MASSACHUSETTS CELEBRATES IRISH HERITAGE MONTH IN MARCH
In Massachusetts, St. Patrick’s Day season runs throughout the month of March, a reflection of the deep-rooted Irish community that has settled here since the 17th century.
Visit the Irish Heritage Month page at Mass Office of Travel & Tourism for a round-up of parades, cultural venues, heritage sites and Irish pubs and restaurants. And below, here’s a selection of concerts, exhibits and hotel and restaurant specials happening in March 2023. Slainte!
HOTELS & RESTAURANT SPECIALS
The popular OAK Long Bar + Kitchen at the Fairmont Copley Plaza is serving two St. Patrick’s Day specials from Friday, March 17 through Sunday, March 19. Those wanting to celebrate overnight in Boston can book Fairmont Copley Plaza’s Pot O’ Gold room package for two available all of March in honor of Boston’s Irish Heritage Month.
On March 8, The Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington, Chef Trisha Pérez Kennealy’s Supper Club features an interactive cooking class set in a lively dinner party setting, where participants learn to make traditional Irish Soda Bread and Colcannon. On March 9, enjoy the Dubliner Irish Whiskey Farm to Vine Dinner featuring Codman Farms at the Inn.
On March 17, the Rebel Guild at the Revere Hotel Boston Common features an Irish Comfort Food Classic, with braised corn beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread and more.
On March 17, MJ O’Connors in Boston and at the Westin Seaport Hotel offers authentic Irish dishes, from Guinness Beef Stew and Corned Beef & Cabbage to Irish and Chips and Kilkenny Steak Tips.
On March 23, the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton presents its popular Irish Breads & Scones Cookery Classwith Boston Bakeology.
IRISH MUSIC & DANCE
Photo credit: A St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn
A St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn with popular GBB Host Brian O’Donovan performs in Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport on March 15, Groton Hill Music Center in Groton on March 16, Sanders Theatre in Cambridge on March 18 and The Cabot Theatre in Beverly on March 19.
North of Boston, Michael O’Leary & Friends on March 10 plays at the Shalin Liu on March 10, and the Donegal band Altan takes the stage on March 25.
In Central Mass, the Hanover Theatre in Worcester welcome the Red Hot Chilli Pipers on March 11, while Old Sturbridge Village hosts A Celtic Celebration with Irish harp, bagpipes and dancing on March 18.
In Western Mass, the Bombyx Center for Arts in Florence welcomes Irish fiddle master Eileen Ivers on March 12, and legendary Irish ensemble Altan on March 26. The Drake in Amherst present the Big Bad Bollocks on March 17.
South of Boston, Ireland’s Michael Londra performs at Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford on March 12, and Gillette Stadium hosts an Irish Festival on March 14.
In greater Boston, the world-famous Black Rose Pub at Faneuil Hall has live Irish music seven days a week. On March 8, Irish band Dervish plays at the Burren Pub in Davis Square,, Somerville, and the Young Dubliners are at The Harp across from TD Garden on March 14.
Celtic Bells perform at the JFK Library in Boston on March 11, while Gaelic singer Mairin Ui Cheide performs at the Lars Anderson Museum in Brookline on March 16.
On March 17-19, Boston’s favorite Irish Rockers, the Dropkick Murphys rock the MGM Music Hall next to Fenway Park, while Gaelic Storm and the High Kings play at Chevalier Theater in Medford on March 18.
The Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston in Canton offers Irish music and dancing on March 10 featuring Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Ceili Band, then Joe Glynn on March 11. On March 17 live music and dancing runs all day, followed by a concert at night with Green Road and Clodagh Kinsella. On March 18, local band Strawberry Hill entertains.
On March 15-18, the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England in West Springfield has live Irish music sessions, Irish dance school performances, and music from New Leaf featuring John Tabb on accordion, Kira Jewett on fiddle and vocalist Jim Bunting on guitar.
IRISH EXHIBITS & HERITAGE TRAIL
Photo credit: Boston National Historical Park
The Boston National Historical Park’s Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Center has a special exhibit called ‘The Voyage of the USS Jamestown: American Aid to Ireland, 1847,’ depicting the heroic voyage that delivered tons of food, medical supplies and resources to people suffering during the Irish Famine. The USS Jamestown mission was led by Captain Robert Bennet Forbes, whose estate is now the Forbes House Museum in Milton.
During Lawrence Irish Heritage Month, the Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitors Center has a special exhibit, “Dublin 1916: A Look Back in Time” running through March 28. The exhibit is part of a month-long series of events sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Take a walk on the Boston Irish Heritage Trail, a self-guided walk along 300+ years of illustrious history. Free maps are available at the Visitor Center on Boston Common. Or drive along the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail, covering nine cities and towns South of Boston.
You can get more information about the Ireland-Massachusetts connections at Ireland’s Consulate General in Boston’s Back Bay.
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