Arts and Entertainment

By Sean SmithBoston Irish Correspondent Boston-area fiddler Maura Shawn Scanlin and guitarist Conor Hearn readily agree that the name they perform under, Rakish, was an improbable – and manifestly ironic – choice. After all, one definition of “rakish” is... Read more
What if there were a way that allowed everyone to connect on the internet with Irish culture?  To learn some songs, the steps of a few dances, or even a few tunes from wherever they were in the world? That’s what Siamsa Tíre, (pronounced “Shee-am-sa”,) ... Read more
Dominique Dodge, “Cànan nan Teud (The Language of the Strings)” • If you’ve come to regard Celtic harp music as ethereal, reposeful, dainty, and wrapped in layers of mist and reverb – or even if you haven’t – this album is a very pleasant revelation.... Read more
A look at some upcoming Irish/Celtic events in the Boston/Eastern Massachusetts area, all subject to change pending Covid-related developments: •There’s the Boston Celtic Music Fest (BCMFest), of course, which you can read about elsewhere on the Boston... Read more
The 19th annual BCMFest (Boston Celtic Music Fest) will take place in virtual format from Jan. 13 to Jan. 16, with some of Greater Boston’s favorite Celtic acts, including Matt & Shannon Heaton, Hanneke Cassel & Mike Block, Copley Street, Rakish,... Read more
The Murphy Beds, “Easy Way Down” •  It has been almost 10 years since Jefferson Hamer and Eamon O’Leary made their debut recording as The Murphy Beds, but the hiatus is understandable, given how busy the New York City-based pair have been elsewhere –... Read more
Caítriona O’Leary, “Strange Wonders: The Wexford Carols, Vol. II” • O’Leary’s first volume of Wexford Carols, first released in 2014 and again two years later, was a joy to a world oversaturated with over-produced, over-played Christmas music. A scholar... Read more
  Growing up in rural Ireland, storytelling was part of our family culture. My father would sit at the top of the dinner table and recount stories that would amaze us, stun us and keep us in line with his values. Using storytelling, he communicated so... Read more
Cherish the Ladies holiday show comes to Shirley MA During December, the band will embark on a holiday show tour in the northeast that includes The Bull Run in Shirley, a little northwest of Route 495, on Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The nucleus of the band –... Read more
Yes, it’s a cliché, but one that Kevin Crawford is quite happy to proclaim: “We’re getting the band back together!” The band in question is Lúnasa, one of the more venerated and accomplished Irish groups of the past quarter-century, noted for its layered... Read more
However many years “A Christmas Celtic Sojourn” lasts – and it’s about to hit 19 – there’s little doubt that the 2020 and 2021 editions will loom large in the collective memories of those involved in the music-song-dance-and-storytelling production,... Read more
BC’s Gaelic Roots program to host screening, talk about Kieran Jordan's work on Nov. 18 This month, Irish dance performer, teacher, choreographer, and Dorchester resident Kieran Jordan will present the in-person premiere of her recent project: a... Read more
  If anyone was going to offer a unique take on the Covid era, surely it would be Luka Bloom, right? After all, he’s long been one of Ireland’s most forthright singer-songwriters, creating deeply felt meditations about human experience and interaction –... Read more
Grosse Isle, “Le Bonhomme Sept Heures/The Bonesetter”  The name “Grosse Isle” is a reference to one of the innumerable stories woven into the Irish Diaspora. Located in the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Grosse Isle was a way station – and all too often a... Read more
“Virtual Celtic” explores online concerts, festivals, workshops and other events that feature or include Celtic music. Please note that details may have changed, or the events may have been postponed or cancelled, since press time.   •When COVID-19... Read more
A look at in-person Irish/Celtic-related events in Greater Boston for the next few weeks. Please note that details may have changed, or the events may have been postponed or cancelled, since press time. Check with venues for COVID-19 safety protocols.  •... Read more
Irish singer songwriter Anton Glackin’s new single, ‘My Queen of the May’, reflects on the short lifespan of the Mayfly on the shores of Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland who only live for 24 hours.   This short life span has been used as a literary symbol... Read more
Ireland isn’t short of a ghost or three, and Halloween is the perfect time for eerie encounters Haunted houses, cursed castles and all manner of spooky spaces are to be found across the island of Ireland. Each with their own tale to tell, they attract... Read more
    Dacre, it is a pleasure to ask you some questions about Bram Stoker. Can you tell us where Bram got his inspiration to write ‘Dracula’? Dacre Stoker (DS): I have been studying Bram’s possible inspirations and motivations, his research and his writing... Read more
  Not surprisingly, the recent Covid-19 resurgence has slowed somewhat the resumption of live events at area venues. Continued concern and uncertainty as well as travel restrictions related to the pandemic have forced many performers from Ireland,... Read more

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