Irish Massachusetts

The Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI is hosting the Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Ireland's 1916 Rising from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Monday, March 28, 2016. Among the performers are Pendragon, Bridget Fitzgerald, Jim McGetrick and others. Proceeds go to the 1916 Easter Rising Monument being unveiled on April 24 in Providence, RI. 

Newport Restaurant Week  debuted here in 2006 as an annual event to encourage both residents and visitors to Newport and Bristol counties to experience the vast culinary talent in this locale.   Over 55 participating restaurants are involved, with three-course prix-fixe lunches for $16 and three-course prix fix dinners for $35.  In addition, experience walking tours, chef demonstrations, affordable lodging packages, special themed events and more.  Newport Restaurant Week is presented by Destination Newport , a year round agency that promotes Newport and Bristol counties. 

The Lawrence Irish Heritage Month series is presenting a lecture today by Professor Christine Kinealy , Author, Professor and Director of Ireland's Great Hunger Institute at QuinnipiacUniversity , Hamden , CT , and John Walsh, artist,  They are talking about their book, The Bad Times (An Drochshaol) , a graphic novel about the Great Hunger.  The event takes place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, 2016 at the   Lawrence Heritage State ParkVisitors Center , 1 Jackson St., Lawrence.  The Irish Heritage Month is sponsored each year by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 8 chapter in Massachusetts.  For year round details on Irish activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

The Burren Pub , which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year as one of the top Irish traditional music pubs in America, is also gaining accolades for its culinary riches as well. Earlier this week, Channel 7's weekly program, What's Cooking , featured the pub's popular vegetarian Shepherd's Pie. Here is a link to the Burren segment . The Burren Pub in Davis Square, Somerville was opened in 1996 by husband and wife musicians Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello .  The pub has live Irish traditional music seven nights a week, plus a lively concert format called the Burren Back Room Series , which features some of the  world's top Irish and Celtic musicians performing in an intimate setting. For year round details on Irish cultural activities in greater Boston, visit IrishBoston.org

The  Boston Irish Tourism Association  if offering guided tours of the  Irish Heritage Trail  on Saturday, March 19. The 75-90 minute walking tour starts at 2:00 p.m. at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center and is led by seasoned tour guide Ted Kulik. The scheduled tour for Sunday, March 20, is being cancelled.  People who reserved tickets to the Sunday tour can get a full refund or change their ticket to today or to some future date. Along the trail, you'll learn about Revolutionary War heroes like Commodore John Barry and Patrick Carr, one of the Boston Massacre victims.  You'll visit Boston Irish Famine Memorial, dedicated to the 19th century Irish refugees who fled to Boston in the 1840s, and learn about the role of Irish immigrants in the American Civil War.  And you'll visit memorials to some of Boston 's most infamous Irish politicians such as James Michael Curley and Kevin White. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $12...

Massachusetts is holding five St. Patrick's Day parades this weekend, on Saturday, March 19 and Sunday, March 20, 2016.   Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade , (March 19)  Abington St. Patrick’s Day Parade , (March 20) Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade , (March 20)  Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade , (March 20)  Scituate St. Patrick’s Day Parade , (March 20) Also, you'll find dozens of other Irish cultural events throughout March in Massachusetts and the rest of New England.   Pick up a free copy of BITA's Travel & Culture Guide for more details on the Irish community in Massachusetts as well as travel to Ireland. 

Now in its 11th year, A St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn builds on years past by presenting an exquisite blending of traditional music, song and dance not just from Ireland but from related Gaelic traditions of Scotland, Canada and the United States. Led by radio host Brian O'Donovan of WGBH, the show celebrates the spirit of St. Patrick's Day in true Irish style with authentic, traditional expressions of music, dance and storytelling. You can receive a 20% discount on tickets to these shows by entering the code BITA at checkout when purchasing your tickets online . For year round details on Irish activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . 

Statues of James Michael Curley on Congress Street   The Boston Irish Tourism Association if offering guided tours of the  Irish Heritage Trail  this St. Patrick's Day weekend.  The tours are being held daily on Friday, March 18, Saturday, March 19 and Sunday, March 20, 2016. The 75-90 minute walking tour starts at 2:00 p.m. at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center and is led by seasoned tour guide Ted Kulik. Along the trail, you'll learn about Revolutionary War heroes like Commodore John Barry and Patrick Carr, one of the Boston Massacre victims.  You'll visit Boston Irish Famine Memorial, dedicated to the 19th century Irish refugees who fled to Boston in the 1840s, and learn about the role of Irish immigrants in the American Civil War.  And you'll visit memorials to some of Boston's most infamous Irish politicians such as James Michael Curley and Kevin White. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $12 for seniors, students and military. Ch...

Scene from the Worcester County St. Patrick's Parade As part of the New England region's celebration of Irish heritage in the month of March, here are two parades taking place this weekend: Saturday, March 12, 2016 60th Annual  Newport St. Patrick's Day Parade 11:00 am Starts: City Hall, Newport RI 401-846-5081 Get your Green on and experience the fun and excitement of the longest running Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Rhode Island. The celebration kicks off promptly at 11 a.m. from Newport City Hall , Newport . discovernewport.org  |  NewportIrish.com Sunday, March 13, 2016 Worcester County St. Patrick's Parade Noon Starts: Park Avenue 508 753-7197 Launched in 1981, the Worcester parades brings together the large Irish-American constituency from throughout Central Massachusetts.  The parade begins at Mill Street and Park Avenue at noon and ends at Highland Street. stpatsparade.com Here is a schedule of upcoming parades for th...

The spring 2016 issue of Travel & Culture Guide, issued by the Boston Irish Tourism Association, is now available online   Read the digital issue here . The printed version of the Travel & Culture Guide is also available at visitor centers, cultural venues and Irish organizations around the region starting Monday, March 14.   Pick up a free copy at any of these locations . The spring issue includes profiles of Ray Flynn, former US Ambassador and Mayor of Boston; Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra; Seamus Connolly, All-Ireland fiddle champion and creator of the Gaelic Roots program at Boston College; and Sara Stanton, owner of Cara Group Travel, which is organizing an Ireland Pilgramage to Knock, County Mayo this summer. Also in the Guide: a round up of cultural activities in New England through June; a schedule of St. Patrick's Day parades; details on blockbuster shows like Riverdance, Cirque Du Soleil and Celtic Woman; details on events...

Renowned Irish tenor  Ronan Tynan  is performing at Cary Memorial Hall in Lexington at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday,March 13, 2016.  The concert is presented by Spectacle Management . The Boston Irish Tourism Association is giving away a pair of tickets to this special concert.   Click here to enter the contest .  Contest closes at noon on Saturday, March 12, and the winner will be announced that afternoon. You can also purchase online tickets directly to the performance. First introduced to international audiences as a member of the Irish Tenors, Ronan has created a successful individual career, performing a wonderful blend of Irish melodies, classical arias, spiritual songs and popular hits that appeal to music lovers everywhere. For year round details on Irish cultural activities, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

Massachusetts  Governor Charlie Baker  and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito proclaimed March 2016 as Irish Heritage Month in the Commonwealth. The proclamation cites Massachusetts as having the highest percentage of residents of Irish ancestry, at 20.5%, while also mentioning the role of the Irish-American community in the Commonwealth's history, from the American Revolution to the present. The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism has issued a sampling of Irish activities taking place in the month of March, from parades and social gatherings to cultural activities, including music and dance. Find year round details on the state's Irish American community by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com .

Celtic Crossings , featuring Phil Coulter, one of Northern Ireland's most renowned songwriters along with popular New York singer Andy Cooney, is in concert at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2016.  Coulter and Cooney are joined by vocalist Geraldine Branagan and the Irish Pops Ensemble. The Boston Irish Tourism Association is giving away a free pair of tickets to the show.   Enter the contest here , and check back for the winner on March 11. Or, you can purchase tickets online to ensure your seat to one of the best Irish concerts coming to the Boston area this month. The Celtic Crossings concert is being presented by Bridget's - An Irish Tradition , one of the finest Irish gift shops in New England. For year round information on the Irish community in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

The much-acclaimed 16th Irish Film Festival Boston is taking place on March 10-13, 2016 at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square, Somerville. Boston Irish Tourism Association is raffling off pairs of tickets to see some of the premier film screenings in this festival.   Enter the contest here . Or, you can purchase tickets online , including tickets to individual shows or an All Access Pass, Find year-round details on Irish cultural events in greater Boston at IrishBoston.org .   

The 11th annual Cape Cod St. Patrick's Parade starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2016.  The  popular parade, which kicks of the marching season in Massachusetts, starts at Long Pond Drive and  Route 28 in South Yarmouth  and continues to Town N Country Motel on Route 28 in West Yarmouth. Check out this  map of the route . This year's grand marshal is Ryan Delaire , defensive end for the Carolina Panthers. Here is a schedule of all St. Patrick's Day parades in Massachusetts . Find year round information on the Irish cultural scene in Massachusetts and New England by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com. 

Celtic music duo  Natalie Haas  and  Alasdair Fraser  are performing in concert at the  Blackstone River Theatre  in Cumberland, RI on Friday, March 4, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the show are $26 and can be purchased at the venue. Haas, from California, and Fraser, from Scotland, have been performing around the world for over a decade, and have released several albums. Here is a full schedule of  upcoming concerts  at Blackstone River Theatre. Find year round information on Irish and Celtic activities in New England by visiting  IrishMassachusetts.com .

IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, 2016 - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Hailing from the Emerald Isle, generations of Irishmen and women have helped shape the idea of America, overcoming hardship and strife through strength and sacrifice, faith and family. With an undying belief that tomorrow always yields a brighter day, Irish Americans symbolize the perpetual optimism that defines our country, and they have long embodied the truth at the heart of our promise -- that no matter who you are or where you come from, in America, you can make it if you try. As we celebrate Irish-American Heritage Month, we recognize the Irish people's contributions to our country's dynamism, and we reaffirm the friendship and family ties between our two nations. For centuries, sons and daughters of Erin have come to America's shores, adding to our rich vibrancy and putting their full hearts into everything they do. From building our count...