June 13, 2011
Contact: 617 696-9880
IrishMassachusetts@comcast.net
For Immediate Release
Boston Irish Tourism Group Releases annual Travel & Culture Guide
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Boston Irish Tourism Association Travel & Culture Guide, Summer 2011 |
(Boston) — The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) released its 8th annual summer 2011 Travel & Culture Guide of Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts. The 28-page color magazine details upcoming festivals, concerts, dances and theatre from June to October 2011. It lists selected Irish pubs, gift shops and cultural groups in the Bay State plus hotels and travel agencies for visitors from out-of-town.
The Guide is available for free at tourism centers across the state and at museums, hotels and cultural venues.
“Visitors looking for the very best Irish and Celtic music can find it right here in Massachusetts,” said BITA director Colette Quinlin.
The summer 2011 Travel & Culture Guide includes profiles of Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart and Tom McNaught, new executive director of the Kennedy Library Foundation, plus news from the state’s hospitality industry, Irish pub scene, and festivals throughout the New England region and the Catskills in New York.
Also featured is a photo essay on President Barack Obama’s trip in May to visit Ireland and a selection of festivals throughout Ireland this summer.
The Boston Irish Tourism Association was formed in 2000 to promote cultural tourism year round. It publishes three travel and culture guides each year, and created an Irish Heritage Trail (www.irishheritagetrail.com ) highlighting Irish landmarks throughout Boston and around the state.
For further details on the festivals and concerts, as well as year-round Irish and cultural activities, hotel packages, gift shops and Irish pubs, visit www.IrishMassachusetts.com.
For details on vacationing in Massachusetts, contact the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism at www.massvacation.com.
You can pick up a free copy of the Travel & Culture Guide at these locations.
Irish, Scottish and Celtic Festivals 2010
Boston Irish Tourism Association
June 18
Blackstone River Theatre’s Summer Solstice Festival
Diamond Hill Park, Cumberland, RI
The 1st annual Summer Solstice Festival features Irish performers Aoife Clancy, Robbie O’Connell, Pendragon, the Heatons and Annalivia, as well as Quebec trio Genticorum, the Gnomoes, Triple Spiral and others.
July 10-16
Catskills Irish Arts Week
East Durham, NY
Some of the world’s best musicians, dancers and educators gather for an intensive week of Irish culture. Over 75 teachers, 120 daily classes and workshops and an all-day festival on July 16.
July 16
Glasgow Scottish Lands Festival
Florence (Northampton), MA
The 18th annual Glasgow Scottish Lands Festival is an all-day gathering of the clans, piping and athletic competitions, and music from Enter the Haggis and Clandestine, a Celtic band from Texas.
July 26
Cape Cod Irish SummerFest
Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis, MA
The 2nd annual Cape Cod Irish SummerFest at the Melody Tent features the Screaming Orphans and Glengarry Bhoys. Proceeds benefit the Sons of Erin Cape Cod and the Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day parade.
July 29-31
Lowell Folk Festival
National Park, Lowell, MA
One of the nation’s best folk festival features Irish traditional band Dervish, as well as other ethnic groups from around the world.
September 3-5
Newport Waterfront Irish Festival
Newport Yacht Club, RI
Over Labor Day weekend, the 13th annual Newport Waterfront Irish Festival features Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul, Makem & Spain Brothers and more.
New Hampshire Highland Games
Loon Mountain, NH
Billed as the largest gathering of Scottish clans in the Northeast, the Highland Games features Scottish fiddling, bag piping, athletic games and Scottish cuisine.
2011 Select Concerts by Venue
Compiled by the Boston Irish Tourism Association
Bank of America Pavilion
South Boston Waterfront
The Script (June 8)
Comcast Center
Mansfield
Peter Gabriel and New Blood Orchestra (June 24)
Lowell Summer Music Series
Boarding House Park, Lowell
Bela Fleck (July 8), Eileen Ivers (August 20), Great Big Sea (August 26), Richard Thompson (September 2)
Tanglewood
Lenox
Mark O’Connor String Quartet (July 7), Kelli O’Hara (July 17)
TD Garden
Causeway Street, Boston
Josh Grobin (July 26)
Wilbur Theatre
246 Tremont Street, Boston
Gaelic Storm (August 11)
Citi Performing Center
270 Tremont Street, Boston
Celtic Thunder (September 23)
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