Press Contacts: Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau: Larry Meehan lmeehan@bostonusa.com direct line for media: 617-867-8231; Stacy Shreffler sshreffler@bostonusa.com, 617-867-8203.

Click here to view our 2008 Events Calendar: explore! Multicultural Boston

March 15, 2008 Edition

Boston’s Irish Heritage Month Events

March 2008

Irish Heritage Month offers visitors to Boston concerts & exhibitions to celebrate

Irish culture

BOSTON- Boston celebrates the Irish Heritage Month with a series of parades, concerts, sports events, exhibitions and special events. 2008 is a particularly exciting year for Boston with the Chieftains in concert, "If You're Irish" music show and Lord of the Dance. 

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick declared March Irish Heritage Month in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Click here to view the proclamation.

www.IrishMassachusetts.com is a great website year-round for Irish events, attractions and tours.  For exciting St. Patrick's Weekend events, visit the BostonUSA St. Patrick's Weekend webpage.
 

Boston’s St. Patrick’s Parade 2008 information, followed by highlights of the Boston St. Patrick’s Celebration 2008:
These events are constantly updated; please return to this site for more events.

• The 107^th annual Boston St. Patrick's Day parade will begin at 1:00pm Sunday March 16, 2008 in South Boston, a distinctly Irish neighborhood jutting into Boston Harbor. The parade features dozens of bands from Ireland and across the United States, including local favorites like Boston Police Gaelic Column, composed of Boston police officers. The 107th annual parade begins its route at the Broadway “T” station , heads east along Broadway and winds its way through the streets of South Boston, ending at the Andrew “T” station. Both stations are on the “T” Red Line, so it’s very easy to get to the parade without driving and parking. Click here for a detailed map of the parade or go to www.southieparade.org.

• The first ever St. Patrick's Day celebration in America happened in 1737 in Boston and the city still boasts one of the USA's biggest St Patrick's Day parties.

• The state of Massachusetts presents seven St. Patrick’s Parades--- and Manchester, New Hampshire offer an eighth choice for visitors, just an hour north of Boston. Here are the dates of the 2008 St. Patrick's Day parades: Abington, Sunday, March 16 at 1:00pm, Boston, Sunday, March 16 (the biggest of course) at 1:00pm, Cape Cod, Saturday March 8 at 11am, Holyoke, Sunday, March 30 at 12:00 noon, Lawrence, Sunday, March 9 at 1:00pm, Scituate, Sunday, March 16 at 1pm, Worcester, Sunday, March 9 at 12:00 noon, and Manchester, NH, Sunday, March 30 at 12:00 noon.
   
• John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston offers a unique Irish connection: National Memorial is a popular destination for Irish Americans. A stop at the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston will remind any visitor of the important role Irish Americans have played in the history of the country. One of Boston’s most popular destinations for visitors from all nations, the national memorial to President John F. Kennedy -- America’s first Irish Catholic president -- sits on a 10-acre waterfront site on Columbia Point offering panoramic views of Boston’s skyline and Harbor Islands. Click here for more details. Tollfree: 866-JFK-1960.

Highlights of the Boston St. Patrick’s Celebration 2008:

• Reflections of Ireland: Music and Landscapes, Boston College March 1-31, 2008 Artist Richard Tommey's portraits of Boston-based Irish musicians is on display through the month at Boston College's John J. Burns Library.  On March 11, a reception with live music takes place from 4:30-6:30p.m. For more information, visit www.bc.edu.  

• Dervish in concert, Somerville Theatre, Saturday, March 1, 2008 A traditional Irish band.  For tickets or more information, visit http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com.         

• Traditional Irish Breakfast with Lawrence Mayor, Lawrence, MA , Saturday, March 1, 2008   A traditional Irish breakfast menu including eggs, Irish bacon, Irish sausage, Barry's Irish Tea, scones, brown bread, Irish soda bread and black and white pudding.  Hosted by Mayor Michael Sullivan at the Claddagh Pub on Saturday, March 1 from 8-11am.  $8 tickets can be purchased at www.homestead.com/div8aoh or by calling 978-688-8337.

• Camerata Ireland, Jordan Hall, Friday, March 7, 2008  Comerata Ireland is a 30-piece chamber orchestra comprised entirely of Irish musicians.  Under the direction of conductor Barry Douglas, Camerata Ireland is dedicated to celebrating Ireland and her music-making history.  For more information on the concert at NEC's Jordan Hall, please call 617 482-6661 or visit www.celebrityseries.org.  

• "Shining City," Huntington Theatre, March 7-April 6, 2008 Nominated for 3 Tony Awards, including best play, Irish playwright Conor McPherson's Broadway hit is a contemporary Irish ghost story set in a Dublin therapist's office. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.huntingtontheatre.org or call 617-266-0800.

• Harpoon St. Patrick's Festival, Harpoon Brewery, March 7-8, 2008 Inside the largest brewery in Boston, come kick off St. Patrick's Week at an indoor waterfront festival. Food stations sell corned beef & cabbage along with other delicious food & bars offer a selection of fresh Harpoon and UFO beer featuring Hibernian Ale. Live Irish and Rock and Roll bands from the Boston area will be featured, so come dance the jig, enjoy Harpoon Beer and celebrate St. Patrick!  For more information, call 617 574-9551 x3 or visit www.harpoonbrewery.com. 

• Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Saturday, March 8, 2008   Pipes, drums and highland dancers perform music of Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales, producing a grand martial spectacle that is unforgettable.  Presented by Celebrity Series of Boston, the band will be featured at Boston's Symphony Hall.  Please visit www.celebrityseries.org or call 617 482-6661 for more information. 

• The Cape Cod St. Patrick's Day Parade , South Yarmouth, Saturday, March 8, 2008  This Cape Cod has always been a favorite Irish American vacation spot and their annual St. Patrick's Day parade has become one of the most popular in Massachusetts.  This year's parade theme is "Irish Myths and Legends" and this year’s Grand Marshal is Doug Meehan of Fox 25 Morning News. 

• The Boston Irish Tourism Association’s 4th Annual "Gaelic Gourmet Gala Week", March 9-17, 2008 celebrates the culinary delights of America’s most Irish city. Celebrity chefs from Boston team up with visiting master chefs from Ireland for a weeklong movable feast at some of the city's finest hotels and restaurants like the Omni Parker House, Jurys Boston, Seaport Boston and Hotel Commonwealth. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in style.  Each event is listed throughout our calendar, but for reservations or more information visit Irish Food & Culture.

• In the Kennedy Kitchen with Niel Connolly, Part of Gaelic Gourmet Week Celebrations, Sunday, March 9, 2008  Former Kennedy family chef, Neil Connolly, discusses his new book, In the Kennedy Kitchen: Recipes and Recollections of a Great American Family. Chef Connolly will prepare favorite Kennedy family recipes and share memories of his years cooking for the family in Hyannis Port, have a Q&A with the audience, and sign copies of his book. Hosted at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.  To register or for more information, visit www.jfklibrary.org.  
   
• 4th Annual Irish Heritage Dinner, Omni Parker House, Part of Gaelic Gourmet Week Celebrations, Monday, March 10, 2008 Chef Neil Connolly, author of In the Kennedy Kitchen, joins with Gerry Tice, executive chef at Parker Restaurant, for an intimate, sit-down dinner in the hotel’s historical Press Room, the scene of many political celebrations throughout the 20th century. Reservations (recommended) can be made and menus can be viewed by visiting www.irishmassachusetts.com or calling 617 227-8600.

• Irish Whiskey and Cheese Reception, Part of Gaelic Gourmet Week Celebrations, Tuesday, March 11, 2008  Hosted by the Glynn Hospitality Group, Boston Irish Tourism Association, Michael Collins Whiskey and Irish Dairy Board at the Black Rose Pub & Restaurant.  Call 617 451-7400 for more information.  
   
• American Ireland Fund: Boston Young Leaders - St. Patrick's Celebration, March 13, 2008 BAs the largest worldwide network of people of Irish ancestry dedicated to raising funds to support education, culture and community programs, The American Ireland Fund celebrates its Boston-based young professionals.  Their annual St. Patrick's celebration serves as a major fundraiser for projects such as the Special Olympics and PeacePlayers International.  Visit www.irlfunds.org for more information or to purchase tickets to this annual event.   

• Frank McNamara's "If You're Irish," Friday, March 14, 2008  Featuring a full orchestra, large chorus and three soloists from Ireland, tenor Derek Moloney, soprano Deirdre Shannon and fiddler Cora Smyth.  Frank McNamara brings this exciting new show to Lowell, MA at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium at 7:30pm.  Visit www.lowellauditorium.com or www.smart-arts.net. 

• The Chieftains, Symphony Hall, Friday, March 14, 2008  The Chieftains are the finest practitioners of traditional Irish music, with lively Gaelic introductions, rollicking reels and seamless step-dances.  Visit www.celebrityseries.org for more information.

• Canadian Consulate Reception, Top of the Hub, Part of Gaelic Gourmet Week Celebrations, Friday, March 14, 2008  Chef Sean Doucet from Halifax, Nova Scotia will be on-hand for a taste of Canadian cuisine, music and good cheer as Canada celebrates its Celtic roots.  For more information, call 617 262-3760. 
   
• 4th Annual Gaelic Gourmet Gala, Hotel Commonwealth, Part of Gaelic Gourmet Week Celebrations, Friday, March 14, 2008  Thirteen celebrity chefs from Irish, Canadian and the US gather for a gourmet grazing extravaganza. Features hosted cooking demonstrations by the chefs, hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer and cocktails, live jazz and complimentary parking. Billy Costa will MC. Reservations (recommended) can be made by calling 617 532-5063. For a full round up of the week's activities click here.

• "Synthesis: An Evening of Contemporary Celtic Dance," The Dance Complex, Friday, March 14, 2008  Start off St. Patrick’s Day weekend with a very special evening of Celtic-rooted modern dance. Darrah Carr Dance specializes in ModERIN: a unique blend of traditional Irish step and contemporary modern dance. Turnstyles Dance Project draws from contemporary, Irish, and Scottish dance techniques, expanding traditional forms into new expressions of full-bodied, modern dance.  Nicholas Yenson is a world-traveled Irish dance performer and an emerging choreographer in contemporary Irish dance.  For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.dancecomplex.org.   
   
• Reagle Players Presents: A Little Bit of Ireland, Waltham, March 14-16, 2008  Come celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the Reagle Players for their 9th edition of "A Little Bit of Ireland" at the Robinson Theatre in Waltham, MA.  For more information, visit www.reagleplayers.com.     

• St. Patrick's Day Benefit Concert, Milton, Saturday, March 15, 2008  A St. Patrick's Day concert to benefit the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  Local Irish musicians and dancers will perform at this benefit located at the Milton High School Auditorium.

• TV Diner with Billy Costa, Part of Gaelic Gourmet Week Celebrations, Saturday, March 15, 2008  Don't miss this segment of Billy Costa's TV Diner, on New England Cable News, which will feature Irish Chef Padraic Hayden as one of the chef judges for the show's pastry contest bake-off. Chef Hayden of Dylan's Hotel, Dublin, is in Boston during the week to attend the Gaelic Gourmet Gala and other events around town.  For more information, call 617 696-9880.  

• Darrah Carr Dance - Traditional Irish Step, Saturday, March 15, 2008  Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by joining the champion Irish step dancers of Darrah Carr Dance.  This high energy performance features live musical selections on the spoons and accordion as well as a whirlwind look at the history, costumes and traditions of Irish dance.  JFK Library & Museum, www.jfklibrary.org.   

• Leprechauns Wanted at 75 Chestnut, March 15-17, 2008

  Put on your Irish Best and come to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your friends at 75 Chestnut! There will be much for you to enjoy so be sure to stop by for green beer, Guinness, specialty martinis, a full menu available ALL NIGHT, corned beef and cabbage, Irish beef stew, festive décor and music and fabulous prizes (may the luck of the Irish be with you!). Guests are invited to enjoy the festive atmosphere, celebrating the holiday with music, fabulous prizes, and Irish-inspired decorations. To make a reservation, please call (617) 227- 2175 after 5:00pm. Or visit www.75chestnut.com.For reservations or more information call 617-227-2175 or visit www.75chestnut.com.

• Ras na hEireann 5K Road Race, Davis Square, Somerville, Sunday, March 16, 2008  Ras na hEireann is the most genuine Irish race this side of the Atlantic. It is a celebration of traditions dating back centuries—and simply a celebration of spring in Somerville, Massachusetts. Limited to 2,500 runners, the race was born in Ireland and named in honor of its famous sister race, the Ras na hEireann International Cross Country held in Termonfechin, County Louth, Republic of Ireland. The Ras na hEireann U.S.A. 5Km is open to all, from beginners to international stars. The race will be held on Sunday, March 16, starting at 11:00 a.m., beginning and ending in Davis Square. There will be loads of Craic—a celebration and appreciation of heritage and history, the magic and mystery that move everyone to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. It is competitive too. Course records were set in 2006 in both the men and women’s races, and they were among the fastest in New England. Irishman Mark Kenneally of Dublin, Ireland sped to 14:19, and Maria McCambridge of Dublin, Ireland glided to 15:12.  For more information, visit www.baevents.net/rasnaheireann.

• Lord of the Dance, Lowell, Sunday, March 16, 2008  Witness Michael Flatley, the first American to win the All-World Championship in Irish Dance and the holder of The Guinness Book of World Records "world's fastest feet" title.  For more information, visit www.lowellauditorium.com.  

• Irish Chef's Dinner, Jury's Boston Hotel, Part of Gaelic Gourmet Week Celebrations, Sunday, March 16, 2008  Chef Paul McKnight from Culloden Estate & Spa in Belfast joins Stanhope Grille Executive Chef James Tierney for a five-course evening of fine Irish dining. Reservations (recommended) can be made by calling 617 266-7200 or by visiting www.jurysboston.com.   

• Dropkick Murphys in concert , Paradise Rock Club, March 16 & 17, 2008   The beloved punk juggernaut born in Boston-band Dropkick Murphys will play in concert including their hit  “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” prominently featured in the new Martin Scorsese film “The Departed.”  

• Charitable Irish Society's 270th Anniversary Dinner, Monday, March 17, 2008  Hosted at the Union Club in Boston, tickets and more information are available at www.charitableirishsociety.org. 

• Irish Traditional Music Band, Part of Gaelic Gourmet Week Celebrations, Monday, March 17, 2008  Hosted at the Seaport Hotel in Boston, more information is available at www.seaporthotel.com.  

• Shame O' The Irish Party at Dick's Last Resort at Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, March 17, 2008.  Great grub, great music and discounted parking at The Garage (75 State St). There'll be tasty grub from from The Pork Bonerz Special -- a half rack of pork ribs accompanied by a tender pork tibia resembling a giant drumstick, barbecued and served with Dick's trademark cole slaw and fries -- to succulent Seafood Platter.  Finish off the meal with Dick's Mile-High-Peanut Butta Pie or his Extreme Brownie Meltdown and you'll feel like you've found that pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow.  Call 617-267-8080 for more information.   
   

• CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY…YOUR WAY at Harvard Square’s Grafton Street Pub & Grill, March 15-17, 2008. New Executive Chef Matthew Richey is putting together a traditional holiday menu, complete with items like Shepherd’s Pie and Corned Beef with Cabbage, and the Guinness will be following all day long! No cover charge. Visit www.graftonstreetcambridge.com or call 617-497-0400. Head on over to Harvard Square to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Grafton Street, where you’ll enjoy the welcoming comfort of a traditional Irish pub in a contemporary restaurant/pub setting. With no cover charge, you can stop in for a quick pint, or stay for an entire meal. Starting on Saturday, enjoy Executive Chef Matthew Richey’s spirited take on other traditional Irish offerings, including Lamb and Beef Shepherd’s Pie and Slow-Cooked Corned Beef With Cabbage, Potatoes, Carrots and Parsnips;. Top it all off with a pint of Guinness for extra vitamins and minerals, or better yet, try one of Grafton Street’s signature cocktails. Traditional Irish tunes all day long; DJ from 10 PM to 2 AM.

• St. Patrick's Day Celtic Sojourn, Somerville Theatre, Monday, March 17, 2008  This concert will offer a diverse and top-quality program of Irish music, song, and step dance. Performers include: Karan Casey, Buille, and John Spillane. Kieran Jordan Dancers will perform eye-catching and upbeat Irish dances with guest musicians Amanda Cavanaugh (fiddle) and Sean Gannon (accordion).  For more information, visit www.somervilletheatreonline.com.   
   
• St. Patrick's Day at the Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, MA, Monday, March 17th from 5pm - 10pm. A la carte dinner menu and specials in Nathaniel's & Sophia's. Reservations are recommended. Please call 978-825-4311. Previous years' menus featured Parsnip and Apple Soup, Corned Beef Brisket Dinner with Cabbage, Carrots and Potatoes with Horseradish Cream, Bailey’s Irish Marble Mousse, and more. Information: 978-825-4311 or visit http://www.hawthornehotel.com.
   
• The Pogues at the Orpheum Theatre, Thursday March 20-21, 2008. It's Irish Heritage Month and St. Patrick's Day week and that means the venerable godfathers of Irish-Punk-Rock, the Pogues are back in Boston for two nights at the Orpheum Theatre in the heart of Boston. You don't want to miss their performance. The London-based rockers offer an outrageous fusion of Irish melodies and songs overlaid by a thumping, urgent and joyful rhythm section that demands that you stand. They have inspired dozens of other bands and here's your chance to see why. Orpheum Theatre at
  1 Hamilton Place, Boston. Tickets are $41- $61. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information call 617 679-0810.
   
• “Celtic Woman”  in Concert, Verizon Wireless Arena Manchester, NH, Friday, March 21, 2008  Celtic Woman features 5 beautiful performers: 4 gifted vocalists – Chloë, Lisa, Orla and Meav -- and Máiréad, a brilliant fiddler. Celtic Woman ushers Celtic music into the 21st century, putting a distinctively Gaelic twist on ethereal contemporary songs (Enya’s “Orinoco Flow,” “May It Be,” the theme from “Lord of the Rings”) and timeless classics (“Ave Maria,” “Somewhere”), a modern flair on traditional Irish songs (“She Moved Thru’ the Fair”), and their own personal stamp on spellbinding original songs (“The Voice,” “Send Me A Song”), all with exciting new arrangements.

• Sliabh Notes at The Burren Pub, Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Featuring Donal Murphy (Accordion), Matt Cranitch (Fiddle) and Tommy O’Sullivan (Guitar, Vocals).  Visit www.burren.com for more information. 
  
• Ceol, Scealta, agus Amhrain: Music, Stories and Songs, Thursday, March 27, 2008  Recording artist, lecturer, and Fulbright professor Jim O'Brien Moran presents an evening of Irish instrumental music and song at the Connolly House at Boston College.  For more information, visit www.bc.edu or call 617 552-0490.  

• 33rd Annual Holyoke St. Patrick's Road Race, Saturday, March 29, 2008  Bring the kids and join in the fun on Race Day as the Mummers kick off Parade Weekend at Veteran's Park, Holyoke.  To register or for more information, visit www.newsite.holyokestpatricksparade.com. 

• Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail is a self-guided, three mile walking tour that covers 300 years of history as it takes you through Boston's downtown, North End, Beacon Hill and Back Bay. Learn about famous politicians, artists, matriarchs and war heroes, part of a rich tradition of rebellion, leadership and triumph that personifies the Boston Irish. Maps are available at the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Boston Common Visitor Center and the Prudential Center Visitor Information Center. www.irishheritagetrail.com .

• Plenty of Irish pubs and restaurants to visit in Boston: Adjacent to Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the waterfront, The Black Rose is one of the most famous watering holes this side of Galway Bay. The menu includes mouthwatering corned beef and cabbage, aged Angus steak, Shepherd's Pie, as well as New England seafood and a pint or two of Guinness. Traditional Irish breakfast is served every Saturday and Sunday. The Black Rose is a landmark for Boston's Irish and a destination for many visitors (it even features a children's menu). Live Irish entertainment nightly and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. In Fanueil Hall Marketplace itself, Ned Devine’s hand painted murals, imported Irish woodwork, original brickwork and ambient lighting create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere.  In the Back Bay M. J. O’Conner’s offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere enhanced with eye-catching stained glass creates a spectacular drop by visit Full Irish menu. Also in the Back Bay, Solas means comfort in Gaelic and comfort is exactly what you'll find in this modern day space influenced by Irish architecture and embroidered in style.

• In Cambridge, plenty of pubs to visit: Named for Dublin’s most famous street, Grafton Street Pub, in Cambridge’s Harvard Square,  is a combination of traditional Irish pub and contemporary restaurant. Grafton Street features more than a dozen beers on tap and an extensive wine list…Another Cambridge favorite is Temple Bar, named after the bustling entertainment district of Temple Bar, Dublin.  Here you can relax, dine and enjoy the wide selection of wine, beer and single malt scotches.

Did You Know?

• Irish American statistics: Massachusetts- New England  There are approximately 3 million New England residents of Irish ancestry, or one in five residents. Massachusetts leads with 1.5 million, followed by Connecticut 613,000, New Hampshire 232,000, Maine 217,000, Rhode Island 213,000 and Vermont with 100,000. The population grew dramatically in the second half of the 19th century and the region is popular for tourism, education and high technology careers.  
• There may be more Irish-American organizations in greater Boston and Massachusetts than anywhere else in the USA.   Boston is home to the Boston Irish Tourism Association, Irish Cultural Centre, John F. Kennedy Library Museum, Boston Irish Heritage Trail, the Eire Society, Charitable Irish Society, the Irish Networking Society (INS) and Irish Immigration Center.  It boasts world-renowned Irish studies programs at Boston College, Harvard University, Stonehill College and UMASS/Boston. 

• The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) represents the state's Irish community by promoting culture, history and heritage year round to residents and visitors alike.  BITA created the Irish Heritage Trail and also a genealogy booklet called, Finding Your Irish Roots in Massachusetts. 

• The Eire Society of Boston, formed in 1937, has been celebrating Irish culture for over 70 years through lectures, parties and monthy get-togethers.  Its annual Gold Medal Award, issued this year in April, goes to Professor Padraig O'Malley, Dublin-born peace negotiator, distinguished professor at the University of Massachusetts and author of numerous books on conflict resolution in Northern Ireland, South Africa and the Middle East.
• The Patrick S. Gilmore Society in Boston celebrates the illustrious life of P.S. Gilmore, born in Ballygar, County Galway.  Gilmore emigrated to Boston in 1849 and became one of the city's leading musicians and concert masters.  He organized the world's largest peace jubilees in Boston in 1869 and 1872, and started several timeless traditions: he initiated the first pops concert on July 4th in Boston and the New Year's Eve countdown in Times Square, New York.  Gilmore is also known as the composer of the classic war anthem, When Johnny Comes Marching Home.  For more information,
  www.psgilmore-society.org
• Boston is home to Charitable Irish Society, formed on March 17, 1737 in Boston by a group of Irish merchants, the Charitable Irish Society is the oldest Irish organization in North America with an illustrious history and membership.

 
From updated weekend event information to special hotel offers, Boston visitor information is available on www.BostonUSA.com; toll free 1-888-SEE-BOSTON; e mail visitus@BostonUSA.com.