased online. Paddy Moloney, tin whistle player and uileann piper, formed The Chieftains in 1962, with a vision to create an ensemble of virtuosic musicians that sounded orchestral and harmonic without losing the touch of abandon inherent in the music.  Since then the band has toured the world as one of the most innovative and successful folk bands in the world.  For a calendar of upcoming concerts presented by Celebrity Series of Boston, click here . For other Irish concerts taking place in greater Boston this St. Patrick's Day season, visit IrishBoston.org . Find information for visiting Boston at MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .

The Boston Irish Tourism Association is offering guided walking tours of the Boston Irish Heritage Trail in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. The tours run from Wednesday, March 14 through Sunday, March 18, 2012, starting at 12:30 p.m. daily at the Boston Common Visitor Center at 147 Tremont Street in Downtown Boston. Cost of the tour is $15 per adult, $8 for children ages 6-12, and free for children under five. The 75 minute walking tour by an experienced tour guide covers 13 of the 20 stops along the way (sites 1-13 on the map).  You’ll discover the Irish role in the Revolutionary War, learn about the 19th century Famine generation and the Irish part in the Civil War.  And you’ll discover famous and infamous politicians - from Curley and White to Collin and the Kennedys - who put their indelible stamp on the history of the city and the nation.  Reserve your spot on the tour by filling out the reservation form .  Or, you can ...

The 30th annual Worcester St. Patrick's Day Parade is now underway, this Sunday, March 11, 2012. The parade kicked off at noon at Mill Street, and ends at Highland Street at Elm Park. You can follow the parade on Facebook . This year's Grand Marshall is Leonard Glengel, who founded the Be Like Brit Foundation for his daughter, Britney Glengel, who was killed the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. For more on Worcester's Irish-American community visit the Hibernian Cultural Centre at 19 Temple Street in Worcester. Or visit the Wexford House Irish Gift Shop located in nearby West Boylston. For year round details on the Irish community in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com . 

Father Sean McManus, founder of the Irish National Caucus in Washington DC and long-time defender of  peace with justice in Northern Ireland, is speaking at the Lawrence Heritage State Park on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.  The lecture is free and open to the public. Fr. McManus is talking about his new book,  My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland . Irish Heritage Month, which includes concerts, lectures, exhibits, banquets, and children's activities, is sponsored by Division 8 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Irish Foundation of Lawrence. For a list of events taking place during Irish Heritage Month, click here .  For year round information on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

The Boston Irish Tourism Association has released its March issue of Travel & Culture Guide, a round-up of Irish cultural activities, parades and concerts, as well as Irish pubs, gift shops, hotels, and travel agencies. The 28 page magazine is available for free at visitor centers around Massachusetts, and at select Irish stores, cultural venues, museums and hotels.  Find out where to get a copy of the Guide by viewing the Distribution sheet . You can also read the Guide online . To order a copy of the Guide to be sent in the mail (postage/handling applies), click here .  For year round details on cultural activities throughout Massachusetts and the region, as well as details on visiting Ireland, go to IrishMassachusetts.com For tourist information, visit MassVacation.com and BostonaUSA.com .

The Beehive Jazz Club in Boston's South End is putting on its annual Erin Go Beehive on Thursday, March15, 2012, from 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.. Featured this year is Irish traditional music band The Ivy Leaf , a quartet of excellent musicians playing  fiddles, flute & whistle, concertina, vocals and bouzouki and guitar accompaniment.  The band melds the ancient melodies of Ireland with a modern flair. Beehive's acclaimed Chef Rebecca Newell is creating several à la carte specials including: Corned Beef & "Cabbage" Flatbread with Sauerkraut & Cheese, Finaan Haddie Smoked Fish & Chips with Malt Vinegar Aioli & Slaw and Grilled Lamb Chops with Colcannon Mashed Potatoes, as well as regular menu items. For more details, call 617 423-0069 or visit beehiveboston.com . Find a complete schedule of Irish music taking place during St. Patrick's Day season by visiting BITA's March Calendar .  For visitor information, go to MassVacation...

Newport, RI is a beautiful place to visit anytime of year, but this month there's an added attraction: the city's annual Restaurant Week is taking place from March 23 to April 1, 2012. So in addition to a stroll around one of America's most beautiful small cities, you also get to sample some terrific food. Boston Irish Tourism Association has an amazing grand prize to offer for this year's Newport Restaurant Week, in partnership with the Newport/Bristol Convention & Visitors Bureau .   It includes an overnight stay, museum passes, and lunch and dinner vouchers that add up to an incredible experience!  Click here to read all the details, and then enter the contest to win! The winner will be announced on Monday, March 19, so be sure to check back then. For more details on cultural and culinary activities in New England, visit IrishMassachusetts.com

The 7th annual Cape Cod St. Patrick's Day Parade is taking place on Saturday, March 10, 2012, starting at 11:00 a.m. The two mile parade kicks off in West Dennis at School Street and Rt 28, then proceeds over the Bass River Bridge and into South Yarmouth, continuing on Rt 28.  For a map of the parade route, click here . Grand Marshalls for this year's parade is Team Hoyt, a father-son team that has completed over 1,000 road races since 1977, including numerous Boston marathons. For more information about visitor amenities on Cape Cod, visit CapeCodChamber.org or MassVacation.com Read Governor Deval Patrick's Irish Heritage Month proclamation . You can find details on other parades in Massachusetts, as well as dozens of cultural activities taking place in March by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com .

The Saw Doctors  There's great Irish music coming to Massachusetts on Friday, March 9, 2012.   Here are some suggestions from the Boston Irish Tourism Association . Concerts The Saw Doctors House of Blues 15 Lansdowne Street, Boston The Galway rockers are back and just in time to help you kick start the St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The Merry Ploughboys Mechanics Hall 321 Main Street, Worchester Straight from Dublin, the Merry Ploughboys specialize in rousing Irish ballads and sing-alongs. Pubs Four Green Fields Pub One Boston Place Downtown  Boston Black Rose Pub The McTeggarts and Sunday’s Well 160 State Street Downtown Boston Burren Pub Traditional Irish Session The Fridays, Back Room  247 Elm Street, Davis Square Somerville The Village Smokehouse Tin Can Hooley 98 Middle Street, Lowell You can find a full list of Irish cultural activities in March by visiting IrishMassachusetts .

WorldMusic/CRASHArts is presenting Altan , one of Ireland's top traditional music bands, in concert at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets to the show are $28 and can be purchased online . Based in Donegal, Altan formed in 1991 and since then has been consistently and enthusiastically regarded as one of the great traditional Irish bands of this generation.  For a full list of upcoming concerts by WorldMusic/CRASHArts, click here . Find other concerts taking place in Massachusetts and the New England states by clicking here . You can find year round details on Irish cultural activities, gift shops, pubs and restaurants, parades and festivals by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .

Governor Deval Patrick proclaimed March 2012 as Irish Heritage Month in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  With nearly 24% of the state's popular claiming Irish ancestry, Massachusetts is considered the most Irish-American state in the United States, according to the US Census . For details on Irish cultural activities taking place in Massachusetts this March, click here . For more about Irish cultural groups, pubs and restaurants, gift shops, travel agencies and year round activities, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . To find out about Irish history and heritage, visit Boston's Irish Heritage Trail . For tourist information, got MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .

The 11th annual Kinsale, Ireland Festival of Fine Food is taking place in Newport Rhode Island on March 8-11, 2012 at some of the city's finest restaurants. Visiting chefs from Kinsale, Ireland's gourmet capital, are meeting up with Newport's best chefs to create Irish-inspired menus at local restaurants. For a schedule of activities and venues, click here . The annual event is hosted by the Newport/Bristol County Convention & Visitors Bureau . Newport Restaurant Week is taking place this year on March 23-April 1, 2012. For other Irish activities taking place around New England in March, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . 

Dervish – one of Ireland’s foremost traditional Irish bands – performs at the Burren Pub in Davis Square, Somerville on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online .  The shows are part of the Burren Back Room Series, hosted by Brian O’Donovan of WGBH Radio’s Celtic Sojourn program. For Irish music and cultural activities taking place in March throughout the greater Boston area, visit IrishBoston.org .  For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com .

Faculty and students from Berklee College of Music , along with special guests, are holding a Celtic Fusion concert on Monday, March 5, 2012 at Cafe 939 in Boston's Back Bay, beginning at  7:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. The musicians include Berklee faculty member John McGann on mandolin and guitar, Danny Noveck on fiddle and guitar, Hamish Napier on flutes and whistles and more. Read this story on Celtic music at Berklee. For more Irish and Celtic music in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org .

Irish Heritage Month in Lawrence, Massachusetts kicks off on Sunday, March 4, 2012 with the opening reception for the exhibit, "The Irish, The Augustinians: The Story of our Catholic Heritage," at the Lawrence Heritage State Park at One Jackson Street. The Reverend Father James McFadden Wenzel OSA of Merrimack College is giving a lecture at 1:00  p.m., followed by the official opening of the exhibit. The event is free and the building is handicap accessible. The month of Irish events - including concerts, lectures, exhibits, banquets, and children's activities - is sponsored by Division 8 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Irish Foundation of Lawrence. For a list of events taking place during Irish Heritage Month, click here .  For year round information on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

The Irish Pastoral Centre of Boston is hosting a showing of Seven Shades of Green , a documentary on Ireland and Irish immigration on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.  The film is being shown at the Fr. Lane Hall of St. Brendan’s Church, 589 Gallivan Blvd in Dorchester.  Admission is $5 and refreshments are being served.    Justin Bell , the filmmaker who made the documentary, will be in attendance to discuss the film afterwards. For more about the Irish Pastoral Centre of Boston, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, click here .  For more about the Irish-American community in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org .

Makem & Spain Brothers   Looking for some live Irish music in greater Boston and the New England region on Friday, March 2, 2012?  Here are some suggestions from the Boston Irish Tourism Association . Concerts The Makem and Spain Brothers Rogers Center for the Arts Merrimack College 315 Turnpike Street N. Andover Dublin City Ramblers Bull Run Restaurant : 215 Great Rd., Rt. 2A Shirley March 2-4 The March Mandolin Festival Featuring ace Irish mandolinist Claudine Langille Concord Community Music School 23 Wall St. Concord, NH Pubs Four Green Fields Pub Mick Carr Live One Boston Place Downtown  Boston Black Rose Pub Patsy Whelan and Sunday’s Well 160 State Street Downtown Boston Burren Pub Traditional Irish Session 247 Elm Street, Davis Square Somerville Sons of Erin Cape Cod Club Terry Brennan 633 Main Street (Rt. 28) W. Yarmouth, Cape Cod You can find a full list of ...