Irish Massachusetts

Photo Courtesy of Inroads Ireland  Looking into taking a tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland?  Here are some recommendations from the Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) , which has been promoting Ireland in the American market since 2000. See details here  on Cara Group Travel, Emerald Heritage Tours and Inroads Ireland Tours. You can also learn about Tourism Ireland initiatives like the Wild Atlantic Way, Northern Ireland Coastal Route, the Fleadh Ceoil in Sligo, the year-long celebration of W.B. Yeats, and upcoming events in Ireland. For year round details on Irish activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

The 22nd annual  Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival  takes place on Saturday, July 18, 2015 at  Look Park  in Florence MA.  The festival runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.and features dozens of Scottish bands as well as sporting, cultural and culinary activities. Headlining bands include Albannach, Soulsha, Prydein, Jennifer Licko, Charlie Zahn and the Cabeys. Tickets are $12 general admission; $5 for children ages 5-12; and children under 5 go free. Read about the  history of the festival  here. Here is a schedule of other  Irish, Scottish and Celtic festivals  around New England this summer. For year round details, visit  IrishMassachusetts.com .

Boston Massacre Memorial Visitors to Boston can celebrate this year's Fourth of July by taking a guided tour of Boston's Irish Heritage Trail , focusing on the Irish who fought in the Revolutionary War and were part of America's quest for independence. The tour, led by seasoned guide Ted Kulik, takes place on Sunday, July 5, at 2:00 p.m., starting from the Boston Common Visitor Information Center.  Tickets, which can be purchased at the Center, are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, students and military. Among the stops along the Trail: The Boston Massacre Memorial on Boston Common, erected in the 19th century by Irish leader J ohn Boyle O'Reilly and other Bostonians. Memorial to Commodore James Barry on Boston Common, a naval hero in the Revolutionary War who was born in Wexford and chosen by George Washington to create the first US Navy; The Old Granary Burying Ground on Tremont Street, where a number of 18th century freedom fighters are buried...

Celtic Woman , the wildly popular all-female singing ensemble from  Ireland  celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, is returning to the  New England  area for a special concert at the  Lynn Auditorium  on Sunday, June 28 at 3:00 pm. The Boston Irish Tourism Association is giving away a free pair of tickets to this special performance. The lucky winner will be notified and announced here on Friday, June 26th, so be sure to check back for the exciting announcement! On the other hand, if you don’t want to take a chance to miss seeing this incredible show, then you can purchase tix  here . Enjoy the show.

The  Chatham Fiddle Company  on Cape Cod is presenting an Irish traditional music concert with  Nuala Kennedy  &  Eamon O'Leary  on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.  Donation to the show is $20. The Chatham Fiddle Company is owned by  Rose Clancy , a well-regarded instrument maker and traditional musician.  Her father is  Gene Clancy  of the well-known musical family from County Armagh .  Find year round details on Irish activities in New England by visiting  IrishMassachusetts.com . 

( BOSTON ) -- The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) has released its 2015 summer issue of  Travel & Culture Guide , a compendium of Irish festivals and concerts plus culinary, cultural and literary activities taking place in Massachusetts and throughout New England .  The 28-page color magazine is  distributed free  at visitor kiosks and cultural venues throughout Massachusetts and is available in  digital format online.   BITA is celebrating its 15th year as a year-round, cultural tourism organization that promotes the state’s largest ethnic community.  The US Census reports that nearly 24% of all Massachusetts residents claim Irish ancestry. BITA publishes three issues of  Travel & Culture Guide  in March, June and November, and has developed the  Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail , which highlights Irish landmarks throughout Boston and around the state. See walking trail tour dates  here . ...

The Irish festival season in New England kicks off with the Boston Irish Festival , taking place at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton on June 13-14, 2015. The two-day event features continuous Irish music and dance, along with other festivities such as a 5K road race , a display of Viking Irish culture, and a feis dance competition among the region's leading Irish dance academies. In addition, find dozens of exhibit vendors featuring the best Irish crafts and products imported from Ireland.   For year round information on Irish activities in Massachusetts visit IrishMassachusetts.com . For visitor information, go to MassVacation.com .

The Boston Irish Tourism Association is offering three guided tours of the Boston Irish Heritage Trail this spring, on Sunday, June 14, June 21 and July 5, 2015. The 75 minute walk, led by veteran tour guide Ted Kulik, covers over 300 years of Boston's illustrious Irish history, from colonial times to the present day. The tour begins at 2:00 p.m. at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center , located at 139 Tremont Street.  Admission is $15 for adults, and $12 for seniors, students and military. Among the stops along the tour is the Shaw Memorial (pictured above), created by Irish-born sculptor Augustus Saint Gaudens. For more information about the Trail, visit IrishHeritageTrail.com Year round details on Boston's Irish cultural community is available at IrishBoston.org .

The Chatham Fiddle Company on Cape Cod is hosting a concert of Irish traditional fiddle maestro Frankie Gavin on Thursday, May 28, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets to the concert are $20.00. Prior to the concert, Mr. Gavin will conduct a 1 1/2 hour fiddle workshop from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.. Tickets to the group workshop are $45.00 each. A native of County Galway, Gavin is founder of the traditional group DeDannan  and is an All-Ireland fiddle champion.  He has released five solo albums and appears on numerous albums of artists like the Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello and Stephane Grapelli. For year round details on Irish cultural activities in New England, visit IrishMassachusetts.com .

Image Courtesy of History in the Headlines St. Brendan the navigator, who may have discovered North America back in the 6th century, is getting his own St. Brendan's Day Bash at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the Canadian-American Club in Watertown. The celebration of one of Ireland's less-known saints is being organized by Tin Can Hooley , an Irish folk band based in Brighton.  Admission is $10, and a cash bar is available. Tin Can Hooley is being joined by Irish singer John Allen of the Big Bad Bollocks , and the musical fare includes Irish traditional tunes and ballads plus American and British sea chanteys.  Allen will also read a selection from his new memoir, Marmite Cowboy . Other guest musicians include members of the Old Brigade, the Jolly Rogues, Tree and the Sprained Ankles, representing a range of experience from folk to hardcore to garage rock. According to author Christopher Klein , St. Brendan was born near Tralee, County Kerry ...