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Showing posts from 2015

Once: The Musical, named as Event of the Week in Boston

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Once: The Musical , has been named Event of the Week by the Boston Irish Tourism Association .  The show is currently at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre at 265 Tremont Street in downtown Boston. Once runs through this Sunday, December 27, 2015, with eight shows schedule through the week. Tickets are available online , starting at $48.  For discounted group sales, call 617 532-1116. Student discounts are available for $25 when purchasing tickets two hours before the show. The charming story about a boy who meets a girl in Dublin, won eight Tony Awards when it played on Broadway.  The entire ensemble sings and plays their own instruments. Here is a schedule of upcoming shows at the City Performing Arts Center . For year round information on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . 

Tales from the Emerald Isle features W.B. Yeats, Liam O'Flaherty, Arthur Conan Doyle, Lady Gregory and Other Irish Writers

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This Christmas, check out Tales from the Emerald Isle and Other Green Shores, a collection of twenty-one stories and writings that capture Irish and Irish-American literature. With stories by Irish writers like Liam O'Flaherty, William B. Yeats and Lady Gregory, to Irish-American writers like Finley Peter Dunne, Sarah Orne Jewett and Kate Doublas Wiggins, the collection offers a wide-ranging showcase of the Irish experience through literature. Published by Lyons Press in 2014, Tales from the Emerald Island is also available on Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Harvard Book Store , Porter Square Book Store , Wellesley Books and other fine establishments.

A Christmas Celtic Sojourn - Final Two Shows on Sunday, December 20 in Boston

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The final two shows of Brian O'Donovan's A Christmas Celtic Sojourn are taking place on Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in downtown Boston. Now in its 13th  year, the show features a world-class line-up of music, dance and storytelling that evokes a traditional Irish Christmas in rural Ireland. Order tickets online for the 1:00 p.m . show or the 5:00 p.m. show , or purchase tickets at the venue. Congratulations to the entire cast, crew and production team and to Brian and Lindsay O'Donovan for making A Christmas Celtic Sojourn a year tradition in New England. For year round details on Irish activities, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

Discover Newport, RI this Christmas Season

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Newport, Rhode Island is a wonderful place to visit over the Christmas and New Year's seasons. Frequently cited as one of the most beautiful places in America , Newport is g raced by amazing seascapes, soaring mansions and cozy neighborhoods.  It's one of New England ’s most iconic cities, with a storied history, dynamic sporting legacies in tennis and sailing, and rich cultural and culinary traditions. Likewise, the cities and towns in Newport and Bristol counties are full of holiday cheer and amenities for the visitor. Winter is referred to as Newport ’s secret season, with a full slate of exciting ideas through the holiday season and into the New Year.  Christmas at the Newport Mansions (through January 3) is a remarkable tour of three of the city’s most luxurious mansions.  Newport’s Holidays by the Sea: Shop, Stay, Dine and Explore runs through December 31 and evokes the magic of the season, with tree lighting festivities, in-store promotions, re

Seamus Connolly Performs An Irish Christmas Set of Melodies

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Seamus Connolly , champion fiddle player, composer and teacher, put together this melody of Christmas and Irish songs and performed it at Boston College recently with pianist Beth Sweeney, head of the Irish Music Center at the John J. Burns Library. Read more about An Irish Christmas song  here. Connolly, a native of County Clare, who has lived in New England since 1976, retired from Boston College this month, where he headed up the Gaelic Roots program and served as the Sullivan Artist-in-Residence. Here is a profile of Seamus Connolly  published in BITA's Travel & Culture Guide ..

Irish Tenor John McDermott Performs at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on December 18 to Benefit Food Pantry

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Acclaimed Irish tenor John McDermott performs A Family Christmas concert at Mechanics Hall in Worcester at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 18, 2015.  The concert benefits the St. John's Food for the  Poor program , and is presented by Worcester's Frank Carroll. Tickets are $30-$40 and are available online or at the venue.  Also, the Boston Irish Tourism Association is raffling off a pair of free tickets to the show. Read a profile of John McDermott and his charitable causes here. Here is a calendar of upcoming events at Mechanics Hall . For more about the Irish community in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

Irish Christmas Gift Ideas in Massachusetts

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Irish Imports, Ltd, Cambridge  Looking for a special Irish product this Christmas?  Here are some suggestions below. Irish Imports Ltd. Corporation 1737 Massachusetts Avenue , Cambridge , MA 02138 617 354-2511 | Phone orders: (800) 356-2511 irishimportsltd.com  |  A colorful collection of crafts, both traditional and contemporary, reflecting Ireland ’s legacy of artistry and style: Rugged handknits, cozy blankets and tweedy accessories from such renowned sources as Cleo Ltd., Kerry Woollen Mills, Studio Donegal and Kennedy’s of Ardara. Fine outerwear for men and women designed by Jimmy Hourihan, Henry White and Dublin outfitters Kevin and Howlin. Mohair throws and garments from Donegal Design and Cushendale Mills. An inviting complement of handblown glass, ceramics, jewelry, music, books, and tasteful trinkets from all over Ireland . Waterford Crystal Flagship Store 127-129 Newbury Street , Boston Tel: (617) 236- 0369 | Fax: (732) 378-4260 waterford

Irish Shows in Massachusetts & Rhode Island This Weekend

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Once: The Musical Looking for something fun and entertaining to do this weekend, December 12-13, 2015?  Check out these Irish shows in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Once: the Musical This Tony Awarding-winning show tells the story of two musicians in Dublin who find their redemption, and love, in the streets of Dublin.  Once is at the Shubert Theatre in downtown Boston,with two shows on Saturday and Sunday. A Christmas Celtic Sojourn Now in its 13 th year, A Christmas Celtic Sojourn is a masterpiece production with an alluring stage design, tightly choreographed dancing, robust music and a well-paced narrative.  Music director Seamus Egan and his band Solas are featured, along with singer Cathy Jordan, Scottish harpist Maeve Gilchrist, cellist Natalie Haas, the Nordic Fiddlers Bloc, and Beoga’s bodhran player Eamon Murray.   Two shows on Saturday and two shows on Sunday at the Emerson  Cultler Majestic Theatre in Boston.  Tomaseen Foley’s A Celtic Christma

Joyous Sounds of Celtic Christmas Music in Massachusetts & New England

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Fiddler Kathleen Keane of Tomaseen Foley's A Celtic Christmas  ( Boston )  - Christmas music permeates Massachusetts , from the glorious strains of The Messiah to the happy chorus of Sleigh Ride. Celtic music hums across the landscape too, a testament to the state’s heavily-Irish population and the caliber of touring bands that put a Yuletide touch on traditional melodies. A fine example is the Cherish the Ladies Celtic ChristmasConcert taking place at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst on December 10.  Led by flutist Joanie Madden, the Ladies just released their 3 rd holiday album, Christmas in Ireland , which blends songs like Hark! The Herald’s Angel’s Sing with Joe Madden’s Hornpipe . Radio host Brian O’Donovan’s popular show, A Christmas CelticSojourn , now in its 13 th year, is a masterpiece production with an alluring stage design, tightly choreographed dancing, robust music and a well-paced narrative.  Music director Seamus Egan an

Maestro Keith Lockhart Kicks off 2015 Holiday Pops Season at Boston Symphony Hall

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The 2015 season of the Holiday Pops got underway this week,under the direction of maestro Keith Lockhart , who is celebrating his 20th anniversary as head of the Boston Pops Orchestra. Tickets are available online for dozens of concerts, including matinees, running from December 2 through December 31, 2015.   View the complete Holiday Pops schedule  online, or download the brochure here. Founded in 1885, the Boston Pops is one of the most celebrated orchestras in the world.   Read about its history . Here are other Christmas shows in Massachusetts this December . For more details, visit IrishBoston.org .

Irish Music Concert "Home for Christmas" Raises funds for Children with Cancer

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An all-star line-up of Irish music, led by singer Pauline Wells , is performing a special Home for Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 4, at Norwood Theatre in Norwood, to benefit the group, Cops for Kids with Cancer . Tickets are $27 general admission and $24 for seniors and students and can be purchased online or at the venue. The concert is presented by A Celtic Crossing. Wells, a lieutenant with the Cambridge Police Department, is joined by special guest Brian "Bugsy" Moran , traditional band Devri and multi-instrumentalist Paul Kenneally from the Noel Henry Band.   Radio personality Matt O'Donnell of WROL's Irish Hit Parade is the master of ceremonies. For year round details on Irish activities in Greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org .

Cherish the Ladies Perform A Celtic Christmas Concert at UMass Amherst on December 10

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Acclaimed Irish traditional music ensemble Cherish the Ladies performs its Celtic Christmas concert at the Fine Arts Center , University of Massachusetts in Amherst, on Thursday, December 10, 2015. The Boston Irish Tourism Association is giving away a free pair of tickets to the show.   Enter the contest here . You can also purchase tickets online here . Now in its third decade as one of the foremost Irish-American traditional music groups, Cherish the Ladies is led by flute and tin whistle maestro Joanie Madden. Find more about Irish culture in Massachusetts by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com .

Wix Tix to Irish Rovers Concert in Medford on November 29

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The Irish Rovers, one of Ireland's most enduring ballad bands, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a tour of Canada and the United States, including a concert at the Chevalier Theatre in Medford on Sunday, November 29, 2015.  The show is being presented by Spectacle Management . The Boston Irish Tourism Association is giving away a pair of tickets to this special concert, the only Massachusetts appearance the band is making.  Enter the Irish Rovers ticket give-away here. Or,  you can purchase tickets directly online . Here is a schedule of upcoming shows from Spectacle Management . Find year round details on Irish activities in Massachusetts at IrishMassachusetts.com .

Starting today, Christmas Tours of the Newport Mansions, November 21 to January 3

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Three of Newport ’s most magnificent mansions - The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House—are opening their doors for the annual Christmas at the Mansion tours starting on Saturday, November 21, 2015 and running through Saturday, January 3, 2015. All three mansions are National Historic Landmarks and icons of the Gilded Age in America . They will be filled with thousands of poinsettias, fresh flowers, evergreens and wreaths and 24 decorated Christmas trees.  Dining tables set with period silver and china complete the elegant setting, while windows of each mansion are lit with individual white candles, in keeping with the colonial tradition.  The mansions are maintained by the Preservation Society of Newport County .  Here is a complete schedule of upcoming events at the mansions through 2016 . Find out more about visiting Newport , RI . 

Galway Hurlers at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton Today

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The Galway Hurling team is coming to the Irish Cultural Center in Canton on Saturday, November 21, 2015, from 11:00 a.m. to 2;30 p.m. They have a players training session at the GAA Field starting at 11:00 a.m., followed by a meet-and-greet and lunch at 1:00 p.m. Located off of Route 138 in Canton, the Irish Cultural Center is a 46 acre, year-round cultural center created in 1989 to provide year-round activities for the region's large Irish and Irish-American community.  Find out more about the ICC here. For year round information on Irish activities throughout Massachusetts and New England, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

Irish Flutist Shannon Heaton Performs at Chatham Fiddle Company, Cape Cod, on November 14

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Shannon Heaton , traditional Irish flutist and ballad singer, is performing at the Chatham Fiddle Company in Chatham, Cape Cod, on Saturday, November 14, 2015, starting at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $20 and can be paid at the venue. Shannon and her husband, guitarist and singer Matt Heaton, are popular performers on the New England folk circuit.  Boston Globe music critic Scott Alarik wrote, "Their playing is masterful and inventive, their arrangements city-smart and spacious." Find more information on Irish activities in Massachusetts at IrishMassachusetts.com .

Waterford Crystal Artisan Tom Brennan at Waterford Boston Boutique on November 18

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Waterford Crystal artisan and ambassador Tom Brennan is making a special appearance at the Waterford Boston Boutique  store from noon to 4: 00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2015. A native of Waterford City, Tom started his apprenticeship at Waterford Crystal in 1986, following in the footsteps of his dad, Leo Brennan, also a crystal craftsman.  The company dates back over 200 years. Read the history of Waterford Crystal here. Located at 127-129 Newbury Street in Boston's Back Bay, just two blocks from the Public Garden, the flagship store carries many of the company's luxury collections.  It also carries a series of Boston-themed pieces, sold exclusively in the Newbury Street store.  These include an  engraved oval vase depicting the Massachusetts State House, and an oval bowl featuring the iconic swan boats in the Public Garden. Brennan is also introducing a new product,  the 2015 Irish Artisan Circle ten inch bowl, at this event, and will sign them for buy

Gaelic Roots at Boston College Present Irish Traditional Duo O'Brien and Gourley on November 12

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The Gaelic Roots Music, Song & Dance Series at Boston College is presenting accordion master Paddy O'Brien and fiddle great Nathan Gourley for a night of traditional Irish music on Thursday, November 12, 2015. The concert, which is free to the public, runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p..m. at the Theology & Ministry Auditorium on the Brighton campus . The Gaelic Roots program was founded and is directed by Irish fiddle champion Seamus Connolly , the Sullivan Artist in Residence at Boston College. Here is a profile on Seamus Connolly . Find year round details on Irish cultural activities in greater Boston at IrishBoston.org .

Huntington Theatre Company Presents A Confederacy of Dunces in Boston, November 11- December 20

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The Huntington Theatre Company of Boston is presenting  A Confederacy of Dunces , a dapted from the cult classic, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel,  written by John Kennedy Toole.  It runs at the BU Theatre on Huntington Avenue from November 11- December 20, 2015.  Here is ticket information .  Described as a hilarious wild ride, filled with colorful characters and comic misadventures, it feature the colorful character  Ignatius J. Reilly, the Don Quixote of the French Quarter who is eccentric, overweight and living with his mother in the Big Easy.  The production stars television actor Nick Offerman of the series Parks & Recreation, as well as a strong cast that will make Confederacy of Dunces one of the compelling shows in Boston this season.  Here is Huntington's 2015-2016 season .  For information on cultural activities in the Boston area, visit IrishBoston.org . For tourist information go to BostonUSA.com . 

BITA Releases Winter Issue of TRAVEL & CULTURE GUIDE for Massachusetts & Ireland

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( Boston ) - The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) released its Travel & Culture Guide  (2015-16 winter issue) of cultural activities in Massachusetts and Ireland . Read the digital version here. The 28-page color magazine details upcoming holiday concerts, dances and theater in Massachusetts & Rhode Island from November 2015 to March 2016 It lists selected Irish pubs, gift shops and cultural groups in the Bay State plus hotels and travel agencies for visitors from out-of-town. The Guide also covers Christmas events in Ireland as well as the 2016 Tourism Ireland initiative, Ireland's Ancient East: See What Awaits You . The Guide is available for free at tourism centers across the state and at museums, hotels and cultural venues, starting on Tuesday, November 10, 2015. See  distribution outlets . First issued in 2005, the Travel & Culture Guide  is published three times a year,  The Boston Irish Tourism Association was forme

Irish Singer Mick Flannery Performing at the Burren Pub on November 4

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Irish singer Mick Flannery , from County Cork, is performing at the Burren Pub's Backroom Series in Davis Square on Wednesday,November 4, 2015 at 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $28 and can be purchased online or at the venue. Read more about Mick Flannery here. Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts in the Backroom Series . Find year round details on Boston's Irish community at IrishBoston.org .

Irish Network USA Conference Comes to Boston, November 5-8

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The annual Irish Network USA Annual Conference is taking place in Boston, from November 5-8, 2015, at the Seaport Boston Hotel and World Trade Center in South Boston. A series of workshops through the day on Friday will address topics such as Driving the Innovation Economy through Education; The New Global Irish Diaspora; and a presentation by Tourism Ireland. Here is the full agenda . Register for the conference here. On Friday, November 6, participants will gather at the Massachusetts State House for a reception. Then on Saturday, Irish Film Festival Boston is presenting a film festival at the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square, Cambridge. "We are delighted to have the opportunity to host all of our Irish Network USA members and friends at the annual conference in  Boston this year," said Sean Moynihan, president of the IN Boston chapter. Formed in 2010 by the Irish Government, the Irish Network USA has chapters in 20 cities. Boston was one of the first cha

Joe Leary is Honored by the Irish Echo for His Good Deeds on Behalf of Ireland

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Congratulations to Joe Leary, head of the American Irish Partnership , who was honored at the Golden Bridges Conference in Boston by the Irish Echo Newspaper . 

Boston's Irish Pastoral Centre Honors Ken Casey & Sr. Marguerite Kelly at Annual Banguet

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The Irish Pastoral Center of Boston is holding its annual banquet at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at Florian Hall in Dorchester.  Tickets are $100 and proceeds go to support year round programs at the Center. This year's honorees include Ken Casey , leader of the Dropkick Murphys, and Sister Marguerite Kelly , a lifelong missionary who recently retired from the Centre.  Read more about the IPC here. Here is an article on the 25th anniversary of the Irish Pastoral Centre . For year round details on greater Boston's Irish community, visit IrishBoston.org .

Belfast Community Gospel Choir Performs at Massachusetts State House on October 23

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Northern Ireland's Belfast Community Gospel Choir is performing a special concert at the Grand Staircase in the Massachusetts State House on Friday, October 23, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.   State Senator Eileen Donoghue is sponsoring the concert. The Choir, which is renowned in Northern Ireland and Europe, is directed by Marie Lacey , who has performed with Sir James Galway among others. The Belfast Choir is performing in Massachusetts throughout the week, at the Golden Bridges Conference at the Seaport Boston Hotel, Quincy Marketplace in downtown Boston, the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton, the Lowell High School Auditorium in Lowell, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston's South End, the Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury and the Morningstar Baptist Church in Mattapan. Here is a video of the Belfast Community Choir . For more information contact Ann-Marie at BCGCBOS2015@gmail.com. Find year round information on Boston's Irish community at IrishBoston.org .

Celtic, Classical and Popular Christmas Music in Massachusetts this December

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Boston Irish Tourism Association has posted an exciting schedule of Christmas/Holiday musical shows this December in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. They range from Keith Lockhart's Boston Pops Holiday season at Boston Symphony Hall and Handel's Messiah and the Nutcracker Ballet at Mechanics Hall in Worcester to popular shows like Reagle Music Theatre's Christmas time, plus Elf the Musical and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Musical at the Citi Arts Performing Center in Boston. There is a full slate of Irish-themed Christmas shows, including A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, Tomaseen Foley's A Celtic Christmas, John McDermott's A Family Christmas, Cherish the Ladies Christmas Show, and the Blackstone River Theatre's annual Christmas Concert  and BRT's Irish Christmas Dance Spectacular. And check out non-holiday shows like Once: The Musical at Citi Performing Arts Center and Irish comedian Brendan Grace at the Burren Pub. You can also find year round de

Celtic Harpist Patrick Ball Performs at Blackstone River Theatre on October 17

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Patrick Ball, one of the premier harp players of the world, is performing at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the venue.  This is his only New England appearance this season. In his show, Celtic Harp & Story , Ball combines the art of Irish storytelling with the timeless melodies of the ancient Irish musical traditions, "weaving words and music into a spellbinding performance," as one newspaper wrote. Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts at Blackstone River Theatre this winter.

Irish Singer Eleanor McEvoy Performs at Burren Pub in Somerville on October 10

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Eleanor McEvoy , one of Ireland's top singer/songwriters, is performing at the Burren Pub in Davis Square, Somerville,  on Saturday,  October 10, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $23 and can be purchased online or at the venue. The Boston Irish Tourism Association named the McEvoy concert the Event of the Week throughout Massachusetts. One of the great contemporary singer/songwriters, Eleanor McEvoy's work has spanned many decades of diverse work and collaborations from her sensational "Only a Woman's Heart" to her most recent release, The Thought of You .  Her repertoire and style range from folk ballads and love songs to hard hitting social commentary.   The Burren Backroom series is well established as one of the most sought-after boutique series of traditional presentations. The series was founded by well-known traditional musicians Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello , and is hosted by Brian O’Donovan of WGBH Celtic Sojourn. Find year round

Irish Tradition Duo Vallely & McGiver Perform at Chatham Fiddle Company on Cape Cod on October 10

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Uilleann pipe master & whistle player Cillian Vallely of Northern Ireland and guitarist Ryan McGiver of New York are performing in concert at the Chatham Fiddle Company in Chatham, Cape Cod, on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $20 and can be purchased at the door. Chatham Fiddle Company is run by Rose Clancy , an accomplished fiddler, teacher and instrument maker. Find year round information on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com .

Michael Dunleavy Foundation Hosts Evening of Traditional Music from County Clare at Burren Pub

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Legendary musicians from County Clare have traveled to Boston to perform at the Burren Pub in Somerville, MA on Friday, October 9, 2015.  The event benefits the Michael Dunleavy Foundation , which raises research funds for childhood cancer and brain tumors. Among the Clare musicians are Oliver O'Connell, Mickey Dunne, Mike Nestor, along with Boston's John Coyne. Find out more about the Michael Dunleavy here. Here is a schedule of other events at the Burren . Find year round info on Irish events in greater Boston .

Ireland's Ancient East - See What Awaits You

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Ireland  is launching a new marketing initiative in 2016 called  Ireland's Ancient East .  It is part of an aggressive goal to continue an impressive growth of overseas visitors that exceed 12% in 2015, and comes on the heals of the successful campaign,  Wild Atlantic Way .  Read  Press Release from Tourism Ireland  here. “With the great amount of history and heritage in such a relatively compact area, Ireland ’s Ancient East will allow us to seriously build on the assets we have in the east and south – and the significant investment which has been made in tourism attractions in the region over the last few years," said Paschal Donohoe , Ireland's Minister of Tourism.  For more information on visiting Ireland, go to Ireland.com . Check out these Travel and Tour groups specializing in trips to Ireland.  For information about the Irish community in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com. 

North Sea Gas Comes to Blackstone River Theatre on October 3

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Scottish traditional trio North Sea Gas is performing at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI on Saturday, October 3, 2015 starting at 8:00 p.m.  Tickets to the show are $15. The Boston Irish Tourism Association named this concert its Event of the Week  for the week of September 28. Having produced 17 albums in its 30 years as a band, Saturday's performance marks the 11th appearance of North Sea Gas at Blackstone River Theatre. Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts this fall at Blackstone River Theatre. Find year round information on Irish and Celtic cultural activities by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com

Boston Irish Heritage Trail - Final Guided Tour of the Season is Friday,October 2

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The final guided tour of the Boston Irish Heritage Trail this season is taking place on Friday, October 2, 2015.  Cost of the tour is $15 general admission, and $12 for seniors, students and military. Children 12 and under go free. The 60 minute tour is conduced by veteran tour guide Ted Kulik, and leaves at 2:00 p.m.from the Boston Common Visitors Information Center, located at 147 Tremont Street. The tour winds its way through Boston Common, past the State House and down to the Irish Famine Memorial and Old City Hall, before ending up at the James Michael Curley statues in front of New City Hall. Make your reservations here by filling in the form, or you can pay at the front desk of the Visitors Information Center right before the tour begins. Find out more about Boston's illustrious Irish history by visiting IrishHeritageTrail.com For year round information on Irish activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org For visitor information, to to BostonUSA.com .

Fiddle Duo Gourley and Feddersen Performing at Chatham Fiddle Company on Cape Cod, September 26

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Two rising American fiddle masters, Nathan Gourley and Laura Feddersen , are performing in concert at the Chatham Fiddle Company in Chatham, Cape Cod, on Saturday, September 26, 2015, starting at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $20. Seeped in American roots music along with Irish traditional music, the duo has performed widely across the country.  They are currently based in Boston, where they play regularly at sessions, pubs and concerts. The Chatham Fiddle Company is run by Rose Clancy, a fine fiddler and instrument maker.  The concert is part of a series of small, intimate concerts throughout the year . Find more details on Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com .

South Boston's Billy Higgins is Honored for his Quiet Leadership and for Forging Ties Between Limerick and Boston

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Billy Higgins (right) with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh (Photo Courtesy of Steve Allen, Neighborhood Photo News) Billy Higgins of South Boston, a community leader who is renowned for helping people, organizations and neighborhoods in need, is himself being honored with the Quiet Leadership Award from the Pinch Foundation (People in Neighborhoods Can Help). The awards ceremony is taking place from 7:00 p.m. to midnight on Friday, September 25, 2015 at Elks Club in West Roxbury. Higgins has a long history of public service.  Born and raised in South Boston's Lower End, Higgins traveled to Limerick City in 1985 to watch his daughter Andrea compete in a track and field meet. He found himself in a tough neighborhood called Southill, which reminded him of the Lower End in Southie.  He got to know some of the people there, and before long was bringing school classes to Boston for an educational exchange. Billy eventually set up the Southill Children's Fund to help the Li

The Clancy Family Perform Traditional Irish Music at BC's Gaelic Roots Series on September 24

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The Gaelic Roots program at Boston College is presenting a concert of traditional Irish music with fiddler Rose Clancy , along with her father, guitarist Gene Clancy and her brother John Clancy on upright bass. The concert, which is free and open to the public, takes place at the Theology & Ministry Auditorium on the Brighton campus, located at 117 Lake Street.  Here is a map with directions . A longtime fiddler and fine maker of musical instruments, Rose is proprietor of the Chatham Fiddle Company on Cape Cod. Gaelic Roots is led by Irish fiddler, teacher and scholar Seamus Connolly , the Sullivan Artist in Residence at Boston College. You can follow Gaelic Roots on Facebook . Find year round information on Irish activities in New England by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com .

Stand-Up Comedian Eddie Izzard Performs at Tanglewood on Thursday, August 27

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English stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard is performing at Tanglewood on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., as part of the Popular Artist Series.  Tickets to the show are available to order online . Known for his outrageous and absurd brand of comedy, Izzard began his career at London's famous Comedy Store in the 1980s, before starting his own club Raging Bull.  His one-man shows led to a variety of television appearances on shows like The Good Wife and the United States of Tara. Here is a schedule of other performances taking place at Tanglewood through Labor Day. The Boston Irish Tourism Association named this show the Event of Week in Massachusetts . For information about visiting Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com .

Win Free Pair of Tix to A Celtic Sojourn Festival at Lowell Summer Music Series on August 22

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The Boston Irish Tourism Association is giving away three pairs of tickets to see A Celtic Sojourn Roots & Branches Festival at the Lowell Summer Music Series on Saturday, August 22, 2015. Hosted by Brian O'Donovan of WGBH, the festival features great performers like Cherish the Ladies, the all-women traditional ensemble out of New York; the McCarthy Family from Boston and Ireland; Socks in the Frying Pan from County Clare; and singer/songwriter Matthew Bryne from Newfoundland. Click here to enter the contest , then submit your entry.  Winners will be announced on Thursday, August 20, so check back. Or, you can purchase tickets directly online . Good Luck!

Tommy McCarthy & Louise Costello Perform at Chatham Fiddle Company on Cape Cod on August 8

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Irish traditional music duo Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello are performing at the Chatham Fiddle Company in Chatham, Cape Cod, on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $20. Owners of the Burren Pub in Davis Square, Somerville, McCarthy & Costello have recorded several albums and have toured the world playing traditional Irish melodies. The Chatham Fiddle Company is run by Rose Clancy , an accomplished instrument maker and traditional fiddler herself. For year round details on Irish activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information go to MassVacation.com .