Irish Massachusetts

Our Lady of Knock Basilica  Two hundred parishioners from the Archdiocese of Boston and other parts of New England are in Ireland this week to visit the Shrine of Knock in County Mayo. The Boston-Knock pilgrimage is being led by Sean Cardinal O'Malley , Archbishop of Boston, and includes former US Ambassador to the Vatican Ray Flynn and his wife Cathy, as well as Irish American leader Brian O'Dwyer , who is international chairman of Ireland West Airport  at Knock. Cardinal O'Malley officiated at the national re-dedication ceremony of  Our Lady at Knock  on July 16th, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Basilica.  The mass was attended by Ireland's Taoiseach Enda Kenny and US Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O'Malley. Violent eruptions around the world - most recently in Nice, Turkey and Dallas - were on the minds of the pilgrims as they prayed for peace at the Shrine of Knock. "Let us pray for peace in our world, an en...

Scottish culture and pride is on display at the 23rd annual Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival , taking place on Saturday, July 16, 2016 at Look Park in Florence, Massachusetts. The Boston Irish Tourism Association has named it the Event of the Week in Massachusetts.  The all-day event features top Scottish and Celtic music and dance, as well as Gaelic sporting contests, bagpipe competitions and parades, spinners and weavers, and vendors selling authentic Scottish foods, crafts, clothing and other items. In addition, enjoy historic reenactments with the Historic Highlanders .  Among this year's headliners are Enter the Haggis, Albannach, Soulsha, Screaming Orphans and Charlie Zahm.  Read details on the bands here.  In addition, there is a gathering and promenade of Scottish clans and societies.  Purchase tickets at the gate: $16 general admission; children ages 6-12 pay $5; and children under six go free.   The festival is located ou...

Singer/songwriter Robert Emmet Dunlap presents his much acclaimed and frequently recorded song, " Mick Ryan's Lament ," in a full length concert, taking place at the  Chatham Fiddle Company  on Cape Cod this Sunday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. Dunlap is joined by  Kathi Taylor  on percussion, and  Rose Clancy  on fiddle. The musical journey travels from famine-era Ireland (1840s) to the American Civil War (1861-65) to Custer's Last Stand (1876). Featuring Irish ballads and lively Irish dance tunes, the program uses original songs along with traditional music from the period. Suggested donation is $20, payable at the door. Find details on Irish activities year round by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com .

Screaming Orphans The Boston Irish Tourism Association has a calendar of Irish, Scottish and Celtic-infused music festivals taking place this summer in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. See the Festival calendar here. Among the top performers Eileen Ivers at the Cape Cod Melody Tent; Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy at the Lowell Folk Festival; Enter the Haggis and Soulsha at the Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival; Aoife O'Donovan at the Newport Folk Festival; Kevin Crawford and Cillian Vallely and Girsa at the Celtic Sojourn Festival in Lowell; and the Glengarry Bhoys at the Highland Games at Loon Mountain. The Screaming Orphans from Donegal (pictured above) are performing at the Cape Cod Melody Tent and the Glasgow Lands Festival. Find other concerts throughout the summer by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com .

Raymond L. Flynn , former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican and Mayor of Boston, is giving the oration at this year's Independence Day celebrations at Faneuil Hall in Boston on Monday, July 4, 2016. Mayor Martin J. Walsh made the announcement, stating, "Through his lifelong commitment to public service, Ray Flynn embodies the spirit of America . Ray has dedicated his career to his country, and the people of Boston , and I am pleased to welcome him back to Faneuil Hall to celebrate Independence Day." The Boston tradition of giving an Independence Day oration dates back to 1783, when a town meeting passed this order, which provided that: "The anniversary of the Fourth of July, 1776, a day ever memorable in the annals of this country for the Declaration of Independence) shall be constantly celebrated by the delivery of a public oration, in such place as the town shall determine to be more convenient for the purpose, in which the orator shall consider the feel...