UMass Boston to honor Jim Brett with dedicated chair; disability efforts cited

By Ed Forry
August 29, 2013

UMass Boston has announced the creation of a chair in Disability and Workforce Development that will be named in honor of Jim Brett, President and CEO of the New England Council and a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, from Dorchester. A longtime civic leader, and an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities, his board service includes the chairmanship of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities and the Massachusetts Governor’s Commission on Intellectual Disabilities.

Post-Whitey: A lingering cacophony of media myth, frenzy, fact, and fiction

By BY PETER F. STEVENS
August 29, 2013
BY PETER F. STEVENS

By Peter F. Stevens
BIR Staff
It’s “ovah.” Or is it? James “Whitey” Bulger finally stood trial and received a long-belated, long-deserved verdict. One can only hope that his victims’ families received at least some scant measure of solace, courtesy of a jury that had to endure not only graphic, horrific testimony and grisly crime-scene photos, but also a sorry cast of prosecution witnesses as vile as the gangster on trial.

Concertina players are coming to fore; instrument’s versatility is called a key

By Sean Smith
July 31, 2013
Sean Smith

Q. How do you make a concertina?
A. Cross an accordion with a stop sign.
It’s not as if the concertina has never gotten respect in the traditional Irish music world – maybe it’s just overlooked, in comparison with, say, the fiddle, uilleann pipes, flute, whistle, and accordion.
But what with the emergence over the past few decades of eminent concertina players like Noel Hill, Mary MacNamara, Jackie Daly, John Williams, Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh, and Niamh Ni Charra (not to mention New England’s own Christian Stevens), perhaps the squeezebox’s moment has arrived.

Public discourse plays loose with the real meaning of words

By Ed Forry
July 31, 2013

BY JAMES W. DOLAN
SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER
Words are sometimes used to inflate, demean, soften, distort, or distract us from reality. In our celebrity culture, what we say or do is often defined by those who have an interest in either protecting or promoting themselves.
Take, for example, the word “inappropriate.” Have you noticed how often people use that term to describe wrong, even reprehensible, behavior? The offender can usually be found before a microphone apologizing for acting inappropriately, asking for forgiveness, and promising never to do it again.

Split between Catholic Church and Irish government worsens

By Joe Leary
July 31, 2013
Joe Leary

The divide between the Irish Government and the Catholic Church in Ireland became more profound last month with the Irish Parliament’s approval of new laws liberalizing abortion restrictions. The aggressive moves by the Fine Gael/ Labor coalition government, which included forced resignations if party members did not vote their leaders’ wishes, embittered many.

Family ties distinguish two bands who will play at the Irish Cultural Centre in August

By Sean Smith
July 31, 2013
Sean Smith

Two family-based bands with different approaches to Irish music will make appearances this month at the Irish Cultural Centre of New England in Canton.
On Aug. 3, the ICCNE will feature Michigan quartet Finvarra’s Wren as part of the center’s Tiny Cottage Series. And on Aug. 23, the Makem and Spain Brothers will perform an outdoor concert. Both events begin at 8 p.m.

Tristan MacManus brings dancer’s sizzle to sparkling version of ‘Ballroom With A Twist’

By R.J.Donovan
July 31, 2013
R.J.Donovan

Dust off your dancing shoes, because several of the professionals from “Dancing With The Stars” are hitting the road and bringing the sizzle straight to New England. From the Samba to the Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Jive and more, the evening promises a frenzy for the eyes and ears.

Dubliner critically injured in biking accident on Cape

By Ed Forry
July 31, 2013

BY GREG O’BRIEN
SPECIAL TO THE BIR
Bucolic Main Street in Brewster on Cape Cod is known for its stately oaks that arch this serpentine country way, graceful sea captains homes, historic churches, and fine cuisine. Brewster in the 1800s was home to more sailing masters per capita than any place in the world. It’s easy to see why.

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