Irish Massachusetts

Enter the Haggis - the premier Canadian Celtic Rock Band -- is performing at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton on Friday, December 28, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online , by calling 781 821-8291, or by purchasing at the door the night of the concert. Based in Toronto, Enter the Haggis boasts a unique musical sound that blends together Celtic influences alongside rock, jazz, bluegrass and Canadian folk music.  They are one of the most popular Canadian bands performing in the New England region. Here is a schedule of upcoming events at the Irish Cultural Centre . For year round Irish music in Massachusetts and the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .  For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .

Looking for last minute Christmas gifts?  Support the local artist community at the Saturday Local Artist Market (SLAM) at the Burren Irish Pub and Restaurant in Davis Square, Somerville on Saturday, December 22, 2012, from Noon to 4:00 p.m.  The Burren is offering $5 lunch specials today.  Artists display a variety of work for sale, including photography, sculpture, painting, hand-crafts, glassware, ceramics and more. Located just minutes from Harvard Square in Cambridge, the Burren Pub presents Irish traditional music nightly plus great local bands in the Back Room. For year round Irish cultural events in Massachusetts and New England, visit IrishMassachusetts.com

Irish Christmas in America , a musical show featuring top Irish musicians, singers and dancers, is performing two shows at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton on Friday, December 21, 2012 at .  Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online for both the 5:00 p.m . and 8:00 p.m shows. Irish Christmas in America is produced by fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada of the Irish traditional group Teada.  This year's performers include singer/songwriter Aaron Jones of the Scottish group Old Blind Dogs, accordionist and singer Séamus Begley from West Kerry, Gráinne Hambly (Irish harp), Seán Gavin (flute, uilleann pipes), Brian Cunningham (sean-nós dance) and Seán Mc Elwain (guitar). Find out more about the Irish Cultural Centre , a year-round facility located on 46 acres of land in Canton, Massachusetts. For year round details on Irish events throughout Massachusetts and the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and...

Today we pause to remember our good friend Larry Meehan , the energetic, personable and accomplished spokesman for greater Boston's travel and tourism industry.  He died on Saturday, December 15, 2012 after battling pancreatic cancer. Our condolences go to his wife Melissa and sons David and Will, to his extended family, and to all his colleagues, friends and supporters in the tourism industry in Massachusetts and around the world.  Larry worked for the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau for more than two decades and helped to brand Boston as one of America's favorite cities.  All of us who knew Larry were inspired by his love of life and devotion to his family, as well as his gentle humor, talent and professionalism in all aspects of his job promoting Boston. Find details of his memorial service taking place in Needham on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.

Check out this year's 5th annual Christmas Celebration at Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI, on December 15-16, 2012.   It features an evening of song, dance, spoken word from over a dozen great singers, musicians, dancers and storytellers. Admission is $18 in advance and $20 the day of the show.  Call 401 725-9272 to reserve tickets or for more information. The line-up includes Aubrey Atwater, Elwood Donnelly, Cathy Clasper-Torch, Pendragon, the Swamp Meadow Victorian Carolers, uilleann bagpiper Torrin Ryan, step dancing by Erika Damiani, and music and step dancing by The Miller Family – Ruby May, Evelyn and Samuel. Here are directions to Blackstone River Theatre , and a schedule of upcoming performances this winter.  You can find year round details on Irish cultural activities in the New England region by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com .

Frank McCourt's The Irish and How They Got That Way is opening at the Davis Square Theatre in Somerville on Thursday, January 24 and running through March 17, 2013. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, the late Frank McCourt , The Irish and How They Got That Way tells the story of the Irish experience both in Ireland and the United States. It's imbued with McCourt's unique humor and draws on his personal experience living in both countries. Told through a revue of songs, this sometime irreverent but always loving look at the Irish people features music ranging from traditional Irish melodies to the works of Broadway star George M. Cohan to the music of U2. Performances are Thursday & Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. & 7:30 p.m; and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.. Tickets are $39.00 - $42.00 and are available by calling 800-660-8462 or online at  www.frankmccourtstheirish.com .

Christmas Celtic Sojourn , a music and dance performance based on traditional celebrations in Ireland and other Celtic countries, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with eleven shows taking place in five venues across New England between December 15 through December 22, 2012. Hosted by Brian O'Donovan of WGBH, 89.7 FM in Boston, this year's show features an all-star cast of musicians, singers and dancers. Here is ticket information . Also, Boston Irish Tourism Association is offering a free pair of tickets to the Thursday, December 20 show at 8:00 p.m. at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston.  Enter the Contest here . For year round details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England region, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .

Congratulations to Phillips Candy House in Dorchester, which was named one of the best places for edible holiday gifts by CBS Boston Television . The family-run business, founded in 1925, is Boston's oldest chocolatier.  Phillips Candy House is located at 818 Morrissey Boulevard, next to the Ramada Inn and Comfort Inn , Freeport Tavern and Boston Bowl , a family entertainment venue that includes bowling alleys, pool tables and a game room.  It is right down the street from the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum. There is also a Phillips Candy House at the South Shore Mall in Braintree. For year round details on gift shops, hotels, pubs and restaurants and Irish cultural activities in the Boston area, visit IrishBoston.org .  For tourist information visit MassVacation.com or BostonUSA.com .

Inroads Ireland - which specializes in 'off the beaten track' tours to Ireland - is offering $100 discount on all of its 2013 tours if you book by Wednesday, December 12, 2012.  You can go here to get the discount . Here is a schedule of Inroads Ireland tours in 2013 . You can also follow Inroads Ireland on Facebook for up to the minute deals. To find out more about traveling to Ireland in 2013 contact Carolyn or Phillip at 1 888 220-7711 or  info@inroadsireland.com .

Author David Nasaw discusses his new book, The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy (published by Penguin ), on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum .  The event is free and open to the public. Journalist and radio host Christopher Lydon moderates the discussion. Register for the event here.  You can also view purchase a copy of the book at the Museum Store . Here is more information about visiting the JFK Library & Museum . For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .

Club Passim in Harvard Square is hosting a Celtic Music session on Monday, December 10, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public. The session is held every second Monday of the month and features some excellent local Celtic musicians.  It is organized by the Boston Celtic Music Fest , a group formed ten years ago to promote Celtic cultural activities in greater Boston. The 10th annual Boston Celtic Music Fest is taking place on January 11-12, 2013.  Here is the line-up of performers . Find year round details on Irish and Celtic music in Massachusetts and throughout New England by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .

The Gaelic Roots program at Boston College is presenting its annual Christmas Gathering, featuring singer and multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Donohue and singer Marian Makins along with fiddler Séamus Connolly, on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Walsh Function Hall . The event is free and open to the public, and also features some of the Irish music instructors and students at Boston College. Connolly is founder and director of the Gaelic Roots program and is also the college's Sullivan Artist-in-Residence.  For more information on Irish cultural activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org For visitor information go to MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com .