Irish Massachusetts

Rockin’ Road to Dublin  is coming to the Lowell Memorial Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, 2017. Starring World Champion Irish dancers Scott Doherty and Ashley Smith, along with a cast of 14 dancers, 8 musicians and 2 vocalists, Rockin' Road to Dublin combines the art of an Irish dance show, the power of a Rock-N-Roll concert, all with the finish of a Broadway theatrical production. Irish Dancing Magazine  calls  Rockin' Road to Dublin “WORLD CLASS ... a one-two punch of style and mastery ... they made some magic here”. You can purchase tix  online  or purchase them at the Auditorium. For year round information on Irish events in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . 

Lawrence Irish Heritage Month presents “Irish Songs & Stories” with musician Terri Kelley and special guest Sheila Manzi at the Lawrence PublicLibrary at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 26, 2017.  The event is free and open to the public. The concert is hosted by the Friends of Lawrence Public Library and supported by Division 8 Ancient Order of Hibernians in memory of George Kelley. The Lawrence Public Library is located at 51 Lawrence Street .  Read more about Division 8 AOH in this profile of Bill Sullivan .  For more information on Irish activities in Massachusetts , visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

One of the great pleasures of St. Patrick’s Day each year is attending the  Irish Film Festival Boston  (March 23-26, 2017), a wealth of amazing movies, shorts and documentaries coming out of Ireland.  Now in its 17th year, the Irish Film Festival continues to inspire with a great selection of new films that depict the Irish and Irish-American experience. Here is a full schedule of films  at this year's festival.  One film that has garnered attention and praise is Rocky Ros Mus by Director Michael Fanning.  It is the story of boxer Sean Mannion, who left the  quiet Gaeltacht village of Ros Muc in Co. Galway to come to Boston, where he worked his way up the ranks in the boxing world.  Find out more about the Irish Film Festival Boston .  For year round information on Irish activities in New England visit IrishMassachusetts.com . 

Local author David D. McKean is discussing his book, Lowell Irish , at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at the Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitors Center. The event is part of the Lawrence Irish Heritage Month presented each March by Division Eight of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Men's and Women's Division.  See full schedule here. The event is free and open to the public.  The Center is handicapped accessible. A native of Lowell, Mr. McKean is an active historian, archivist,  tour guide and researcher in the illustrious history of the city's Irish community.  He is involved in the Lowell Irish Cultural Week each year, which highlights the history and culture of the Irish community. Find year round information on Irish activities in Massachusetts by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com .

Irish singing star Ronan Tynan performs at the Tiden Arts Center in West Barnstable on Cape Cod at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 19, 2017.   Tickets to the show can be purchased online or at the concert venue. Tynan is one of America's beloved performers, especially in New England, where Ronan has performed the national anthem at Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, TD Garden and countless concert halls in the region. "If you can perform songs in a specific way that moves an audience to a wonderful memory, you've achieved everything you set out to do as a performer," Ronan said in an interview a few years ago, validating why the Irish vocalist has such a local following. The show is presented by Spectacle Management , which promotes top artists at intimate concert venues around the region.  Here is a scheulde of upcoming concerts from Spectacle . For year round information on Irish culture in New England, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

The 66th annual Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade kicks off at noon on Sunday, March 19, 2017 in the City of Holyoke, Massachusetts. This year's grand marshall is Sister Jane F. Morrissey, from the Sisters of Saint Joseph religious order. She is an educator, social justice activist and humanitarian who has worked among the poor all over the world - from Colombia , Peru and Guatemala to Springfield and Holyoke. Other award recipients include actress Ann Dowd, winner of the JFK National Award and writer and publisher Turlough McConnell, winner of the Ambassador Award. The three mile parade starts at Route 5 and Northampton Street and ends at High Street.  Here is a map of the parade route . Other parades taking place in Massachusetts on March 19 are in Abington,  Boston and Scituate. Here is a full schedule of parades in Massachusetts this month. Find year round details on Irish events at IrishMassachusetts.com .

Here is a fun video from Discover Ireland on how St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in Ireland, and around the world. Happy St. Patrick's Day from Boston Irish Tourism Association .

Pendragon , one of New England's most popular Celtic ensembles, is performing in concert at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 18, 2017. Tickets to the show are $15 in advance and $18 the day of the show.  They can be purchased by calling the box office at 401 725-9272. Pendragon includes award-winning step dancer and percussionist  Kevin Doyle, Bob Drouin  on fiddle, bouzouki and tenor banjo,  Russell Gusetti  on guitar and concertina,  Josh Kane  on flute and whistles, and vocalist  Mary Lee Partington . They will be joined tonight by guest step dancer  Erika Damiani  and All-Ireland uileann piper  Torrin Ryan .  Pendragon has been voted Rhode Island's Best Celtic Act nine times in the Motif Magazine's Best Music Awards. The band released a 30th Anniversary CD, "Live at Blackstone River Theatre" in 2014. Here is a schedule of upcoming concerts at Blackstone River Theatre...

Stop into the Irish Cultural Centre i n Canton this weekend to enjoy St. Patrick's Day celebrations, including step dance exhibitions, live music, set dancing, children's activities and more.  Also enjoy authentic Irish and Irish-American cuisine. Located on 46 acres, the Irish Cultural Centre is a year-round facility that promotes Irish culture, heritage and sports throughout the year.  It is located off Route 138, not far from Highways 93 and 128. Read this profile on Maudy Dooher, programming and membership director at the Centre. Fnd out about the Centre here.

Massachusetts State  Senate President Stan Rosenberg  and members of the senate presented a recitation of excerpts from native son  President John F. Kennedy , presented in his City on a Hill speech, spoken on the eve of his inauguration as the 35th President of the United States, given at the House of Representatives Chamber. The recitation was created as part of the St. Patrick's Day festivites, and honors the  centennial of President Kennedy's birthday  of May 29, 1917, which is being celebrated this year by the  John F. Kennedy Library  and others throughout the Commonwealth. Find year round information on the Irish in Massachusetts at  IrishMassachusetts.com . 

Irish traditional pianist  Tom Garvey  is hosting the 31th annual Irish Revue radio program on Friday, March 17, 2017 on WCCM 1110-AM, from noon to 4:00 p.m. You can hear the show streaming at  1110wccmam.com .  The toll-free number to call and make requests or speak with Tom is 1-877-687-8005. The Andover resident is a longtime veteran of the region's Irish traditional music scene, dating back to the 1950s, when Garvey used to travel weekly to the robust Dudley Street in Roxbury, where five dance halls offered continuous Irish, Scottish and Canadian music for waves of immigrants and Boston 's sprawling Irish and Celtic communities.  Garvey played piano in the famous Tara Ceili Band with fiddlers  Larry Reynolds  and Brendan Tonra. Garvey is also a walking encyclopedia of Irish music, with a memory of recordings, musicians and band personnel dating back half a century.  He has donated many of his materials to the  Boston Co...

Due to popular demand, the  Boston Irish Tourism Association  has added a third  guided tour of the Irish Heritage Trail  on St. Patrick's Day weekend.  The tours are taking place at 1:00 p.m. and at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18, starting at the Boston Common Visitors Center on Tremont Street. Ted Kulik, seasoned tour guide for Civil War monuments, Kennedy landmarks and Harvard, is leading the tour on both days.  The tour runs for 75-90 minutes and covers the sites between Boston Common and Boston City Hall.   Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for senior, military and students.  Children under twelve can go free when accompanied by an adult.  The  Boston Irish Heritage Trail  was created by local historian and author Michael Quinlin, who published a map of the Trail in his 1994 book,  Guide to the New England Irish .  The Trail has been developed since 2000 by the Boston Irish Tourism Associati...

Dublin music icon Tony Kenny is performing at the Rogers Center for theArts at Merrimack College at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 17, 2017. You can win a free pair of tickets to attend the show from the Boston Irish Tourism Association. Or you can purchase tickets online to enjoy one of the Irish music highlights of this St. Patrick's Day season. A star of Jurys Irish Cabaret for over 20 years, Tony brings pure showmanship and musicality to his performances.  The Irish Celebration cast on this tour also includes Tony's daughter, Irish singer Victoria Kenny, guitar master Seamus Kennedy, the Dublin City Dancers and the Dublin Trinity Band. For information on Irish activities in Massachusetts year round,visit IrishMassachusetts.com . 

Read this profile on Bill Sullivan , AOH leader and promotor of all things Irish in Lawrence, Massachusetts, published by Boston Irish Tourism Association in its spring 2017 issue of Travel & Culture Guide. Along with the late Dave Burke , Sullivan and  Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division Eight  Chapter, have worked tirelessly to promote the culture and heritage of the Irish community in Lawrence, which first settled there in the mid-19th century as mill workers and laborers.  The Irish rose to prominence within one generation, as John Breen became the first Irish-born mayor of a New England city. Among the initiatives of AOH Division 8 in recent years:  * Launch of the  Irish Collection at the Lawrence Public Library South Branc  * Creation of An Gorta Mor/Irish Famine Memorial at Immaculate Conception Cemetery  * Development of an annual Irish Heritage Month calendar each March to showcase Irish heritage. For more information...

As part of Lawrence Irish  Heritage Month , author Ellen B. Alden is discussing her book, “Yours Faithfully, Florence Burke” on Sunday, March 12 at the Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitors Center,  1 Jackson Street. The  White Fund , in partnership with  Northern Essex Community College , is hosting the lecture at  Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitor’s Center , One Jackson Street , Lawrence .  It is sponsored by Division 8 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.  Alden's historical novel was launched in late June, and is based on the life and times of Florence Burke from County Cork , Ireland - the author's 2nd great grandfather.  Here is a full schedule of events for the Lawrence Irish Heritage Month. For year round information on the Irish in New England, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . 

The Friends of Irish Research is presenting a School of Genealogy from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton. Genealogy expert Richard Reid is presenting two sessions: "Advanced Find My Past Strategies" and "What's New at FamilySearch."  Friends of Irish Research, based in Brockton , is a collection of friends with a desire to utilize their experience and skills to promote the sharing of genealogical knowledge and assist others in their family research. For more information, email friendsofirishresearch@gmail.com or call the Centre at 781 821-8291. Following the genealogy presentation, the Irish Cultural Centre Pub opens at 4:00 p.m. for dinner and drinks. Here is a schedule of upcoming events at the Irish Cultural Centre this month.  Read this profile of Maudy Dooher , head of programming and membership at the Centre. For year round details on Irish cultural activities in New England, visit IrishMa...

Téada , a quartet of talented traditional Irish musicians, performs at the Blackstone River Theatre  in Cumberland, RI at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2017.  Tickets to the show are $24 and can purchased at the venue or by calling 401725-9272. Teada ( pronounced Tay-da, meaning "strings" in Irish) is marking its first visit to the USA in five years.  Known for their deeply traditional approach to Irish music, the band consists of vocalist Méabh Begley, fiddler Oisin Mac Diarmada,   Damien Stenson on flute, Seán McElwain on banjo and bouzouki, and Tristan Rosenstock on bodhrán. Also on this tour is champion step-dancer Samantha Harvey. Here is a full schedule of upcoming concerts at Blackstone River Theatre . For more activities around New England this March, visit BITA's calendar of events .

Governor Charlie Baker proclaimed, March, 2017 as IRISH HERITAGE MONTH in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. With 20.5% of all residents claiming Irish ancestry, Massachusetts is considered the most Irish state in the nation, along with New Hampshire. In the proclamation, Governor Baker cited Irish-Americans from Massachusetts who were heroes during the Revolutionary War, including Patrick Carr and Colonel Henry Knox of Boston and Nathaniel Tracy of Newburyport.  He mentioned Massachusetts residents who have made made significant contributions to society and the nation, including teachers Annie Sullivan and Christa Corrigan McAuliffe, artist John Singleton Copley and Olympian James Brendan Connolly. Governor Baker also mentioned the c entennial birthday of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy , who was born in Brookline on May 29, 1917, a date being celebrated by the John F. Kennedy Library and others throughout the state this year. To find out more about Irish history in...

Ireland's Consulate for New England is hosting  BualadhBos, an Irish Literary Festival at the Harvard Club on March 10-11, 2017. Among the featured writers: Kevin Barry, Lisa McInerney Tara Bergin, Nick Laird, Stephen Sexton, Paul Howard.  Moderators include Consul General Fionnuala Quinlan and Boston Globe columnist Kevin Cullen .  The Irish phrase Bualadh Bos is used to express applause.  For more events on Irish culture and heritage by visiting IrishMassachusetts.com .  To visit Massachusetts, go to MassVacation.com . 

Since the 1950s, any New Englander heading to Ireland immediately looked to Aer Lingus , Ireland ’s national airline. The airline, which the Irish government created in 1936, began direct service between Boston , Shannon and Dublin in October 1958, opening up access for generations of New Englanders who had settled here, while also giving travelers from Ireland a quick, inexpensive access to the region. Today, Aer Lingus continues to service these New England-Ireland connections, with its popular service between Boston’s Logan InternationalAirport and Shannon International Airport and Dublin  International Airport seven days a week. And just last September, Aer Lingus launched direct service between Hartford’s BradleyInternational Airport and Dublin International Airport , opening up convenient travel opportunities for all of Southern New England, including Rhode Island , Connecticut and Western Massachusetts . But what excites American travelers these days i...

St. Patrick's Day celebrations at the  Irish Cultural Centre  in Canton kick off with a concert by  Joshua Tree,  Boston's popular U2 Tribute Band, at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2017.  Tickets to the concert are $15 and you can  purchase them online  or at the Centre. Considered one of the nation's foremost U2 tribute bands, Joshua Tree prides itself with an ability to generate a unique musical experience that does not lend itself to impersonations. Without compromising artistic integrity, the band has gone to great lengths to reproduce the distinct sound of one of the world’s most popular rock bands. Here is a full schedule of activities taking place in March at the Irish Cultural Centre, a year round facility that promotes Irish culture, sports, learning and heritage in Canton, MA.   Learn more about the Irish Cultural Centre.   For year  round details on Irish cultural activities in New England, visit IrishMass...

Lúnasa - one of Ireland's great traditional ensembles - and Karan Casey - one of the great Irish singers of her generation - are joined onstage for two concerts at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI on Saturday, March 4, 2017. The concerts take place at 5:00 and 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the venue or by calling for reservations at 401 725-9272. Lúnasa's has performed at Dublin ’s National Concert Hall, the Sydney Opera House and at the White House. The band's inventive arrangements and virtuousity have brought the band international acclaim.   They are joined at Blackstone River Theatre by vocalist Karan Casey, considered one of the most innovative, provocative and imitated voices in Irish traditional and folk music. Here is a schedule of upcoming events at Blackstone River Theatre . For  other concerts throughout New England in March, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . 

The Boston Irish Tourism Association has scheduled two guided tours of the Irish Heritage Trail on St. Patrick's Day weekend.  The tours are taking place at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18, starting at the Boston Common Visitors Center on Tremont Street. Ted Kulik, seasoned tour guide for Civil War monuments, Kennedy landmarks and Harvard, is leading the tour on both days. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for senior, military and students.  Children under twelve can go free when accompanied by an adult. The Boston Irish Heritage Trail was created by local historian and author Michael Quinlin, who published a map of the Trail in his 1994 book, Guide to the New England Irish .  The Trail has been developed since 2000 by the Boston Irish Tourism Association, and now includes 20 public landmarks in  Boston , as well as an additional 20 Irish landmarks in Boston's neighborhoods . For more information about the Irish community in Massachus...

Today the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced that Former President Barack H. Obama  was selected to receive the 2017 Centennial John F.Kennedy Profile in Courage Award™ for his enduring commitment to democratic ideals and elevating the standard of political courage in a new century.  The prestigious award will be presented by Ambassador  Caroline Kennedy  and her son, Jack Schlossberg, at a ceremony on May 7, 2017 at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of President Kennedy’s birth. “President Kennedy called on a new generation of Americans to give their talents to the service of the country,” said Ambassador Kennedy. “With exceptional dignity and courage, President Obama has carried that torch into our own time, providing young people of all backgrounds with an example they can emulate in their own lives.” “Faced with unrelenting political opposi...

( BOSTON ) -- The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) has issued its 2017 annual St. Patrick’s Day issue of  Travel & Culture Guide , a compendium of parades and festivals, concerts and dances, literary and film events and other cultural activities taking place in Massachusetts and throughout New England . The 28-page color magazine is distributed free at visitor kiosks and cultural venues in Massachusetts and is available in digital format online. Pick up a free copy  here . This issue features profiles of Keith Lockhart, conductor of Boston Pops Orchestra; Jim Barry, Band Master of the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes & Drums; Bill Sullivan, National Board Member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; Bill Linehan, Boston City Councilor from South Boston; Ted Kulik, professional tour guide on Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail; and Maudy Dooher, Director of Programming at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton. Also in the Guide: news on May...