Dot’s Fenton enters NE’s Basketball Hall

By Lauren Dezenski
September 3, 2015
Lauren Dezenski

One of the most decorated players in UMass Boston basketball history will be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in August.

Eileen Fenton, the only women’s player in the school’s history to have her number retired, will be honored in a ceremony on Aug. 8 at the DCU Center in Worcester. The Dorchester native and current resident still holds three school records, including the single-season scoring mark of 490 points in 1989-90. She graduated from UMass Boston in 1991. She is the daughter of Willie and Mamie Fenton, who are originally from Carna, Co. Galway.

Boston’s champion currach rowers have fun while winning nationwide

By Kristina Carroll
September 3, 2015
Kristina Carroll

Anne Driscoll is a member of the Boston Irish Currach Rowing Club, which will compete in a North American regatta set for Sept. 5 at Carson Beach in South Boston. Kristina Carroll photosAnne Driscoll is a member of the Boston Irish Currach Rowing Club, which will compete in a North American regatta set for Sept. 5 at Carson Beach in South Boston. Kristina Carroll photosThe Boston Irish Currach Rowing Club, one of seven teams in the North American Currach Association, has brought a centuries-old Irish tradition to the waters of Hough’s Neck in Quincy.

While the club has had a shaky history, its founder, Joe McDonagh, says the club is doing better than ever. “I’ve been involved since I came over here about 15 years ago, and the club has been up and down over the years,” he said in an interview. “It died out there for a while, and we didn’t have a good boat, so I ended up building one myself three years ago.”

That was seven or so years after Anne Driscoll first heard about the club. “I had read a story in the Boston Globe in like 2003, and had it in mind that I wanted to do this. And then when I called, it was probably 2005 or 2006, when I really had time to devote to it, I found out that the team had disbanded,” she said. “Everybody had headed back to Ireland because the Celtic Tiger was going on.”

The Irish Fest – when Milwaukee is more Irish than Ireland

By BostonIrish.com... (not verified)
July 30, 2015

By Judy Enright

It’s not exactly Ireland, but Milwaukee’s Henry W. Maier Festival Park will be more Irish than Ireland over the third weekend in August when the 35th annual “Irish Fest” comes to town.

The mission of Milwaukee’s annual Irish Fest is “to promote and celebrate all aspects of Irish, Irish American and Celtic cultures and to instill in current and future generations an appreciation of their heritage.” The Fest runs from Aug. 13-16 this year and features Irish and Celtic artists from around the globe and much more. The mission of Milwaukee’s annual Irish Fest is “to promote and celebrate all aspects of Irish, Irish American and Celtic cultures and to instill in current and future generations an appreciation of their heritage.” The Fest runs from Aug. 13-16 this year and features Irish and Celtic artists from around the globe and much more. Organizers claim that, “Milwaukee Irish Fest is the world’s largest celebration of Irish music and culture.” The four-day festival (August 13-16 this year) features more than 100 entertainment acts on 17 stages, as well as sports events and more in the 75-acre park that stretches along Milwaukee’s Lake Michigan waterfront. The event includes a dog show in the Celtic Canines’ area where you can see all nine native Irish dog breeds, including setters, spaniels and wolfhounds.

I’ve been to “Irish Fest” several times over the years and the organizers are not exaggerating one bit. This event is enormous and attracts more than 120,000 visitors annually. Spokesmen are there to represent every kind of Irish tour group and organization ranging from Tourism Ireland and Aer Lingus to car rental firms, hotel groups, different counties, and tourist attractions.

SHOPPING

And, don’t forget about the great shopping! Organizers say there is no place better to shop for Irish goods than “Irish Fest” where there is “the largest gathering of Irish vendors and products outside Ireland. More than 90 vendors sell everything from soccer jerseys to fine art, jewelry, clothing, music and more.” Many musicians and artisans travel to Milwaukee for this annual fun event and the fairgrounds are buzzing with activity. “Irish Fest” has children’s activities, too, as well as booths selling all sorts of food and drink. It’s a perfect event for singles, couples and families.

‘Backroom’ series offers a winning trifecta

By Sean Smith
July 30, 2015
Sean Smith

Not that the Burren “Backroom” series hasn’t had plenty of wow-inducing shows during its nearly four years of existence, but this month’s line-up is something of a marvel: three acts that collectively represent nearly five decades – and some of the most prodigious talent – of the modern Irish folk music revival.

Montana-bred, and Berklee-trained, Lindsay Straw tells lovers’ stories in song (and escorts newlyweds to the dance floor)

By Sean Smith
July 30, 2015
Sean Smith

It all seems to fit together: Lindsay Straw, who has a pretty lucrative business as a wedding entertainer – when she’s not asserting herself as one of the better singers and guitar/bouzouki players in the Boston Irish music scene, that is – releases a solo CD of traditional songs that are all about love and relationships.

Coincidence? Actually, says Straw, it is.

He relishes chance to share Shakespeare on the Common

By R.J. Donovan
July 30, 2015
R.J. Donovan

Common Shakespeare: All the world’s a stage as “King Lear” marks the 20th anniversary of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company presenting Shakespeare on the Common. Performances are free and run through August 9. Ryan Maxwell photoCommon Shakespeare: All the world’s a stage as “King Lear” marks the 20th anniversary of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company presenting Shakespeare on the Common. Performances are free and run through August 9. Ryan Maxwell photo
The first thing you should know about Fred Sullivan, Jr. is that the actor-director loves Shakespeare.   “As much as breathing” he said.   Which puts him in good stead for his current Shakespeare on the Common gig playing the powerful, generationally challenged Earl of Gloucester in “King Lear.”  

Presented by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company in celebration of its 20th season, performances are free and run through Aug. Founding Artistic Director Steve Maler directs.

KEEPING KIDS ON THE RIGHT TRACK: Seeking best practices to help at-risk youth in Massachusetts, Ireland, Northern Ireland

By BostonIrish.com... (not verified)
July 30, 2015

Jay McManus is Director of the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts in Lynn, a legal aid program for low-income and disabled children. Recently, the agency was among a dozen that served as host sites for a group of Irish (from both the Republic and Northern Ireland) barristers, child advocates, and police who all arrived in Boston last spring for the “Rule of Law Program,” which was sponsored by Boston College and the US State Department.

A TALE OF TWO HEROES: Hypocrisy reigns supreme when it comes to US Sen. McCain and Secretary of State Kerry

By Peter F. Stevens
July 30, 2015
Peter F. Stevens

John Kerry’s name has often appeared in this newspaper – not always accompanied by plaudits. Kerry came to this writer’s mind in recent days during the deserved outcry against Donald Trump’s outrageous comments about US Sen. John McCain’s service and heroism. From all corners of the media, condemnation of The Donald’s churlish remarks came fast and furious. From Republican presidential candidates who were either mute or tepid in response to Trump’s vile Nativist comments about Mexicans, the rush to excoriate Trump was thunderous.

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