Two "Mayor Martys" agree: Boston, Belfast now Sister Cities

By BIR News Room
May 16, 2014


Boston Mayor Marty Walsh signed a “sister city” agreement with Belfast Lord Mayor Mairtin O Muilleoir on Monday, May 7. It was one of the last official acts of the Belfast mayor, who will resume his role as a City Councillor after a one year term as Belfast's chief eleted official. (Photo courtesy Boston Mayor's office.)

Boston comes to help Connemara's Katie O'Halloran

By BIR News Room
May 16, 2014

Mayor Walsh with Katie O'Halloran in an April 19, 2014 photo in DorchesterMayor Walsh with Katie O'Halloran in an April 19, 2014 photo in Dorchester

A large gathering of supporters turned out at Dorchester’s IBEW Hall April 19 for a fundraiser to benefit Katie O’Halloran, a special needs law school  student from Connemara who was born with Femur Fibulka Ulna Syndrome (abnormalities of the thigh, forearm, and calf bones) and lives with no arms and a short, deformed left leg. The event was organized by a 14-member committee headed by Gabriel Mannion, owner of Twelve Bens Pub in Dorchester, with Mayor Martin J. Walsh as honorary chairman. The event raised more than $200,000 to cover the costs of Bebionis 3 prosthetic arms for Ms. O’Halloran. (Exclusive BIR Photo by Harry Brett)

Despite this rough patch, the bond linking BC to Ireland remains tight

By Robert P. Connolly, Special to the Reporter
May 5, 2014
Robert P. Connolly, Special to the Reporter

It surely is understatement of the highest order to say that the Gerry Adams arrest/oral history saga has to go down as a painful chapter in the history of a university as closely linked to Ireland as Boston College always has been, and is likely to remain.

A time to recall, and mourn: Paddy Cronin, Henry Varian

By Sean Smith
May 1, 2014
Sean Smith

The late winter/early spring of 2014 held some sadness for Boston’s Irish music community, which mourned the passing of two of its stalwarts: Paddy Cronin, 88, a talented and influential fiddle player; and Henry Varian, 72, a singer, musician, raconteur, and co-owner of one of Boston’s legendary Irish music pubs.

‘The Lazy Farmer’ – incisive fusion of Irish and American sound

By Sean Smith
May 1, 2014
Sean Smith

Like many musicians throughout Greater Boston – and beyond – Flynn Cohen feels he owes a lot to the late guitarist-mandolinist John McGann, a much-beloved figure in the area’s Irish music community. Along with considerable amounts of advice, inspiration, and wisdom that he bequeathed to Cohen over the years, McGann had a key role in planting the seed for a fascinating music project that has now borne fruit.

Greater Boston does well in Mid-Atlantic Fleadh

By BIR Staff Report
May 1, 2014
BIR Staff Report

Irish musicians from Greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts made an impressive showing at the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh Cheoil held in Parsippany, NJ, April 25-27. Winners included: Rory Coyne (melodeon, Under-12); Seamus Noon (solo flute, Under-12); Armand Aromin, Patrick Hutchinson and Benedict Gagliardi (trio, Over-18); Liam Hart (English and Irish men’s singing, Over-18); Patrick Bowling (bodhran, Over-18); Stuart Peak (banjo, accompaniment, Over-18).

Yet another salute for Seamus Connolly

By BIR Staff Report
May 1, 2014
BIR Staff Report

The honors keep rolling in for master fiddler Seamus Connolly, director of Irish music programs at Boston College and one of the area’s most celebrated traditional Irish musicians. Last month, Connolly – who is the Sullivan Artist-in-Residence at BC – was presented with the university’s 2014 Faculty Arts Award, which recognizes faculty members for their accomplishments and contributions to the arts.

Féile Cheoil Boston, Round 2: Return to Melrose on May 17

By Sean Smith
May 1, 2014
Sean Smith

One of the newer celebrations of traditional Irish music in Boston returns for its second go-round this month, when Féile Cheoil Boston takes place on May 17 in Melrose. The day-long (10 a.m.-10 p.m.) event, established by Boston’s Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) Reynolds-Hanafin-Cooley Boston School of Music to showcase area Irish musicians – especially young ones – includes competitions in instrument and vocal categories, children’s activities, performances, sessions, and an evening concert headlined by the trio Open the Door for Three.

Twice upon a time

By R.J. Donovan, Special to the Reporter
May 1, 2014
R.J. Donovan, Special to the Reporter

Aimee Doherty journeys “Into The Woods”
Fairy tales are filled with princes and witches and monsters and magic.  Whatever trials the characters face, the stories usually build to a happily-ever-after ending.  But did you ever wonder what happened after that?
That’s the jumping off point for “Into The Woods,” the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine retelling of some of the world’s most enduring fairy tales.  Lyric Stage Company presents the 1987 Tony Award-winning musical from May 9 to June 15.

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