- Celtic Woman.
Boston --- As luck would have it, Massachusetts has been green all winter, thanks to the mild weather here in New England. And now that greenery is coming to a full bloom as St. Patrick's season builds to a great crescendo throughout the Bay State.
Governor Deval Patrick kicked off the celebrations by issuing an Irish Heritage Month proclamation, praising some of the state's notable Irish-American historical figures, like colonial painter John Singleton Copley, music maestro Patrick S. Gilmore, astronaut Christa Corrigan McAuliffe, and the Kennedy brothers. Read the full proclamation at IrishMassachusetts.com
As befitting the nation's most Irish-American state, there are hundreds of parades, concerts, cultural events, pub activities and gatherings taking place throughout March. Here is a selected round-up.
Mass. Music
The Chieftains, celebrating 50 years of stellar traditional music, perform at Boston Symphony Hall on Wednesday, March 14, sponsored by the Celebrity Series of Boston. Great local musicians like fiddler Tommy McCarthy and banjo champ Louis Costello join the Chieftains onstage. Boston's favorite punk rock group, Dropkick Murphys, perform at the House of Blues on March 14 and at the Brighton Music Hall on March 18.
The popular Beehive Jazz Club in Boston's South End throws an Irish party every year; with a fine new Irish band called Ivy Leaf on Thursday, March 15.
On Saturday, March 17, Cork radio host Brian O'Donovan brings his acclaimed Celtic Sojourn troupe to the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford; Tipperary harpist Aine Minogue plays at the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston; the Irish Rovers (of Green Alligator fame) play at Lynn Auditorium in Lynn; fiddler Rose Clancy and Friends are at The Squire in Chatham; the Bards and Jolly Beggars play at the Worcester Hibernian Cultural Centre; and local favorites, Tin Can Hooley, performs at the Common Ground in Allston.
On March 18, the Wolfe Tones provide entertaining at the St. Patrick's Day Breakfast at Boston Convention Center. South Boston state senator Jack Hart presides over the political roast and can carry a tune too.
On March 23, Worchester's Irish Cultural Centre presents Gordon Belsher and Richard Woods, traditional musicians from Prince Edward Island. On March 24, Celtic Sojourn, featuring Susan McKeown, Tina Lech and Mark Roberts performs at Sanders Theatre in Harvard Square. The Clancy Tradition, featuring Gene and Rose Clancy along with Mike Melanopy, plays at the Chatham Fiddle Company in Chatham, Cape Cod.
The Lawrence Public Library presents Ireland in Song, a concert with voice and piano, on March 25, sponsored by Division 8 AOH and the Irish Foundation.
Irish tenor Anthony Kearns performs at the John F. Kennedy Library on March 27. Rounding out the month, fiddle maestro Seamus Connolly presents an Irish Dance and Ceili at Boston College on March 29.
Music in New England
In Connecticut, singer/ mandolinist Claudine Langille led a session at Hanafin's Irish Pub in Glastonbury on March 10, following the Hartford St. Patrick's Day parade, and there's a regular session there every Thursday night.
In Maine, enjoy a showcase of Irish poetry, music and art at the Bath City Hall Auditorium on Friday, March 16, featuring Sharon Pyne and Friends, with readings by local poets and a lecture by scholar Michael Connolly.
In New Hampshire, Celtic Woman performs at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH on March 16.
In Rhode Island, Pendragon presides at Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI on March 18, and Runa performs there on March 24.
In Vermont, Irish band Gypsy Reel, featuring Claudine Langille, performs at Killarney Pub in Ludlow on March 16-17, and has an afternoon set at the Sitting Bull Lounge, Okemo Ski Area, on March 17.
Irish Film and Theatre
The 13th annual Irish Film Festival Boston runs from March 22-25 at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge and Somerville Theatre in Davis Square. On March 24, see The Road to Moneygall, a one hour documentary that chronicles the three-year build-up to President Barack Obama's return to his ancestral roots last May.
Also on March 24: "In Sunshine or in Shadow," a film about the epic boxing match between Barry McGuigan and Eusebio Pedroza in 1985. On Sunday, March 25, The Quiet Man, made by John Ford 60 years ago, is being shown.
Huntington Theatre unveils its new play, The Luck of the Irish, from March 30 through April 29, exploring black-white race relations in Boston in the last half century.
Parades
Abington: Sunday, March 18, 1 p.m. Holyoke: Sunday, March 18, 11:50 a.m. South Boston: Sunday, March 18, 1 p.m. Scituate: Sunday, March 18, 1 p.m. Manchester, NH: Sunday, March 25, Noon. Details from Irishboston.org/parades.php.
Exhibits
The John F. Kennedy Library in Boston presents "Themselves: An Immigrant's Story," a children's show that follows a 19th century Irish woman from Ireland to Boston, complete with storytelling and traditional music. Current exhibits celebrate the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's term in office, while forums, lectures and educational programs.
The AOH, Division 8, in Lawrence has a month-long exhibit called "The Irish, The Augustinians: The Story of our Catholic Heritage," on display through March 31, at the Lawrence Heritage State Park, One Jackson Street in Lawrence.
Irish Pubs & Eateries
There are, of course, many pubs throughout Massachusetts, but here are a few worth checking out:
Black Rose, 160 Street, Boston has had live Irish music every night of the week (except Christmas Eve) since 1976. Located next to Faneuil Hall, the Rose is run by the Glynn Family from Galway and operated by Paul Wilson from Dublin. On March 17, the pub opens at 6:00 a.m. with an Irish breakfast and continuous music throughout the day on both floors.
The Burren Pub in Davis Square, Somerville is the quintessential Irish session pub, thanks to owners fiddler Tommy McCarthy and banjo/ accordion champion Louise Costello. On March 17, check out an Irish session in the front room, and Johnny Come Latelies in the back room.
Four Green Fields Pub & Restaurant at One Boston Place in Boston is owned by Colin Breen, who runs the popular Tampa establishment by the same name. On March 17 it's an all-day party with The Dockside Saints, The Great Whiskey Rebellion, Irish pipers and more.
The Last Hurrah at Omni Parker House is a historic place to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, recalling by-gone days when the Kennedys, James M. Curley and other Irish politicians held court there. Chef Gerry Tice has put together a great Irish menu for March 16-17
Cuff's Bar at the Back Bay Hotel is a gathering spot for Irish expatriates living in Boston. The hotel is owned by the Doyle Collection in Dublin.
Tamo Bar at the Seaport Boston Hotel has a great Irish menu from March 14-17 by the hotel's famed chef, Rachel Klein. More details available at Irishboston.org/pubs_restaurants.php.
Boston's Irish Heritage Trail
You can now take a guided tour of the Boston Irish Heritage Trail, which winds its way through 300 years of history. The tours run every day at 12:30 p.m. from March 13-18. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children ages 6-12. Purchase tickets the day of the walk at Boston Common Visitor Information Center or call 617 696-9880. Details at IrishHeritageTrail.com.