Music Events this summer

By Sean Smith
July 5, 2016
Sean Smith

By SEAN SMITH
Special to the BIR
In addition to Summer BCMFest [see story below], here are some other Irish/Celtic-related music events taking place in Boston this month:
• The Burren Backroom series will present the legendary Sliabh Luachra duo of Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly on July 20. The two are among the finest living exponents of the distinctive style and repertoire found in traditional music from Cork and Kerry, and in addition to their partnership have long and distinguished careers as soloists and in other collaborations.

‘Yours Faithfully, Florence Burke’

By Kiera Murray
July 5, 2016
Kiera Murray

By KIERA MURRAY
BIR Correspondent
The June sun was beginning to set over the Andover Bookstore courtyard casting a golden light on the evening. The fire pit crackled, and the tune “Cockles and Mussels” floated through the warm air as Andover resident and first-time author Ellen Alden sat at a table surrounded by glossy stacks of her debut novel, signing copies for a fast-growing line of family, friends, and fans.

Busy summer is on tap at ICC, other venues

By Ed Forry
June 30, 2016
Ed Forry

“The ICC in Canton will host a number of concerts this summer and fall,” says Maudy Dooher, director of Programming & Membership. “Following on the heels of a fantastic Irish festival we will have Emish appear on July 15 for a great night of Irish music and a guaranteed ‘rare ‘ole time.’ “
“Join us on our outdoor patio before the event for summer cocktails,” Dooher says. “Our restaurant will be open at 6 p.m. Call the ICC to purchase tickets or to reserve a table at 781-821-8291 or purchase online at Eventbrite, tinyurl.com/jhr4v89.”

In UN speech, Michael D reflects Ireland's humane values

By Bill O'Donnell
June 30, 2016
Bill O'Donnell

BY BILL O’DONNELL
Irish President In UN Rebuke – The ninth president of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, is a 75-year-old veteran politician from the west of Ireland who has rarely been hesitant to air his opinions and ideas. This was evident in a speech he made recently to the Immigrant Council of Ireland that severely criticized members of the United Nations Security Council for not doing enough to aid migrants and help provide funding for refugees during the current crisis.

Tips on genealogy session at ICC June 25

By Kiera Murray
June 2, 2016
Kiera Murray

The Friends of Irish Research will present The School of Irish Genealogy at
the Irish Cultural Centre on June 25 at 1 p.m. Richard Reid will discuss advanced methods on the genealogy search tool FamilySearch, and Robert Murphy will talk about dual citizenship.

Users generally only need some basic information to get started on FamilySearch, such as parents’ and grandparents’ names, county or town locations, and partish names if known, says Reid.

Bountiful color makes Ireland sparkle in springtime

By BostonIrish.com... (not verified)
June 2, 2016


By Judy Enright
Special to the BIR


Color is the operative word in Ireland these days – brilliant color from the greenest of fields and occasional blue skies to flowering plants, trees, and bushes whose colors pop when sunshine hits them in gardens, yards, and along the roadside.

Flowers flourish on the Emerald Isle – especially in the nearly tropical south - and present a mixed palette of yellow (gorse and iris), pink, white and red (rhododendrons), white (wild garlic), orange (montbretia), and most other colors in the flower world throughout the year.

Lúnasa’s Crawford believes the band’s ‘marriage of sounds’ undergirds its staying power

By Sean Smith
June 2, 2016
Sean Smith

Yes, yes, Kevin Crawford says he and his Lúnasa band mates are well aware that their 20th anniversary is coming up in the next year, and they will most assuredly do something to mark the milestone.

“We’ve only really just started putting out feelers,” said Crawford during a recent stop at Boston College while on tour with his fellow Lúnasan Cillian Vallely and guitarist (and Worcester native) Patrick Doocey. “We just don’t know the direction yet. We want to celebrate, but also want to have something to market.”

That would seem to suggest, oh, perhaps making a new album?

Broadway’s Ciarán Sheehan is Billy Bigelow in ‘Carousel’

By R.J. Donovan
June 1, 2016
R.J. Donovan

Broadway’s Ciarán Sheehan will be in town from June 9 to June 19 to kick off Reagle Music Theatre’s 48th summer season with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Carousel.” The classic musical tells the challenging love story of Julie Jordan, an innocent New England mill worker, and Billy Bigelow, a swaggering carnival barker. Ciarán stars as Billy opposite Boston’s own Jennifer Ellis as Julie.
The Dublin-born actor-singer-producer made his Broadway debut in “Les Miserables” – mentored by legendary producer-director Hal Prince (“Evita,” “Cabaret”) – and subsequently starred in more than 1,000 performances of “Phantom of the Opera,” both on Broadway and in Toronto.

His credits include roles at The Irish Repertory Theater and in Frank McCourt’s “The Irish And How They Got That Way,” “Finian’s Rainbow,” and “Camelot” (with Jeremy Irons). As well, he produced and starred in a sold out run of “The Molly Maguires” at the Kirby Center in Pennsylvania.

As a solo artist, the charismatic Sheehan has sold out Carnegie Hall, appeared at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, opened the dedication of the Irish Hunger Memorial in New York City, and sang at funeral services for Beau Biden at the request of Vice President Joe Biden. He also has three PBS musical specials under his belt.

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