The Irish Cultural Centre of Canton will host author Kyle Darcy, in a reading and book signing on Sunday December 5, 2010 at 1 PM. Under Current Conditions, Darcy’s debut novel, is based on actual events and not only illustrates the benefits of a keen instinct, but also underscores the dire consequences of its failure. Set in Boston in 1999, the story begins with a lucrative business opportunity, but an innocuous change in circumstances leads to kidnapping and FBI stings, culminating in 2009 with a precedent setting international murder trial. The book is scheduled for release in stores on December 1, 2010.
“My publisher provided me with a limited number of advanced copies for events such as September’s Irish Festival in Canton,” Darcy says. “The response everywhere has been extremely positive. My book makes the perfect holiday gift and this upcoming event on December 5th is guaranteed to be a lot of fun.”
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The Irish Cultural Center, Canton wil host a Children’s Irish Christmas at the center on Saturday, December 11, 8 am- 12 noon. The family event will feature a full buffet breakfast, Christmas caroling, Irish dance performance, children's author, and holiday hay rides. Santa will be there all morning with gifts for every child. Cost: $10 per person, hay rides $3 additional. Tickets available in advance by calling ICC at 781-821-8291 or at the door.
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Fiddler Laurel Martin and multi-instrumentalist Mark Roberts will conclude the fall Boston College Celtic Roots concert series with a concert on Tuesday, December 7, at the Connolly House, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Martin, a protégé of Seamus Connolly and a former member of the BC Irish Studies music faculty, released her first CD “The Groves” in 2006 and also has recorded with the fiddle ensemble Childsplay. Roberts, who plays guitar, banjo, flute and whistle, has recorded and toured extensively for more than 25 years; his music was featured in the John Sayles film “The Secret of Roan Inish.”
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President Obama Names Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients
President Barack Obama has named Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and AFL/CIO labor leader John Sweeney to be among 15 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor. The award is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The awards will be presented at a White House ceremony early next year.
President Obama said, “These outstanding honorees come from a broad range of backgrounds and they’ve excelled in a broad range of fields, but all of them have lived extraordinary lives that have inspired us, enriched our culture, and made our country and our world a better place. I look forward to awarding them this honor.”
The 2010 honorees will include: President George H. W. Bush, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel, Congressman John Lewis; John H. Adams, co-founder the Natural Resources Defense Council; Maya Angelou, author, poet, educator, producer, actress, filmmaker, and civil rights activist; Warren Buffett, American investor, industrialist, and philanthropist; Jasper Johns, American artist; Gerda Weissmann Klein, Jewish Holocaust survivor; Dr. Tom Little (Posthumous) an optometrist murdered on August 6, 2010, by the Taliban in Afghanistan; Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist; Sylvia Mendez, civil rights activist; Stan Musial, hall of fame baseball player, St. Louis Cardinals; Bill Russell, Hall of Fame basketball player Boston Celtics; Jean Kennedy Smith, US Ambassador to Ireland, 1993-1998; and John J. Sweeney, President Emeritus AFL-CIO.
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CM STUDENTS EXPLORE IRISH CULTURE THROUGH SERVICE AND PRAYER
Students in Catholic Memorial High School’s Irish Studies program led congregants in prayer in Blessed Edmund Rice's mother tongue on the afternoon of November 18 at the Irish Pastoral Center's monthly Mass and social. In addition, students from CM's Edmund Rice Society served and ate lunch with the seniors at the center, bringing smiles to the women and men who benefit from the Irish Pastoral Center's ministry.
Blessed Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers, would take much pride in the day's activities at Canton's Irish Cultural Center, where students from CM served and worshipped with first and second generation Irish families and celebrant Fr. John McCarthy, a native of Limerick.
"It's wonderful as a teacher to see the young men in the Irish Studies program stand up and initiate a prayer, and hear a roomful of elderly chime in response," said Irish Studies teacher Mary Concannon.
CM's Edmund Rice Society, formed as a student leadership group in 2009, joined the Irish Studies program on Thursday to offer service to the center as well. "The goal is to serve people in communities like this and make people feel good about their lives," said student president John Stark '15.
"We're very grateful for the young men from Catholic Memorial," said Irish Pastoral Center director Cora Flood. "It's all about making connections and trying their hands at new jobs."
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The Kennedy Library and Museum in Dorchester will open its new exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of Kennedy’s inauguration. “Passing the Torch – the Inauguration” of John F. Kennedy is scheduled to open to the public on Friday, December 10, 2010.
Featuring original documents, photographs, and artifacts from the collection of the Kennedy Presidential Library, this exhibit will showcase treasures from the ceremonial events leading up to and surrounding the inauguration of John F. Kennedy.
Highlights of the exhibit include: the never-before-displayed top hat and brown suede gloves worn by President Kennedy to his inauguration; the Oleg Cassini evening gown worn by Jacqueline Kennedy to the inaugural-eve gala; a reading copy of President-elect Kennedy’s farewell address to the state of Massachusetts, also known as the “City upon a hill” speech; never-before-published or exhibited photographs by award-winning American photographer Phil Stern showing spectators lining the Inaugural Parade route on January 20, 1961; and a draft and the final version of Ernest Hemingway’s tribute to President Kennedy, penned after watching the inaugural address on television. [See attached press release for a full description of the exhibit.]

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THE AMERICAN IRELAND FUND 2010 BOSTON GALA HONORS 
JANE MCKENNA, FOUNDER OF THE LAURALYNN HOSPICE IN IRELAND

Over 1,000 Guests Attended the 29th Annual Boston Gala
More than 1,000 guests gathered last month (November 18) for The American Ireland Fund’s 29th Annual Boston Gala at the Westin Boston Waterfront. Over $2 million was raised for the vital work of The American Ireland Fund across the island of Ireland.
The event honored Jane McKenna, a Dublin mother who, after tragically losing her two young daughters, crusaded for more than a decade to establish the LauraLynn Hospice in Dublin. Opening in 2011, the LauraLynn Hospice is the first hospice in Ireland dedicated to children.
In addition to benefiting that program, three local Boston charities- The Catholic Schools Foundation, the ArtsEmerson Irish Festival and The Campaign for Catholic Schools- were also beneficiaries.
The dinner was chaired by Joseph (Jay) L. Hooley, President and Chief Executive Officer of State Street Corporation. James R. Boyle, President of John Hancock Financial Services, and John J. Mahoney, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Staples, Inc., served as Vice Chairmen. Attendees included: Irish Ambassador Michael Collins, Lt. Governor Tim Murray, State Treasurer-elect Steve Grossman and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. Other guests included Jack Sebastian, Goldman Sachs & Co.; William J. Teuber, Jr.,EMC Corp; Mike Sheehan and Karen Kaplan, Hill Holliday; Jim Boyle, John Hancock Financial Services; Robert and Myra Kraft The New England Patriots; Gerald Hassell, BNY Mellon; and Scott Powers, State Street Global Advisors.

“The Boston Gala historically has been among the city’s most successful fundraising events each year, and this year, under the leadership of Jay Hooley, has been no different. In fact, it has been one of our best,” said Steve Greeley, Executive Director of The American Ireland Fund. “The event was at capacity and we were pleased to welcome guests from around the world coming to celebrate with us. It is an honor for the Boston Irish-American community to be able to give back to Ireland at a time when our support is needed there now more than ever.”
Added Jay Hooley, “The American Ireland Fund Boston Gala has long been one of most anticipated philanthropic events in the city. It has been an honor to be part of an evening that raises support and awareness of The American Ireland Fund’s work across the island of Ireland, and supports initiatives right here in Boston as well. The needs in Ireland are great and the Irish-American community here has heard the call by generously enabling us to surpass our goals for this year’s event.”