Irish Massachusetts

  Seamus Connolly segment occurs at 1:28 - 1:44 on the video Congratulations to Irish fiddle master Seamus Connolly, who was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in a special ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington DC on Wednesday, September 25, 2013.   Seamus was one of nine artists from around the United States to receive this year's award, which represents the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. On Friday, September 27, Connolly joined the eight other folk art masters for a live concert at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University, where they performed individually. Born and raised in County Clare, Seamus moved to the United States in 1976 and helped revitalize the New England region's traditional Irish music scene.  For the past two decades he was worked at Boston College, where he heads up the Gaelic Roots program .  In addition to his accomplishments as a per...

The 36th annual New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival is taking place this weekend, September 20-22, 2013 at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH. The three-day event features a variety of Scottish athletic competitions, bagpipe displays, a gathering of the Scottish clans, and continuous music and dancing.  There is also a vendor court of authentic Scottish products, food and beverage. Among the performers this year are Albannach, John Carmichael, Natalie Haas and Alasdair Fraser, and the Brigadoons. You can find travel details, including hotel accommodations, transportation, sightseeing and more by visiting New Hampshire Department of Travel & Tourism . For year round details on Irish and Scottish cultural activities in New England, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

The Boston Irish Tourism Association is giving away a free pair of tickets to attend a Whiskey Camp seminar at the Newport Wine & Food Festival in Newport RI this Saturday, September 21, 2013.   Jordan Mackay , author of Secrets of the Sommeliers, will lead you on a worldwide whiskey journey. Enter the Contest here , and then check back for the results on Friday, September 20 at IrishBoston.org The 8th annual Newport Wine & Food Festival features a stellar line-up of celebrity chefs and wine experts.  Find full details here .

The Massachusetts Ancient Order of Hibernians Plymouth Division 9, is holding its annual commemoration of the Brig St. John on Sunday, October 6, 2013, to remember the 99 Irish immigrants who drowned off the coast of Cohasset, Massachusetts in October, 1849. The event starts at 1:00 pm with a mass at St. Anthony’s Church , 129 South Main Street in Cohasset, followed by a reception at the church hall.   Then the participants will walk over to the Cohasset Central Cemetery for a brief wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the Celtic Cross, which was placed there by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1914. The Brig St. John was traveling with 104 passengers and 16 sailors from Galway to Boston Harbor on October 7th, 1849, when it encountered a Nor’ Easter that was raising havoc with the coast. The storm pushed the boat south as the Brig St. John unsuccessfully tried to anchor near Minot Light. Local residents made valiant attempts to save lives and spent days t...

Joshua Tree, hailed as the ultimate U2 tribute band, is performing at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton this Friday, September 13, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online , by calling 781 821-8291, or at the Centre the night of the concert. Here is a schedule of upcoming events at the Irish Cultural Centre , a year round, 46 acre facility just outside of Boston. Fine details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England region by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com .

Traditional Irish musicians Niall and Cillian Vallely are playing at the Burren Pub's Backroom Series in Davis Square, Somerville on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.  Originally from County Armagh, the two brothers are part of a legendary musical family associated with the Armagh Piper's Club . Tickets are $24.80 and can be purchased online . WGBH members get a $5 discount; write to celtic@wgbh.org to receive the discount code. The Burren Backroom Series is hosted by Brian O'Donovan , host of Celtic Sojourn radio program heard weekly on WGBH.  Read about Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello , owners of the Burren Pub and exemplary musicians.