The Greening of Worcester

Worcester’s proud Irish community is front and center for Irish Heritage Month in March, as annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations bring out the marching bands, bagpipers and step dancers, along with live music and dance performances, community theater, dining specials and plenty of conviviality!  

Monique Joseph, the president of Discover Central Massachusetts, describes the region as “a vibrant destination where the arts, history and community events create a rich, inclusive tapestry for visitors and locals alike.”

Worcester’s Irish roots go back to the 18^th century, when a group of sturdy Ulster Presbyterians from the north of Ireland arrived here in 1718.  A century later, on July 4, 1826, a new wave of Irish laborers came to construct Worcester’s canals, roadways and railways. The Irish famine of the 1840s brought even more Irish to Central Massachusetts, and by 1850 Sullivan was the most common name in Worcester. 

Today, those strong Irish roots are still evident in Worcester County, as 17.5% of all residents claim Irish ancestry, according to the US Census Community report, issued in September 2023.  

“Irish culture is such a huge part of Worcester’s identity,”  according to Worcester Radio,  which recently interviewed Erin Zamarro about this year’s 42^nd Annual Worcester County St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 10, starting at  noon.  

Zamarro, in her second year as parade chairperson, oversees some 50 volunteers who plan out the parade, invite participants and raise between $50-70,000 each year to stage the event. 

“We’re a non-profit group,” Zamarro says proudly, “so funds we raise are put into the parade or donated to local programs,” including the Shriners, whose presence helps raise  funds for Shriner Hospital, and also marching bands, dance academies and bagpipers.

The two-mile parade begins at Mill Street and Park Avenue, ends at Highland Street and is free and open to the public. 

This year’s Grand Marshal is Richard Smalley and the Mayor of Parade is Tammy Bailey.  Leo Quinn, one of the early founders of the parade, is operations manager. 

Bud Sargent, popular radio host of the “Four Green Fields” program on WCUW 93.1for four decades, is a live commentator on Spectrum Local News during the parade.

Music, Singing and Dancing

There are plenty of Irish and Celtic concerts and dances, theater and social gatherings in March as well.   The exquisite and historic The Hanover Theatre on Southbridge Steet in Worcester presents the legendary Cape Breton duo of Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy on March 9, followed by the acclaimed show, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, which performs on March 12 & 13, as part of its 25^th anniversary tour around the world.  

The cozy Fiddlers’ Green Pub at the Hibernian Cultural Centre on Temple Street has live music year round, including Sunday afternoon traditional sessions with local musicians and singers.  The Centre presents Irish ballad band Derek Warfield and the Young Wolftones on Friday, March 8, featuring Worcester’s own Brendan Keenan.  On Saturday, March 9, the Druids perform, direct from Ireland. 

As part of Women’s History Month, Worcester Historical Museum presents “Nellie: The Musical,” recounting the exciting life of Irish-American journalist Nellie Bly, on Feb 29, March 1, 7 & 8.

In Boylston, MA, Calliope Performance Center presents “Dancing at Lughnasa” by noted Irish playwright Brian Friel, on March 7-10 and 15-17.  Set in Donegal in the 1930s, it won the 1992 Tony Award for Best Play of the Year. 

Corned Beef & Cabbage

O’Connor’s Restaurant and Bar on West Boylston Street has been an epicenter of Irish hospitality and dining since 1989, when newly arrived Irish immigrants Brendan and Claire O’Connor opened in Worcester.  Since then, O’Connor’s has won the #1 Irish Pub of Massachusetts award from Taste of Massachusetts and other local awards for its amazing food, drink and friendly service as well as community involvement.

 A hugely popular meal this time of year is O’Connor’s prized corned beef and cabbage dinner, being served from March 7-14.  And its “Shannon Bar” has an array of craft draft beers and an eclectic selection of wines and spirits from around the world.

Other local Irish places include Quinn’s Pub and Moynagh’s Pub, Worcester’s oldest tavern.

For visitors seeking authentic products from Ireland, check out Erin Gift Store at Worcester Public Market in Kelley Square, a popular retail clothing & gift store.

 Local officials say the Irish community is just one of the vibrant ethnic communities flourishing in Worcester County today.   

“Central Massachusetts is proud of the variety of activities and organizations that highlight the unique cultures of our dynamic region,” says Monique Joseph of Discover Central MA, who invites visitors to take “a memorable journey through the Heart of Massachusetts’s cultural landscape.”

Central Massachusetts has an abundance of budget-friendly hotels, restaurants, breweries, cultural attractions, and historical landmarks, ensuring a wealth of activities for those visiting for the parade or music. 

For more information on exploring Worcester and Central Massachusetts throughout the year, visit discovercentralma.org or follow us on Facebook/Instagram @DiscoverCentralMA