The late Lawrence MA Hibernian leader David R. Burke will be memorialized with the dedication of a bronze plaque in his memory at the An Gorta Mor Memorial in Lawrence’s Immaculate Conception Cemetery on Sun., Nov. 7, at 1 p.m. Former Ambassador to the Vatican Raymond L. Flynn will be the principal speaker. He will be joined by Ireland’s Consul General to Boston, Michael Lonergan, and several AOH and LAOH national, state, and county Officers.
Burke was a member of Division Eight, Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), for over 40 years and served as an officer in various capacities on national, state and county boards as well as on the Division level. An enthusiastic supporter of Irish history and culture, he was instrumental in organizing and orchestrating annually Irish Heritage Month in the city of Lawrence. He was the founder and president of the Irish Foundation of Lawrence, Inc., and also the Irish Room and Hibernian Collection at the South Lawrence Branch Library, which houses one of the largest collections of Irish books, media, memorabilia and periodicals in the Northeast.
A reception will follow the dedication at the Claddagh Pub and Restaurant, 300 Canal Street, Lawrence.

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On Nov. 4, Dorchester’s Notre Dame Montessori School at St. Christopher Church will honor former Attorney General Robert H. Quinn and his wife Claudina with the School’s 11th Annual Seeds Planted: Harvest Begun Award. They are being honored for their “dedication to improving education, healthcare, social services and housing for children and adults in Dorchester and greater Boston.” The 6 p.m. dinner is set for the Venezia Waterfront Restaurant on Ericsson Street in Dorchester’s Port Norfolk neighborhood.

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The Eire Society of Boston is planning an event on Sun., Nov 7, at the James Michael Curley home on the Jamaica Way. Featured speaker will be former Senate and UMass president William M Bulger, who authored a book about the late Mayor Curley last year. Other details of the event were still incomplete at presstime.

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“All of us have lost someone to the reality of life’s brevity,” Irish Pastoral Centre chaplain Fr. John McCarthy says. “We would like to invite you to join us in prayer once again to remember the deceased ones of your family. We will gather in a special way to commemorate the deceased members of the Irish and Irish-American community in our annual November Mass of Remembrance.”
Three masses are planned: Sun., Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. in conjunction with the Parish Mass at St. Brendan’s Church in Dorchester; Mon., Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Chapel, Brighton; and Thurs., Nov. 18, at noon at the IPC Senior Program outing at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton.,
“All your family and friends are welcome to join us to remember the departed; to support the bereaved; and to renew ourselves in faith and hope,” said Fr. McCarthy. “A special ceremony will take place during the Mass. For this, we ask you to phone us at the Irish Pastoral Centre (617-479-7404, Ext. 11) with the name(s) of the deceased whom you wish to remember.”

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Boston College Libraries, in collaboration with the Association of College & Research Libraries, NE Chapter (Women’s Studies Interest Group), has announced a seminar -- “The Women of the Cuala Press and the Irish Literary Revival” – that will be held Nov. 8 at the Burns Library on the BC campus. Presentations will be offered by Dr. Robert K. O’Neill, Librarian of the John J. Burns Library; Marjorie Howes, Associate Professor of English at Boston College; Justine Sundaram, Reference Librarian of the John J. Burns Library; and Andrew Kuhn, doctoral candidate at Boston College. A complimentary continental breakfast will be served at 9 a.m., with presentations beginning at 10:30 prior to the talks. The seminar and breakfast are free of charge. Reservations: barbara.hebard@bc.edu
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More than 50 members and supporters of the Irish American Hockey Association (IAHA) crowded into McGreevy's Bar in Boston on Oct. 19 to celebrate their Peace Through Pucks program, which gives youth hockey players from the North and South an opportunity to play scrimmage games together and look past the conflicts of older generations.
“If you want to challenge generational hatred, you have to start with the kids,” said Cusack, who also organizes camps stateside for visiting Irish players, runs equipment drives and helped organize youth leagues in Ireland.
Ireland currently has one regulation-sized hockey rink, in Dundock, but the scarcity of ice time has not stopped the sport from gaining popularity. In recent years, National Hockey League players visiting Ireland for scrimmage games have been met with growing crowds wearing NHL and European Hockey Federation jerseys, while street hockey has given kids a chance to hone their skills without setting foot on the ice.
Comcast Sports New England has taken an interest in Peace Through Pucks and recently produced a half-hour video program highlighting hockey's growing Irish fan base and the challenges faced by youngsters looking to experience the game.
The IAHA, which formed in 2005, is the brainchild of former Boston Bruin P.J. Stock and IAHA executive director John Cusack, who hope the games will create strong Irish players and even stronger bonds between the North and South.
Cusack says there is still work to be done, but is proud of what his organization has achieved. When one Catholic player was asked how he felt about his Northern teammates near the end of the television spot, his reply embodied the IAHA's mission.
“I don't care about religion or anything like that,” said the youngster. “A bud's a bud.” (View the video online at Irishhockey.com).
-- PAT TARANTINO
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After the success of last month’s visit of the Boston Bruins to Belfast, there are now plans for two local college teams to travel to Belfast next year to compete in the first-ever American college hockey game to be played in Europe.
The BIR has learned that planning is underway to bring the hockey squads of Northeastern University and UMass/Lowell to Belfast to play a game at the 7,000-seat hockey arena in Belfast. The match is expected to be played on Columbus Day weekend (October 8 or 9). It will be a league-sanctioned game, bringing together two Hockey East squads to inaugurate their 2011/2012 regular season.
Under NCAA rules, a college team can play no more than one game every five years outside North America. Organizers say they expect the match to become an annual event, with two different teams each year from among the ten-team Hockey East league.
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Denise Miller, proprietor of the Claddagh Connection in Bristol, RI, is hosting a “once in a lifetime event -- three Irish merchants are coming” to Bristol for one day to show their wares. On Sun., Oct 31, from noon to 5 p.m. Miller will host three Irish merchants: John Branigan, owner of Branigan Weavers; John Condron, owner of Fado Jewelers, Ogham Jewelry, and John Christopher Designs; and Peter Collins owner of Mullingar Pewter. Miller’s store is located at 259 Thames St., Bristol. More details at thecladdaghconnection.com.
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The 26th Annual Benefit Dance to aid the Holy Ghost Fathers and their missions will be held at the Irish Social Club, 119 Park St., West Roxbury, starting at 8 p.m. on Fri., Nov 5. There will be music by the Andy Healy Band, the Greene-O'Leary School of Irish Dance, cash bar, refreshments and raffles. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at Most Precious Blood Rectory, Hyde Park, or at the door on the night of the dance. For more information, call Fr. Peter Nolan at Most Precious Blood Rectory (617-364-9500) or Cathy Coppinger (617-323-2800).
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Other events this month: Nov. 3 -- Charitable Irish Society’s Golden Key Awards, Boston College Club, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Honorees: Cora Flood, Thomas Hynes and Larry O’Toole. Tickets: charitableirishsociety.org. … Nov. 14 -- Annual Banquet, TIARA (The Irish Ancestral Research Association), noon, Wayside Inn, Sudbury. Speaker: Mary Pat Kelly, author of the book Galway Bay. Info: tiara.ie. … Nov. 18 – The American Ireland Fund’s Annual Boston Dinner, Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. Cocktails 6:30 p.m., dinner and dancing, 8 p.m. Info: 617-574-0720, irlfunds.org.