Irish Massachusetts

  Milmore's Civil War Monument in Winthrop Square, Charlestown Boston's vibrant neighborhood of Charlestown has a rich Irish history that goes back to the American Revolution and continues today.  There are several landmarks in Charlestown that visitors can explore along the Boston Irish Heritage Trail.  Here are a few or our favorites. Bunker Hill Monument, photo courtesy of Peter Drier A Boston National Historic Park overseen by the National Park Service, the Bunker Hill Monument is one of the city's and nation's most iconic war memorials, the site where the famous battle between the British and New England colonists took place on June 17, 1775. Historian Michael O'Brien estimates that 176 Irish fought on the colonial side, many of them Scots-Irish from New Hampshire. Bunker Hill Monument at Winthrop Square Just down the street from the Monument are the Bunker Hill Tablets in Winthrop Square, which honors the Americans killed during the famous battle. They incl...

Photo courtesy of Colleen Kelly,  Irish Cultural Centre The Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston is hosting the 4th annual Galway Races Gala this Saturday, July 27 from 6 to 11:30 p.m. at its 46 acre campus in Canton, MA. Hosted by the Young Professionals Committee at the Cultural Centre, the annual event is one of the highlights of the summer season.   General admission is $85, and $75 for ICC members. A table of 10 can be purchased for $800   Tickets can be purchased online . The popular event features a buffet dinner,  plus live horse racing betting, raffles and dancing. A highlight of the annual event is the contest awards for summer style and elegance.  Categories include Best Hat, Best Dressed Male, Best Dressed Female, and Best Dressed Couple. Strawberry Hill Band and the Jake Ash Band present live music throughout the event, and a special feature this year is a performance by the Centre's own Declan Crowley , former Lord of the Dance Principal Dancer,...

Aer Lingus, Ireland's national airline carrier, has a special sale for traveling from Boston Logan International Airport to Dublin International Airport and Shannon International Airport in Ireland.  These great fall fares are available now for a limited time: you can travel to Ireland between August 19 and Ocobert 6, 2024 for $399 round trip, including taxes!  You must book by July18, 2024.  Use this link for the discount . Please note certain restrictions apply. Aer Lingus has been flying to and from Boston since October 5, 1958. Read about the historic first flight .

  Riverdance Summer School at Boston University Riverdance , the acclaimed Irish dance revue that became a world-wide sensation since its debut in 1995, is holding its annual Summer School at Boston University from July 15-27, 2024.  The program is taught by Riverdance dancers, considered the best dance professionals in the world. Week One runs from July 15-20, and Week Two from July 22-27, with classes running each day from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the BU Fitness and Recreation Center on campus.   Here is the Boston Application . Boston Junior program The Riverdance Summer School also offers a program for young dancers, aged 6-11.  Week One of Boston Juniors runs from July 17-20 and Week Two, July 24-27.  Here is Boston Juniors Application . Read about past Riverdance performances in greater Boston and New England. 

One of the most enjoyable parts of the weekend is the Under Six competitions on Thursday and Friday.   The Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston is hosting the O’Neills Continental Youth Championships this weekend, July 11-14, 2024 at its 46-acre facility in Canton, MA.  The Continental Youth Championships is organized by a committee appointed by the President of the  Gaelic Athletic Association   The event is the largest youth Gaelic games tournament outside of Ireland and hosts teams from the US Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Canadian GAA and New York GAA.  See details here , including venue map, food menus, bus schedules and updated results . ICC Executive Director Jerry McDermott welcomed the participants who traveled here from across the continent and also people from the region's Irish-American community who are coming to see the exciting games of Gaelic football, hurling and camogie.  McDermott said the tournament will feature uniq...

  The popular  BosTix discount ticket booth, a staple at Faneuil Hall since 1979, is back in business, after being closed since 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. The kiosk reopens this Wednesday, July 10, marking a new era for the booth's nonprofit owner, ArtsBoston .  For more than four decades, BosTix has offered a direct connection between the area's robust performing arts scene, and residents, tourists and other visitors who want to purchase tickets to local theater, concerts, films, literary events and more. To commemorate this week's opening, BosTix is partnering with the Emerson Colonial Theatre to offer an exclusive $49 deal for tickets to the pre-Broadway musical "The Queen of Versailles." Starring Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Kristin Chenoweth, and Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham with music and lyrics by celebrated songwriter Stephen Schwartz, the show runs in Boston from July 16 to August 25. ArtsBoston Executive Director Catherine Peterson sa...

Meadhbh Walsh   Irish singer Meadhbh Walsh is starting her American tour this summer at the Irish Culture Center of Greater Boston at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10. Tickets are $25 and available to purchase online or at the Centre. The 22-year old musician hails from Meelin in County Cork, and is a recent graduate of University College Cork.  She has toured from Scotland to Dubai as a soloist and with traveling Irish bands.  She recently performed at the Willie Clancy Week in County Clare, a gathering of the best Irish musicians from around the world.   Follow her on Instagram for the latest updates. Opened in 1989, the Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston is located in Canton, Massachusetts, less than 10 miles from Boston, on a 46 acre campus complete with cultural stages and classrooms, a library, pub and restaurant, an authentic thatched cottage, playing fields and walking paths. See Upcoming cultural programming   events   at the ICC, and foll...

Boston's historic ties to the U.S. Navy are on full display this week as Navy Week comes to town on July 1-7, 2024, the first Navy Week gathering hosted by Boston since 2012. Dozens of sailors from across the country will be on-hand, to talk with area and community residents about why the Navy matters to Boston. Many of the activities are taking place at the Charlestown Navy Yar d, home of the  USS Constitutio n ,  Boston National Historic Park  and  USS Constitution Museum .   See Full Schedule of Events.  U.S. Navy Band Performing in Downtown Boston Boston Navy Week features in-person demonstrations, performances and engagements throughout the week, including appearances by the heralded U.S.Navy Band.   "We are thrilled to bring the Navy to Boston," said NAVCO's director, Cmdr. Anthony Falvo. “Though our Navy is deployed around-the-world and around-the-clock, the Navy Week program allows us to showcase our service in places that don’t enjoy an e...