Entertainment
Since 1952, the people of western Massachusetts have been celebrating Irish heritage and culture, as well as community pride, at the annual Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade. Now in its 72nd year, the 2.65 mile parade kicks off on Sunday, March 23rd at 11 a.m. from Kmart Plaza on Rt. 5 – Northampton Street and ends…
Acclaimed actress, author, and model Bridget Moynahan is the 2025 recipient of the John F. Kennedy National Award, issued annually by the St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke, MA. The prestigious award is bestowed each year to Americans of Irish descent who have distinguished themselves in their chosen career and who demonstrates the values of family, faith and community…
The Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston has abundant reasons to be joyful this holiday season, as it celebrates an important milestone and presents another robust season of Irish music, dance, social gatherings and family fun this Christmas and through the winter months. Thirty-five years ago, in 1989, a group of Irish and Irish-Americans came…
Our favorite concert venues offer a mix of music, from the Celtic traditions of Ireland, Scotland and the Canadian Maritimes, to sacred church music, classical, jazz and popular melodies we cherish from childhood. The Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA is a case in point. On Dec 5, jazz pianist David Benoit performs A…
Fresh off a summer of interior and exterior renovations and improvements, the acclaimed Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI has continued its run of excellent concerts this fall, including many acts appearing for their first time at the hallowed venue. “Audiences have responded positively to the freshened-up look of everything but ultimately, it’s the performers…
Riverdance is celebrating 30 phenomenal years as one of the world’s most beloved cultural productions, and that is good news for Boston! Riverdance – The New Generation, is returning to the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston for eight performances on April 8 – 13, 2025. Individual and group tickets can be purchased online –…
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo gave an upbeat assessment on the State Department‘s ongoing efforts to strengthen its ability to issue visas to Americans and foreign visitors, in anticipation of a “mega decade” for sports tourism in the United States. As a result of these efforts, “more people are traveling to the…
Formed in 2013 in Lowell, MA, Spectacle Live has become one of New England’s premier concert promoters in less than a decade. Founder Pete Lally’s original philosophy – to match the right artist with the right venue at the right date – has proven to be a winner, and today, the company offers creative solutions…
The New England Free Jacks, based in Quincy, MA, made history on Sunday, August 4 by winning its second consecutive Major League Rugby (MLR) Championship with a hard-fought, 20-11, victory over the Seattle Seawolves in the MLR title game at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. Read full press release. With the win, the Free Jacks join Seattle…
Ireland’s greatest export has always been its people, so the saying goes, and in recent years Ireland’s cultural output – in film, music, dance and literature – has also emerged as wildly popular, particularly in the United States. Start with film, where actors like Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon are winning both popular…
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…
Many people wonder why the Boston Celtics wear shamrocks on their green uniforms and have a giant leprechaun smoking a cigar as their team logo. And why is the team mascot a guy named Lucky who looks like he stepped out of a box of Lucky Charms? According to the Boston Celtics official website, the name came…
On Monday, April 6, 1896, James Brendan Connolly of South Boston became the first medalist in the modern Olympic Games when he won the triple jump on the opening day of the Games in Athens, Greece. Connolly won the event – back then it was called the Hop, Skip and Jump – by jumping 44 ‘ 9…
Musician and singer Kevin McElroy of Maine is well regarded around New England for his skill as an instrumentalist and singer, his knowledge of Irish traditional music, and his work as a restorer of antique instruments, particularly the violin. His latest CD, Better Late than Never: Irish + Traditional Songs, will further cement his reputation and…
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…
It is a one-day event that takes a year to plan, a gift of love to the city from the community, a joyous celebration of heritage and pride, an offer to venture outside and brave the elements while welcoming spring. The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade is all of that and more. Launched in 1952, Holyoke consistently…
Considered one of America’s great places to visit, Boston is steeped in riveting history and robust culture. Full of distinctive neighborhoods, college campuses and international cuisines, every step you take in Boston brings a new adventure and a thrilling discovery. The Walking City Boston’s natural beauty is enticing, especially in spring, when the city undergoes an environmental…
New England is fortunate to have a vibrant sporting scene, ranging from our professional sports teams and collegiate programs to plenty of grass roots and seasonal sports. Let’s start with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), which formed in Ireland in the late 19th century to perpetuate the country’s ancient games such as hurling, camogie and…
Hailed as one of the best Irish parades in America, the annual Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade offers an extraordinary display of pageantry and fun each year, as thousands of marchers and hundreds of thousands of spectators line the streets of the city to celebrate Irish heritage, the arrival of spring, and the community spirit that makes…
From humble beginnings back in 2005, the annual Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Parade has steadily become a favorite activity for New Englanders celebrating Irish Heritage Month each March. It was initially organized by local Irish groups such as the Sons of Erin and Cape Cod Irish Village, and over time the parade has welcomed numerous local businesses,…
Newport, RI, a magical year-round vacation destination, comes alive each March as the city celebrates St. Patrick’s Day and Irish Heritage Month. And no wonder: Rhode Island ranks 3rd in the nation in percentage of residents claiming Irish ancestry at 17.9%, according to the U.S. Census. Newport’s Irish connections date back to the 18th century,…
The highly-acclaimed and ever-popular TradFest Temple Bar returns to Dublin from January 25-29, 2023 with more than 100 Irish artists and international performers at 85 events in cultural venues across the city. Now in its 18th season, 2023 TradFest offers a perfect balance between seasoned traditional legends and brilliant young artists at the start of…
On a string of Saturdays stretching back years and now decades, Brian O’Donovan’s soothing radio voice has been welcomed in households, cars and earphones around New England, and streaming across the globe. A native of Clonakilty, West Cork, Brian moved to Boston in 1980. He has since become an authority, ambassador and champion of Celtic…
Belfast, a city of undeniable musical chops and outrageously gifted musicians, has been officially named as a UNESCO City of Music in November 2021. The prestigious honor puts Belfast in the company of musical bastions like Glasgow, Liverpool, Kingston, Havana and Kansas City, and confirms what many of us already know: this city rocks! World-renowned…
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