Arts and Entertainment
•The annual winter BCMFest is the big happening this month (Jan. 15-18), with headliners Altan and Old Blind Dogs and numerous Boston-area performers, which you can read about here.
•The Burren – which is marking its 30th anniversary – will be among... Read more
The Burren, Greater Boston’s legendary venue for Irish music – and much more – is celebrating three decades in 2026, with the official commemoration taking place the weekend of Jan. 17-18.
During the day on Jan. 17, as part of the Boston Celtic Music... Read more
The 23rd annual Boston Celtic Music Fest (BCMFest) will welcome two long-time, internationally renowned bands, Irish quintet Altan and Scotland’s Old Blind Dogs, as they join an array of Greater Boston-based acts when the festival takes place Jan. 15-18... Read more
The somewhat snowy sidewalks along East Merrimack Street were filled with foot traffic around 7 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 17. as families and friends walked toward the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, where members of the Celtic Woman’s “Symphony Christmas Tour” were... Read more
Elementary school assemblies tend to be one of those mixed blessings of childhood: a respite from the typical school day, but – depending on the content – often lacking in entertainment value. Yet sometimes they can provide inspiration for what turns out... Read more
Throughout December, Celtic Woman, the most successful all-female musical group in Irish history, will be presenting Ireland’s rich musical and cultural heritage across the US on their Symphony Christmas Tour.
On Dec. 17, the ensemble, which stars... Read more
Representing two generations of dance innovators with roots in Boston, the New York City-based Seán Curran Company will join forces this month with Decent Dance in Worcester to present “Through Lines,” a dynamic evening-length performance that marks the... Read more
A whole lot of holiday-themed events is coming your way, not surprisingly, but don’t assume they’re all the same – there’s quite a variety of styles and sounds here.
•First, though, a non-holiday-oriented event, courtesy of The Druid Pub’s recently... Read more
There’s no love like the love of an Irish mother
Local talent will shine and an Irish Mother’s love will be in the spotlight when True Repertory Theatre presents “Ellen’s Boys,” for three performances only, Nov. 14 - 15, at the Irish Cultural Centre... Read more
•Whether you have or you haven’t attended Fiddle Hell, this would be an important year for you to go to the festival, which takes place from November 13-16. It’s not just that Fiddle Hell has, as always, a stellar line-up – more on that in just a second... Read more
The phrase “family tradition” can apply to any number of things, from holiday customs to unique rites and rituals – whether it’s secret handshakes, bad-joke-a-thons or annual excursions to obscure destinations.
But for Newburyport resident Sarah Ann... Read more
Here’s a look at what’s happening with some of Boston’s favorite stage talents.
South Dublin native Karen Killeen is in Boston playing one of the lead roles in “The Hills of California,” kicking off The Huntington Theatre’s fall season.
In “Hills,”... Read more
Even if Andy Irvine, one of the most well-loved, successful performers in Irish music, wasn’t coming to town (at The Burren for two shows on October 1, and the Boston College Gaelic Roots series on October 2), October would still be a corker of a month... Read more
Nine years ago, on the eve of a US tour, Andy Irvine – one of Ireland’s most accomplished musicians and singers – made a dramatic, but not altogether unexpected announcement: This would be his last visit to America as a performer.
Although he always... Read more
This fall, for the first time in more than three decades, SpeakEasy Stage Company has a new artistic director: Dawn Simmons has taken the reins from company founder Paul Daigneault.
According to the Berklee College of Music, “Artistic directors take... Read more
What’s Happening Onstage This Fall
By R.J. Donovan
Special to Boston Irish
“Mrs. Doubtfire”
Through Sept. 21, Citizens Opera House
“Helloooo, dears!” Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny is back in a musical based on the beloved Robin Williams’ film. When... Read more
•A couple of festivals to note: There’s the fifth annual Rockport Celtic Festival, which takes place September 11-14 at the Shalin-Liu Performance Center, with a line-up that includes Open the Door for Three, Diarmuid Ó Meachair, Le Vent du Nord, Triton,... Read more
All systems are go for Seisiún, a unique festival taking place September 6 and 7 at The Stage on Suffolk Downs, with an emphasis on the hard-rocking, edgier side of Irish music.
Headlining acts for the music and cultural event will be Boston’s own... Read more
Now in its sixth year, the Rockport Celtic Festival – which takes place September 11-15 mainly in the Shalin Liu Performance Center – has established itself as one of Greater Boston’s premier folk and traditional music showcases, bringing together... Read more
This September is a good month to be a Pogues fan in Greater Boston. The ultra-storied, on-again/off-again Irish folk-punk band will be appearing at the two-day Seisún Irish Music, Arts and Cultural Festival at The Stage in Suffolk Downs September 6 and 7... Read more
