The Irish Cultural Centre (ICC) has announced its line-up for the upcoming St. Patrick's Day season, as they prepare to celebrate their favorite holiday in style. This year, the ICC has a full calendar of festivities that begin with their annual kick off to St. Patrick’s Day at the Umass Club in Boston. This year, the Gradam Dóchais - or the Hope Award - will be presented to Colin and Eithne Bell, founders of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. This event will be taking place on March 3rd from 5:30-8:30pm. Tickets are currently on sale for $50 for general admission and $25 for young professionals. To purchase a ticket, go to www.irishculture.org or call (781) 821-8291.

The highlight of the celebrations will be on the weekend of St. Patrick’s Day, as the Irish Cultural Centre opens to the public from Friday, March 15th through Monday, March 17th for four full days of Irish music, song, dance, fare favorites, and activities. Music rosters include Sláinte, Strawberry Hill, Brian Herlihy, David Healy, Aoife Griffin, & Co., Simon Lace & Friends, Bell & Son, and more. Area dance schools will also be featured, with performances by O’Shea Chaplin Academy of Irish Dance, Harney Pender Keady Academy, Jackie O’Riley Irish Dance, Petrocelli Academy of Irish Dance, Greene-O'Leary Irish Dance, Heavey Quinn Irish Dance, Forbes School of Irish Dance, and more. There will also be céilí, line, set, and social dancing hosted by Cait Bracken, Winnie Henry, and other dance friends and partners. Irish vendors including Mulligan Gear, New England Novelty, JAT creations, Eire’s Irish Gifts, and more will be on-site with all of their wonderful Irish treats and goods. Face painters and arts & crafts are among the fun activities available to children for the day. An admission fee includes full-day access to the Irish

Cultural Centre. This weekend is predicted to be full of fun for the whole family- from kids to grandparents!

This program is funded in part by a grant from the Canton Cultural Council and Stoughton Cultural Council, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

“We are proud to share our Irish Heritage & Culture with a wider audience. There is truly something for everyone in the month of March. The Irish Cultural Centre is your real home for Irish Culture, Music, Song, Dance and Sports” said Jerry McDermott, Executive Director at The Irish Cultural Centre.

Some of the ICC’s upcoming events in March also include:

• An inaugural performance from Joannie Madden & Cherish the Ladies, as they celebrate four decades together
• Paddy Cullivan’s “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Ireland!”, the one-man hit comedy, music, and history show making its’ ICC debut
• Internationally acclaimed touring artists Seán Keane, Sina Theil, Paul Byrom, and Onóir
  To learn more about what’s going on at the ICC, or to purchase tickets to special events, visit www.irishculture.org.