Ireland announces America250 Commemorative Program in 2026

Ulster American Folk Park

(April 1, 2026)- Ireland’s Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., today announced details of America250 commemorative program marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and highlighting key Irish connection to this historic moment. Minister O’Donovan called the initiative “a partnership between national bodies, creative communities, historians, educators…

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The Ship of War and Angel Of Mercy (USS Jamestown)

USS Jamestown

On March 28, 1847, an American naval ship – the USS Jamestown – left the Charlestown Navy Yard on a humanitarian voyage that captured the world’s imagination. It was the height of the five year famine in Ireland (1845-49), and scores of Irish people were dying in the streets.  The magnitude of the despair, disease and the…

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Spring 2026 Greetings!

Let’s face it, we need spring to arrive in New England sooner than later. We need greenery in our lives, no more snow, no more ice, no more tundra. Thankfully we’ll have our wish, now that our favorite rite of spring, St. Patrick’s Day season has arrived, a sure harbinger of warmer days ahead.  In…

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International Visitors Meet Boston This Summer

Boston Skyline drone photo

Boston is abuzz in 2026 as the city and region prepares for one of its busiest tourist seasons in memory! Three major events are on the horizon: FIFA World Cup Soccer matches in June and July, the 250th events celebrating American Independence on July 4th, and Sail Boston’s Tall Ships promenade on July 11-16. Other…

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Boston’s new Revolutionary Irish Trail

PRESS RELEASE The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) has just released a new Revolutionary Irish Trail, chronicling the role of the region’s Irish and Scots-Irish in the American Revolution through public landmarks, including monuments, statues and historic cemeteries as well as libraries, museums and genealogy centers. The free map with descriptions is available in the spring issue of…

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JFK Library Inspires

Alice McDermott

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood draws visitors from right down the street and also from across the globe. For some visitors, it is a school class trip to learn about Boston’s most famous native son and 35th president of the United States. For others, the visit is a…

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Logan Airport Says Olé to World Cup Soccer Fans

Soccer balls at Gillette Stadium

This summer, Massachusetts and all of New England is chanting “Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé” as tens of thousands of travelers from around the globe journey here for FIFA World Cup Soccer matchesat Gillette Stadium (or Boston Stadium)in Foxborough. And no one is more prepared to greet them than Massport CEO Rich Davey and his dedicated…

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Discover Quincy’s Marina Bay

Marina Bay restaurants and boardwalk

Discovering Quincy, Massachusetts is like opening up an exciting panorama of history, culture, cuisine and outdoor beauty that brings lasting memories and a desire to return again. Located seven miles south of downtown Boston, this picturesque city of 100,000 residents is encircled by 7,000 acres of the beautiful Blue Hills Reservation and by 27 miles…

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Irish Gift Ideas – Spring ’26

Bridget's - An Irish Tradition

BRIDGET’S – AN IRISH TRADITION88 West Main Street, Norton  Since 1987, the mother-daughter duo, Bridget Daly and Lorraine Ryan, have specialized in authentic hand-made Irish clothing such as sweaters, caps and shawls, the shop also sells Celtic jewelry and imported sweets and teas from Ireland + home-made brown bread, perfect gifts for seasonal holidays, special…

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Convention News

John Barros headshot

Congratulations to John Barros, the recently appointed Interim Executive Director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, which hosts hundreds of annual conventions and meetings that generate over $1 billion annually in economic impact for Boston and Massachusetts, while also enhancing the civic life of local communities. Formerly the Chief of Economic Development for the City…

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Spring Travel & Culture Celebrates the Irish in New England and Travel to Ireland

The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) released its Annual Spring Travel & Culture magazine, highlighting New England’s robust St. Patrick’s Day and spring seasons, plus travel ideas for visiting Ireland this year. The 48-page magazine print edition is available free at visitor centers and cultural venues in greater Boston and New England and is also available online.  “New England is overdue…

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Central Mass Goes Green

Worcester Parade

Every March on St. Patrick’s Day, Irish pride shines bright in Central Massachusetts, a beautiful region of New England where 17.5% of residents claim Irish ancestry. The Irish are just one of “the many unique cultures of our dynamic region,” says Monique Joseph, president of Discover Central Massachusetts, a dynamic visitors bureau representing 35 cities…

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Celtic Culture in New England

Riverdance Heartland Kick Line

Thanks to the region’s high concentration of residents boasting Irish roots going back generations, Irish culture sparkles all year round in New England. Add in the vibrant Scottish and Canadian Maritime communities, and you can experience a rich offering of Celtic traditions and sensibilities anywhere you go. That Irish presence reaches a joyous crescendo each…

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Boston Irish Events of the Season

Boston Events of the Season March 2026

The Boston Irish have been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day for decades, generations and even for centuries! These four annual events illuminate the durability, cohesion, dedication and good deeds of the Boston Irish community in March and throughout the year. On March 4, the Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston holds its 6th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration….

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Revolutionary Valley: An Emerald Gem

Alyssa Barker

The 21 cities and towns that comprise the Revolutionary Valley north of Boston are filled with natural beauty, tasty cuisine, vibrant culture and a proud history and multi-ethnic heritage. In 2026, the City of Lowell celebrates the 200th anniversary of its founding and ethnic traditions, which began when Irish immigrants came here in the 1820s…

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St. Pat’s Celebrations at Groton Hill

Nathan Gourley and Laura Feddersen

Celebrate Celtic music, song, and dance on Sunday, March 15 with Groton Hill’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in the magnificent 1000-seat Concert Hall at Groton Hill Music Center, located in beautiful Groton, Massachusetts, just an hour northwest of Boston. A tour-de-force collaboration of some of the finest artists on the scene today, this all-ages…

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Sound Stages: Irish Music, Dance & Comedy

The High Kings

Two historic theaters – Chevalier Theatre in Medford and The Wilbur Theatre in Downtown Boston – are exquisite settings for experiencing live performances throughout the year. Both theatres are operated by veteran promoter Bill Blumenreich who books an innovative line-up of small and large-scale music and dance, stand-up comedy and theater productions year-round. This St. Patrick’s…

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Blackstone River Theatre is Praiseworthy

Russel Gusetti and group

The accolades keep coming for Russell Gusetti, and rightly so. As founder and executive director of the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI, he is celebrating the 25th anniversary of what many consider to be one of New England’s most beloved acoustic music venues. It was Russell who salvaged an abandoned building ready for demolition and painstakingly…

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Family Fun at Patriot Place

Irish Step Dancers performing outside Patriot Place storefronts

Irish pride, lots of fun and good cheer come together at the 15th Annual Irish Festival at Patriot Place, taking place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026! The daylong celebration features live performances by Irish musicians and step dancers, as well as a full slate of Irish-themed activities for the…

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Holyoke Parade Honors Excellence

Olympic gold medalist Katie Taylor

Three heroes – a world-champion boxer, a nationally renowned police chief, and a local community leader – are being recognized at this year’s Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Irish professional boxer and Olympic gold medalist Katie Taylor (pictured) is receiving the 33rd Ambassador Award, presented to an individual or group that…

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A Boston Irish Dream Come True

Irish Cultural Center exterior

The Boston Irish have always wanted a cultural home they could call their own, a place to gather with family and friends, where they could preserve their culture, strengthen their heritage and have a bit of fun in the process. In the 19th century, they gathered in community centers, parish halls or tenement kitchens, spread…

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Ceol agus Rince at ICC

Neil Byrne

For 25 years, the Irish Cultural Centre has celebrated some of the world’s finest Irish music and dance, and this season continues that fine tradition. On March 4, ICC presents its prestigious Gradam Dóchas Award to Irish step dancing champion and devoted dance teacher Liam Harney of Walpole. A two-time World Champion who has performed…

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Nick Collins Welcomes You to Southie

Collins family photo

The annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast is a cherished part of Irish celebrations in South Boston each March. Part sing-along, stand-up comedy and political roast, the breakfast dates back to the early 20th century and always precedes the St. Patrick’s Day parade nearby.  South Boston State Senator Nick Collins, who has hosted the  St. Patrick’s…

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