The American Ireland Fund

211 Congress Street, Boston MA 02110
617 574-0720 Tel | 617 574-0730 Fax | www.irlfunds.org

The Ireland Funds is a worldwide network of people of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland dedicated to raising funds to support programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development throughout the island of Ireland.

Boston Irish Heritage Trail

20 Buckingham Road, Milton, MA 02186
617 696-9880 | www.IrishHeritageTrail.com

This self-guided, three mile walking tour takes you through Boston’s downtown, North End, Beacon Hill and Back Bay. You’ll learn about famous politicians, artists, matriarchs and war heroes, part of a rich tradition of rebellion, leadership and triumph that personifies the Boston Irish. All of the memorials are in public spaces and accessible to visitors. Sites outside of downtown Boston are accessible by vehicle or public transportation .

Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums

12 White Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617 734-3805 | 617 593-8152 | www.bostonpolicegaeliccolumn.com.

This award-winning 25-member bagpipe and drum band, formed in 1992, is one of Boston’s great Irish organizations. In 2000 the Gaelic Column won the Best International Entry Trophy at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Cork City. Locally, it performed at the unveiling of the Boston Irish Famine Memorial, and aboard the USS John F. Kennedy and the Le Eithne Irish naval ship during the Sail 2000 Tall Ships event in Boston Harbor.

Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee

PO Box 307 Yarmouth Port, MA 02675
508 362-PADY | www.capecodstpatsparade.com

Now in its third year, the Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Parade has developed into a great day out – from kids to seniors alike. The 2008 parade takes place on Saturday, March 8, at 11:00 a.m. and Doug Meehan of Fox 25 Morning News will be the Grand Marshal. The two-mile parade starts at the Corner of School St, & Rte. 28 in West Dennis and crosses the Bass River Bridge, ending at the McArthur School on Rt 28 in South Yarmouth. The committee works year round to raise funds for this event, holding concerts and other special events (see our calendar). Click here for application form.

A Celtic Sojourn Radio Program: WGBH-FM 89.7

Boston’s NPR Arts & Culture Station
617 300-5400 | www.celticradio.com

West Cork native Brian O’Donovan plays a selection of traditional and contemporary music from the Celtic countries on Saturday afternoons. Brian brings to his program influences from some of the old Irish and British radio personalities he heard growing up. An outgrowth of the radio program is an immensely popular concert series held during the Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day seasons.

Charitable Irish Society

Riverhouse 423, 145 Pinckney Street, Boston, MA 02114
617 300-5400 | www.charitableirishsociety.org

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. As it has since its founding, the Society holds its annual banquet every March 17 and holds other gatherings throughout the year. Current president is Michael J. Neagle.

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann

239 Grove Street, Waltham, MA 02453
781 899-0911 | www.cceboston.org

For over 50 years Comhaltas has promoted Irish traditional music and dance throughout the world. The Boston chapter, formed in 1976 and named Hanafin-Cooley, is one of the most active chapters, hosting monthly music and dance sessions, concerts, music lessons and special events to promote Irish culture locally. Its weekly radio program can be heard each Saturday from noon to 1:30 p.m. on WNTN-AM, 1550.

Eire Society of Boston

Peter Bedford Estes, President
198 Tremont Street, #102, Boston, MA 02116
1-866-560-1050 | www.eiresociety.com

The Eire Society of Boston was established in 1937 to spread awareness of the cultural achievements of the Irish. Activities include guest speakers and performers, films, art exhibits and theater. At its annual dinner, the Society presents its coveted Gold Medal award to a deserving recipient.

“Feast of Irish Music” Radio Program: WROL-AM 950

308 Victory Road, Quincy, MA 02171
Requests: 617 770-3030 | Tel: 617-328-0880 Ext. 501 | www.feastofirishmusic.com |

Host Seamus Mulligan, right, plays a full range of Ireland’s best music, ranging from the ancient melodies to contemporary songs, and including ballads, country, Scottish, traditional, new age, and other types of Irish music. The show features poetry, comedy and storytelling as well as news, weather, and sports live from Ireland. (1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.) Sundays.

Gaelic Roots Irish Music

Boston College, Connolly House
300 Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617 552-0490 | www.bc.edu/gaelicroots

Boston College’s Irish Music programs offers a year round schedule of classroom instruction, and visiting lectures and concerts featuring Mick Moloney, Danny Doyle, Paddy Keenan and other Irish artists. The program is run by Seamus Connolly, the Sullivan Artist in Residence in Irish Music at Boston College. Seamus is a ten-time Irish fiddle champion from County Clare.

Irish American Cultural Institute

One Lackawanna Place, Morristown, NJ 07960
973 605-1991 | www.iaci-usa.org

Founded in 1962, the Irish American Cultural Institute (IACI) is an international non-profit organization devoted to promoting an intelligent, appreciation of Ireland and the role and contributions of the Irish in America. Our journal of Irish studies, Éire-Ireland, is distributed to 42 countries and The Irish Way, our renowned summer study abroad program, has sent over 4,000 American high school students to Ireland to experience and learn about Ireland.

Irish Cultural Centre of New England

200 New Boston Drive, Canton, MA 02021
781 821-8295 | www.irishculture.org

The region’s largest Irish organization, the Irish Cultural Centre is a state-of-the-art, 46-acre facility with year round cultural, educational, literary and athletic activities for its 4,500 members. Its annual Irish Connections Festival brings together the region’s Irish community for a weekend of Irish culture each June and features some of the world’s leading Irish musicians and dancers.

iDance

Shawn Silver School of Irish Dance
181 Hamilton Ave., St. John’s, Newfoundland, A1E 1K1 Canada
709 690-2101 | www.idance.ca

Newfoundland is part of the worldwide Irish Diaspora, and one of the most Irish provinces in Canada. Champion Irish dancer Shawn Silver promotes Irish culture on the island and offers Irish dance classes and concerts for both the islanders and tourists to the island! The Flying Boat Festival in August celebrates the first transatlantic flight from Newfoundland to Ireland, and features Irish music, dancing and celebration.

Irish Foundation of Lawrence, Inc.

6 Mt. Vernon Terrace, Lawrence, MA 01843
978 683-9007 | DaveBurke.htm

The Irish Foundation is a non-profit group that helps promote Irish culture and heritage in the Merrimack Valley north of Boston. The Foundation works closely with the AOH and other organizations. Among its recent projects: building an Irish Collection of books, recordings and memorabilia at the Lawrence Public Library, and raising funds for a Memorial to the Irish Famine Memorial at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Kip & Son, Inc.

176 South Street Extension, Coventry, CT 06238
978 683-9007 | http://www.smart-arts.net

Producers and promoters of musical events for 32 years in New England. Newly associated with Frank McNamara of Ireland. “If You’re Irish” shows in 2008 as follows: Lowell Auditorium, MA on March 14, Bushnell, Hartford, CT on March 15 and Providence Performing Arts Center in RI on March 16.

Check details for "If You're Irish" shows on the calendar pages

Magners Irish Film Festival

Mail entries to: 314R Clark Road, Brookline, MA 02445
781 821-8295 | www.irishfilmfestival.com

Presented by Magners Irish Cider, The Boston Irish Film Festival celebrates the very best of Ireland and the Irish on screen. The annual festival is a five-day event (held in October) with screenings at the Harvard Film Archive, the Brattle Theatre and the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Please visit www.irishfilmfestival.com for more details.

Massachusetts Ancient Order of Hibernians

7 Derby Road, Watertown, MA 02472
617 924-9765 | www.massaoh.org

Formed in 1836, the Ancient Order of Hibernians is the oldest Catholic lay organization in America. Massachusetts has numerous divisions across the state that play an active role in promoting Irish history and current events in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Patrick S. Gilmore Society

PO Box 341, Milton, MA 02186
617 696-9880 | www.psgilmore-society.org

Composer of When Johnny Comes Marching Home and other popular tunes, Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore emigrated to Boston in 1849 from Ballygar, County Galway and became a legend in his lifetime, playing for large audiences around the world. Historian Michael Cummings of Milton, pictured right, formed the P.S. Gilmore Society in 1968 to honor the man known as The Father of the American Concert Band.