Deprecated function: Optional parameter $data declared before required parameter $name is implicitly treated as a required parameter in include_once() (line 1445 of /usr/home/bnninc/public_html/bostonirish.com/includes/bootstrap.inc).
Deprecated function: Return type of DateObject::__wakeup() should either be compatible with DateTime::__wakeup(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in include_once() (line 143 of /usr/home/bnninc/public_html/bostonirish.com/sites/all/modules/date/date_api/date_api.module).
Deprecated function: Return type of DateObject::format($format, $force = false) should either be compatible with DateTime::format(string $format): string, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in include_once() (line 143 of /usr/home/bnninc/public_html/bostonirish.com/sites/all/modules/date/date_api/date_api.module).
Deprecated function: Return type of DateObject::setTimezone($tz, $force = false) should either be compatible with DateTime::setTimezone(DateTimeZone $timezone): DateTime, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in include_once() (line 143 of /usr/home/bnninc/public_html/bostonirish.com/sites/all/modules/date/date_api/date_api.module).
By Sean Smith, Special to the BIR December 28, 2018
Sean Smith, Special to the BIR
Highlighting January’s area Irish/Celtic events is the 16th annual Boston Celtic Music Fest (BCMFest), which takes place Jan. 17-20 in Harvard Square. In addition to spotlighting many performers with ties to Greater Boston, the festival will welcome special guests Irish-American fiddler Liz Carroll and Kevin Henderson, a Scottish fiddler who will be appearing with pianist Neil Pearlman.
BY ED FORRY
BIR PUBLISHER
Plans to establish a monument in Boston Harbor to memorialize some 850 Irish who sought refuge in the mid-19th century only to die in quarantine on Deer Island within sight of the city are nearing completion with a formal unveiling dedication planned for Memorial Day weekend.
About 25,000 Irish souls arrived in our harbor on “coffin ships” between 1847 and 1849, and health officials steered the vessels to Deer Island, where the passengers were placed in quarantine.
WGBH's A Christmas Celtic Sojourn
kicks off this week with two sold out shows in Rockport!
Show producer Brian O'Donovan said, "Our first performance in Boston at the Cutler Majestic Theatre is on Friday, Dec 14 - tickets are going fast.
I cannot believe that the launch of our 16th year of producing Christmas Celtic is only a week away. With the two sold out shows in Rockport marking our first performances, our cast and crew is hard at work to bring you a program we are particularly excited about.
Casey McElmeel at Boston's Irish Consulate has shared information about an expansion of the online passport renewal service. In addition to online passport renewals, the expanded online service will now permit:
1) Online renewal of a child’s passport.
2) Passport cards for children (can only be purchased in a bundle together with a passport book).
3) Change of name during online passport renewal.
4) Observation to be recorded during online renewal.
5) Online replacement of passports with more than 12 months validity.
Shannon Airport was already in holiday mode when I traveled through in mid-November - proof positive that the Irish take Christmas very seriously and love to celebrate the season.
Two enormous, sparkling Christmas trees were erected at the end of the Aer Lingus counter. And, the night before departing, I joined friends for dinner at Bunratty Manor near the airport and it, too, was fully decorated with swags and lights galore.
Not surprisingly, holiday-themed performances – such as “A Christmas Celtic Sojourn” and the Robbie O’Connell-Rose Clancy “Celtic Christmas” benefit [see stories elsewhere in this issue] – are plentiful amidst this month’s offerings of Irish/Celtic music events in the Greater Boston area.
Steph Geremia, “Up She Flew” • New York City’s Geremia, now living in Galway, is familiar to many for her fine flute and whistle-playing and vocals with the Alan Kelly Gang.
A local holiday-themed event coming up in early December offers a very desirable combination: great entertainment to help support a worthy cause that is inspired by one person’s good works.