Music
By Irish Boston Tourism Newsroom Rockport Celtic Festival Artistic Director Maeve Gilchrist (pictured below) has done it again. Each year the Scottish harpist gathers together an all-star cast of musicians, dancers and singers to convey the incredible musical journey of the Celtic nations. From Ireland, Scotland, British Isles, Galicia and Brittany to Quebec, the Maritime…
By Irish Boston Tourism Newsroom Three immensely popular Celtic bands are returning to New England this summer, thanks to the tireless efforts of Spectacle Live, a concert promotion and venue management group led by Lowell native Pete Lally. First up is Gaelic Storm, pictured, performing at Cary Memorial Hall in Lexington on June 14. The…
By Irish Boston Tourism Newsroom Boston is awash in a frenzy of fun, fandom and fever pitch this summer as visitors descend upon the area for three special occasions: World Cup Soccer, America 250 celebrations and the return of the Tall Ships. These events showcase all that Greater Boston has to offer. In addition to…
By Irish Boston Tourism Newsroom The magic of the highlands sparkles in Western Massachusetts this summer as the 31st Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival returns in splendor to Florence in Northampton on Saturday, July 18. Billed as the only festival of its kind in Massachusetts and the second largest in New England, this rain-or-shine celebration in…
By Irish Boston Tourism Newsroom The Celtic spirit is alive and well in New England, fortified over centuries by generations of immigrants arriving from Ireland, Scotland and Canada, and replenished today by a constant flow of authentic, high level Celtic culture embedded in the region. That fine tradition continues in 2026, as scores of musicians,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The spring season in Ireland has become a sweet spot for intrepid visitors who prefer a slow, gentle experience on this green-laden island which blossoms into color and warmth in April and May. Rural areas, farmlands, small villages and urban centers come alive as birds return to their favorite nesting sites, foals, lambs and calves…
The Fleadh Cheoil (Irish Music Festival) is coming to Belfast, Northern Ireland in August, 2026 and Brack Tours is offering visitors the chance of a lifetime to experience the world’s largest festival of Irish music, dance and song. Organized by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the Fleadh Cheoil attracts the best Irish musicians from around the world, who come for the…
Greater Boston’s acclaimed traditional Irish organization, Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, is now accepting students for its 10-week spring semester at its CCÉ Boston Music School, which runs from January 26 through April 1, 2026. Deadline for enrollment is Monday, January 19, 2026. See enrollment form. Every level of musician – including beginners, intermediate and advanced players,…
It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas, to paraphrase the popular lyric, especially here in New England, where holiday shows inspire, comfort and bring joy to listeners, from big concert halls to small churches and cultural venues. It turns out New England has a distinctive connection to holiday music, since many iconic Christmas songs…
Sixteen Shows at the BCA – December 2-7 and December 9-14 The Off-Broadway Irish dance revue, A Celtic Christmas, comes to Boston this holiday season, with 16 shows scheduled at the BCA in the South End. The show features some of the world’s finest Irish dancers and musicians, and bring the sounds of Christmas to…
What began in 1994 as a one-time event to raise funds for an historic church in western Massachusetts is still going strong some three decades later. On July 19, 2025, the beloved Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary. The milestone offers a moment to reflect on why Glasgow is readily hailed as one of the most…
Folk music or roots music, classical or chamber, jazz or world music – everything sounds sublime and inspiring at Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA. Curated by Rockport Music, this acoustically brilliant concert venue offers a stellar schedule of live performance year after year to this scenic fishing town north of Boston. All summer,…
The world’s biggest Irish traditional music gathering is taking place in the Town of Wexford in Ireland on August 3-10 in Wexford Town. The annual Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (Festival of Irish Music) was launched in the 1950s to preserve Irish traditional music, dance, singing, recitation and the spoken Irish language. This year an estimated 700,000…
The Boston Harbor Hotel is bringing back the popular Summer in the City music series at 70 Rowes Wharf along Boston’s waterfront. The free music concerts take place Tuesdays through Fridays, from June 6 to August 28. Organizers say the the series is returning in 2025 “bigger, bolder and more vibrant than ever, with a fresh…
Boston is buzzing all summer and fall with hundreds of amazing events taking place downtown, in Back Bay, and all of the city’s neighborhoods and surrounding cities and towns. This year is a great time to Meet Boston, a city that never gets old. HOZIER IN CONCERT June 23-24 Ireland’s acclaimed artist Hozier performs “Unreal…
As summer sun casts its warmth over the hills and mills of Greater Merrimack Valley, the region pulses with the spirit of Celtic heritage. From Lowell to Lexington, Concord to Westford, this corner of Massachusetts is a vibrant tapestry of music, dance, and celebration. For those of Irish descent—and for anyone captivated by Celtic culture—take…
Getting outside in summer is a pre-requisite in New England, especially after a dreary winter! Check out our schedule of outdoor and indoor festivals throughout New England that offer something for everyone in 2025. Enjoy! September 6-7SEISIÚN FESTIVALThe Stage at Suffolk Downs, East Boston A brand-new festival, featuring some iconic and up-and-coming Irish and American…
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These organizations promote Irish Culture in New England.
