Irish Cultural Centre to host festival in celebration of 25th anniversary

To mark their 25th anniversary the Irish Cultural Centre (ICC) will host a two day celebration at their campus in Canton. The weekend kicks off early on Saturday morning, June 13 with the ICC Feis competition in association with the Harney Academy. It promises to be a delightful spectacle for all Irish dance lovers. This Feis is registered, sanctioned and governed by rules of An Coimisiún, North American Feis Commission & the New England Region Pat Watkins, President, NAFC. Following the Feis there will be live music all day, entertainment for kids and more. Musicians performing on the day include; Devri, Cat & the Moon and Joshua Tree.

The festival continues on Sunday, June 14 starting with the third annual 5k race at 11am. All levels are welcome including walkers, strollers and wheelchairs. The course is flat, and begins and ends on the grounds of the beautiful Irish Cultural Center. There is free entry to the festival for those signing up for the race. Registration begins is between 9-10.25 am. Following the race there will be GAA games, great music and activities for kids. Included in the lineup this year is "The Viking Irish". The Viking Irish are a local group with a deep interest in Viking history. They will set up a base area on site at the festival so all festival goers can witness a real life world of the legendary Vikings. Music on the day is provided by the Tom Lanigan Band, The Gobshites and Yoke Shire.

The Irish Cultural Centre was founded in 1989 to promote and organize Irish cultural, educational, sporting and social events. The not for profit organization aims to establish and sustain a facility where current and future generations of the New England community can participate in such activities.

Working in collaboration with Irish organizations and the Irish government - as well as with the region's educational, arts, and cultural institutions - the ICC actively supports Irish cultural activities throughout New England. They celebrate this heritage with events and activities that bring Irish culture to life, connecting people of all ages and making the ICC one of the region's most active cultural institutions.

Location: The Irish Cultural Centre of New England, 200 New Boston Drive, Canton. Tickets at brownpapertickets.com. The ICC can be contacted on 781-821-8291.


Frederick Douglass Monument events planned for Boston


The Daniel O’Connell Project (DOP), Museum of African American History (MAAH), and the National Center for Race Amity (NCRA) have joined in collaboration to present a creative, energizing and uplifting program which addresses improving racial perceptions and understanding, while cultivating an atmosphere that reduces the anxiety around race that is being experienced locally and nationally. The activities listed below are planned for Boston from June 12 to 14.

The series of events in Boston include participation by The Frederick Douglass Ireland Project and its, Co-Founder Don Mullan. Mr. Mullan will be accompanied at select events by the Frederick Douglass Ireland Monument, a nearly nine-foot-tall statue depicting Douglass as a young man of 27 years old, the age he was when he left Boston to journey to Ireland for a four-month lecture tour in 1845-6. The monument highlights the story of the relationship between Frederick Douglass, the famed, orator, author, American statesman, and self-emancipated man and Ireland and Irish leaders like Daniel O’Connell, who was a dedicated servant to the abolition of slavery and universal suffrage. The Irish government through the office of Irish Minister for the Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan, TD, authorized the shipping of the Monument to the United States.

Events

June 12 – 8:30 AM Boston Federal Reserve Bank - Panel Presentation (The event open to the public, seating is limited):

Understanding Race Amity and The Other Tradition and documentary segment Douglass and O’Connell: Two Men Yearn for Freedom– William H. Smith, Ed. D., Founding Executive Director, National Center for Race Amity, Wheelock College

The Connectivity of Struggle and Oppression to Break Racial Barriers – Don Mullan, Author of Bloody Sunday, Co-Founder Douglass/O’Connell Project, Humanitarian, Member of French-Haitian Reparations Initiative

June 11 and 12 Display of Frederick Douglass Ireland Monument at Federal Bank of Boston

June 13 - Lecture: Following The North Star: The Impact of Frederick Douglass and Daniel O’Connell on Liberation by Don Mullan at the Museum of African American History, 14 Joy Street, Boston. The Frederick Douglass Ireland Monument will be on display at this event. Event open to the public, seating is limited.

June 14 - Annual Metro Boston Race Amity Festival on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, (Across from the New England Aquarium. The Festival will open with a short procession of international, state, and local government officials along with representatives of civic, community, and business organizations. It will be headed by the Boston Police Department Color Guard. The family oriented event includes live music and dance performances, martial arts demonstrations, visual art exhibits, face painting for children, Curious George and friends, food tents and trucks, and the popular Race Amity Scavenger Hunt with hundreds of prizes. The Frederick Douglass Ireland Monument will be on display to the general public during the festival. The event is open to the public.

Ulster University program participants attend reception at Boston College

A special reception took place at the Chestnut Hill campus of Boston College last week to celebrate the participants from the Ulster University Developing Management program (UUDM). Those in attendance were honored for their successful completion of the International Module of their developing management program, as well as celebrate the partnership between Ulster University and Boston College.

The UUDN course is specifically geared towards Northern Ireland middle/aspiring senior managers who, as part of their personal development, are keen to pursue a management qualification as well as benefit from a practically orientated management programme.

The Irish Cultural Centre 25th anniversary Gala

To mark their 25th year the Irish Cultural Centre of New England (ICC) held a gala on Saturday, May 30. Entertainment on the night was provided by John Connors & The Irish Express as well as a special performance by the Moffat School of Irish dance. A number of presentations were also made later in the evening. There were a several prominent guests in attendance including Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Consul General Breandán Ó Caollaí.

Later this month the ICC will also host a two day festival at their campus in Canton. The festival begins on June 13 with the ICC Feis in association with the Harney Academy followed by live music, entertainment for the kids and more. It continues on June 14 with a 5k race, GAA games, activities for kids and music.

Eire Society of Boston announces 2016 slate of officers and directors

Annual meeting to take place on Wednesday, June 24

Members of the ESB Board of Directors taken at the 2015 Gold Medal Dinner at the Fairmont Copley Plaza on 25 April 2015, from left to right, Cornelia Cassidy Koutoujian, Mary Ellen Mulligan, Cathleen McGrail, Margaret Flagg, Robin Tagliaferri, Thomas Carty and Ann Doherty.

The Eire Society of Boston proudly announces its slate of officers and directors for FY2015-16. The ESB will vote for approval of the slate at its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, 24 June at 6pm at the Forbes House Museum, 215 Adams Street, Milton.

The meeting will feature a recap the organizations achievements over the past year and include a reception with light fare, beverages and Irish music. The event is open to the members of the ESB and the general public. To RSVP, email Barbara Fitzgerald, ESB Corresponding Secretary at [email protected] or call toll free 1.866.560.1050.

The Eire Society of Boston slate of officers and directors for FY2015-16 are:

Officers:

President - Thomas W. Carty

First Vice President - Robin M. Tagliaferri

Second Vice President - John P. Connolly

Treasurer - Ann M. Doherty

Recording Secretary – Ann M. Doherty

Membership Secretary - Mary Ellen Mulligan

Corresponding Secretary - Barbara Smith Fitzgerald

Directors: Mary Beth Fitzgerald, C. Maria Hill, Cornelia Cassidy Koutoujian , Patricia Willis

Past Presidents: Edward L. Duffy, Margaret F. Flagg, Edris B. Kelley, Cathleen A. McGrail, John P. McGuire, Michael J. P. Neagle, Philip B. O’Brien, Robert K. O’Neil Ph.D., Catherine B. Shannon Ph.D., Margaret M. Stapleton

Past President Ex Officio: William H. Pear II

Director Ex- Officio: Ann M. Walsh

Nominations to the Board of Directors: Kevin Cloutier, Christian Dupont, Richard B. Finnegan, Denis F. Keohane, Annmarie Tolkoff, Margaret Sullivan, William Smith

For more information on ESB programs and events, see the website eiresociety.org


Kerry GAA legends in Boston

A high-profile delegation, including a number of former Kerry players, spent several days in Boston recently to raise funds for a new Center of Excellence currently being developed in Co. Kerry.

The Kerry County Board and Cairde Chiarraí organized several events to help raise funds for the Center. The International played host to a golf tournament, featuring some of Boston's most prominent business, construction and financial leaders. Some of the greats of Gaelic Football (Oige Moran, Eoin Liston, Sean Walsh, Ambrose O'Donovan, Mick Galway, Donal Daly) also attended a fundraising dance.

The stunning Kerry GAA Center of Excellence will incorporate a co-hosted GAA facility at the Institute of Technology, Tralee, and six playing fields with a training facility, a gymnasium and jogging track on a 48-acre site at Currans near Kerry Airport. To date the Kerry Co. Board have raised over $5M through corporate sponsorship, donations, GAA and Government grants.

Radio Kerry presenter Weeshie Fogarty was also in Boston to record interviews with the local GAA community for his renowned Radio Kerry show myTerrance Talk.

The interviews by Weeshie Fogarty for Radio Kerry will be available to steam live or to download as a podcast at radiokerry.ie/podcast_series/terracetalk/