Irish Massachusetts

To celebrate Irish Heritage Month in Massachusetts, the  Consulate General of Ireland in Boston  is hosting Bualadh Boston, a Celebration of Irish literature. It takes place at the Harvard Club in Boston's Back Bay.  The festival opens on Friday, March 2, with  Pulitzer-prize winning poet Paul Muldoon and US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky discussing poetry.  On Saturday, March 3, Boston Globe columnist Kevin Cullen speaks with historian Alvin Jackson, followed by readings by two Irish novelists, Mary Costello and Sally Rooney, introduced by Molly McCloskey.  Register here . For more about St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Massachusetts and New England, visit IrishMassachusetts.com . 

A collection of iconic travel and tourism posters used to promote Ireland during the 20th century is now  available online from the National Museum of Ireland . View the collection here . The collection grew from an exhibit in 2007 entitled Come Back to Erin: Irish Travel Posters of the 20th Century, curated by the late Dr. Seamas Mac Philib. Read Boston-based travel stories on Ireland today , and also variety of airlines to take you there. For more information, visit Ireland.com .

One of Dublin ’s top ballad bands, the Merry Ploughboys return to Mechanics Hall  in Worcester on Saturday, February 24, 2018, to help usher in the St. Patrick’s season. The Boston Irish Tourism Association is pleased to give away a pair of tickets to see the show.  Click here to enter , and check back for the winner on February 22. Or, you can make reservations online to make sure you catch this exciting show that only comes around once a year.  The five-member band had long been a fixture in Dublin's pub scene - serving as the house band for Johnny Foxes and Taylor's Three Rock before buying a pub, aptly named the Merry Ploughboy, in Rathfarnham, Dublin, in 2006.  They first performed in Worcester in 2010, and have returned several times since for their loyal fans.  Mechanics Hall , one of the region's great music venues, is being transformed into an Irish pub so the audience can enjoy and get into the spirited live music in an authentic setting.  

The Boston Irish Tourism Association is offering guided tours of Boston's Irish Heritage Trail on Saturday, March 17 and Sunday, March 18, 2018.  The 90 minute tour begins each day at 1:30 p.m. at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center on Tremont Street.  The tour winds its way over three centuries of the Irish experience in Boston, touching on the 18th century Revolutionary War, the 19th century Civil War and Irish Famine periods and 20th century politics. The tours are led by popular tour guide and local historian Ted Kulik . Find full details on the Irish Heritage Trail tours here. Among the historical legends you'll learn about on the tour: Commodore John Barry, the Father of the American Navy; Patrick Carr, an Irish sailor who was one of the five Boston Massacre victims in 1770; Irish-born sculptors Martin Millmore and Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who created some  of the city's finest Civil War monuments; President John F. Kennedy; and various Boston mayo

The  Boston Irish Tourism Association  (BITA) has released its 2018 schedule of St. Patrick’s Day parades taking place in  Massachusetts  and  Rhode Island  in March.  See parade details here . The marching season kicks off on Saturday, March 10 with the Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and ends on Sunday, March 18, with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Abington,  Boston ,  Holyoke  and  Scituate .  Also included are details of the Irish parade in  Dublin ,  Ireland . Since one in five residents of both Massachusetts and Rhode Island claim Irish ancestry, the St. Patrick’s Day season is a chance for visitors to explore the state’s rich ethnic culture, history and heritage.  Here is information on other cultural activities taking place in March  2018.  BITA publishes three issues of  Travel & Culture  magazine in March, June and November.  The free  magazine, available  at tourism outlets, hotels and cultural venues, focuses on Irish cultural activities in  Mas

Gaelic Storm , the award-winning Irish band whose music appeared on the hit movie, Titanic, performs at The Cabot in Beverly , MA on Thursday, February 15, 2018. Boston Irish Tourism Association is giving away a pair of tickets to see the show. Click here for a chance to win, courtesy of our friends at The Cabot. The lucky winner will be notified and announced here on Tuesday, February 13, so be sure to check back then for the winning announcement! Renowned for its live shows and infectious, raucous energy, Gaelic Storm ’s blend of traditional Irish music with Celtic rock riffs has delighted fans around the world.  The group is performing from its latest album, Go Climb a Tree, described by the group as ‘contemplative escapism,’ features patriotic anthems, drinking songs, folk songs and plenty of Celtic-inspired instrumentals. On the road for 20 years, Gaelic Storm is the perfect live performance band, with a loyal following around the world.  Band member Patrick

The inspirational Irish tenor Ronan Tynan performs at the Palace Theatre in Manchester , NH at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2018. The international singing star has captivated music lovers around the world with his stunning voice, commanding stage presence and the utter joy he exudes while performing before live audiences. A member of the famed Irish Tenors, Ronan’s solo musical career has been remarkable.  His self-titled album debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover Chart.  Read more about Ronan here. Boston Irish Tourism Association is pleased to offer its readers 2 pairs of free tickets to this command performance. To enter to win, go to our Contest Page and submit your entry.  We’ll notify the winners on Thursday, February 8, 2018, so be sure to check back for the winning announcement. Or, you can guarantee your seats and  order tickets online now  to ensure you don't miss out on this very popular performance.