Tens of thousands of young Irish American men and women between 18 and 26 may have the opportunity to spend up to ten free days in Ireland learning about Irish culture and history – if a proposed government initiative gets off the ground.
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Boston Irish Tourism Association has released its 2015 schedule of St. Patrick’s Day parades in Massachusetts. This year the state’s parade season begins on Saturday, March 7 with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Cape Cod, and ends with the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 22, 2015.
VISITORS FROM IRELAND and beyond have been flocking to Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetery after watching the documentary One Million Dubliners.
The cemetery is the last resting place of the likes of Michael Collins, as well as over 1.5 million other people. The feature documentary, directed by Aoife Kelleher, went on general release in cinemas in October.
The fascinating and touching story of the history of the huge cemetery – which was built in 1832 and is the last resting place of figures from Irish history including Michael Collins – also introduced people to the late historian Shane MacThomais (pictured).
MacThomais passed away in March, just as filming was coming to an end, and his interactions with visitors and thoughts on life and death have connected with many viewers.
Check out the trailer here:
A UK tv network, Channel 4, are planning to air a Shameless-style sitcom based on the Great Famine.
Speaking to the Irish Times, screenwriter Hugh Travers revealed that he is writing the sitcom, Hungry, following an open commission by Channel 4, which allows him to write “any idea I wanted”.
“Well, they say ‘comedy equals tragedy plus time,” Mr Travers says.
“I don’t want to do anything that denies the suffering that people went through, but Ireland has always been good at black humour.
“We’re kind of thinking of it as Shameless in famine Ireland.”
During the Great Famine, approximately 1M people died of starvation between 1845 and 1852 and a further 1.5M people emigrated.
The announcement of Hungry has sparked outrage.
Many social media users have condemened the series, calling it “thoroughly disgraceful” and asking “what exactly is funny about the starvation of millions?”
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Blizzard of 2015 hits Boston hard
Its winds howling at more than 70 mph, the Blizzard of 2015, Juno, slammed Boston and surrounding parts of New England on Tuesday with none of the mercy it unexpectedly showed New York City, piling up more than 2 feet of snow. At least 30,000 homes and businesses were without power in the Boston-Cape Cod area, including the entire island of Nantucket.
How were you affected? Let us know!
The Conor McGregor show delivered on Sunday inside the TD Garden in Boston.
The Irish featherweight walked straight through Dennis Siver at UFC Fight Night, finishing his overmatched opponent via TKO at 1:54 of the second round.
World number one Rory McIlroy made a hole-in-one on the 15th as he climbed the leaderboard in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
Do you love Celtic music? If so, this event may be for you!
12th Annual Boston Celtic Music Fest, coming up in January 2015.
Golden Bridges 2014 – New Alliances in a New Era
On 8-9 October 2014 the sixth annual Golden Bridges Conference will build on the Golden Bridges gatherings in Boston which have taken place each November since 2009. Featured speakers at these events have included leaders from both sides of the Irish Border alongside their counterparts in Boston and Massachusetts. The conference highlights community, business, education, arts and culture in northwest Ireland with their peers in Boston. The conference will open with an evening reception on 8 October and will resume the following day for a series of provocative and timely sessions at the Seaport Hotel. The highlight will include the Golden Bridges Gala Luncheon honoring those forging transatlantic links that build our cities.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny stopped by the Irish Consulate to pay a visit to the Irish community during the St Patrick’s Day festivities in Boston. The board of the Irish Network Boston were delighted to be invited to attend, and extended a warm welcome. A wonderful time was had by all! Click below to see photos of the event.