Maine Irish Heritage Center

2025 Annual Golf Scramble at Riverside
2025-09-20 | Riverside Golf Course, 1158 Riverside St, Portland, Maine, 04103, United States
Sold Out on the Course – But You Can Still Join Us!
2025 Maine Irish Golf Scramble – September 20 at Riverside Golf Course
Our annual golf scramble is officially sold out—thank you to all the players who will be hitting the links in support of the Maine Irish Heritage Center!
But there are still two great ways to be part of the fun:
Join Us for Dinner & Raffles
Not golfing? No problem! Come for the BBQ dinner, raffles, and prize drawings after the tournament. While some prizes are reserved for players, most raffles are open to everyone—so you’ll have plenty of chances to win. Tickets will be available at the door.
Sponsor a Hole or Event
Sponsorships are still available and are a fantastic way to showcase your company while supporting the Center’s mission. Options include:

Dinner Sponsor – $1,000 Includes logo recognition, on-site signage, social media & email promotion, and more.

Hole Sponsorships – Highlight your business or honor a loved one with your name prominently displayed on the course.

Why It Matters
Your support helps preserve and restore our historic landmark while celebrating and promoting Irish culture in Maine. All proceeds benefit the Maine Irish Heritage Center!
Don’t miss this last opportunity to be part of the 2025 Maine Irish Golf Scramble—join us for dinner or step up as a sponsor today!

Irish Rebel Songs Workshop with Davy Holden
2025-10-10 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Friday, October 10th
7:30pm
Doors open at 7:00pm
Join Irish historian, Davy Holden, as he dives into the history behind some of Ireland’s greatest rebel songs. Rebel songs are pieces of music which are written about the Irish revolutionary period, and every Irish rebel song tells a unique story from Ireland’s struggle for independence, each a testament to the courage and spirit of the Irish people. Whether you’re drawn to history, music, or simply a love for Ireland, this workshop promises to enlighten, entertain, and leave you with a greater understanding of Ireland’s fight for freedom.
General Admission tickets are $20, and Priority Seating are $30 in advance! Don’t wait to get your tickets, prices will go up at the door!
About Davy Holden
Meet Davy Holden, an Irish historian, storyteller and video creator hailing from south Kilkenny, Ireland.

Davy’s journey into the world of Irish history began as a child, from playing Irish music, to listening to old stories from his elders, and being surrounded by various monuments, memorials and megalithic structures a stone’s throw from his home. With a passion for Irish history and video production, he started creating Irish history videos in August 2022. Since then, his social media channels have blown up, amassing over 680,000 followers across all platforms.

Since 2023, Davy has been travelling all over the United States to perform live Irish history workshops and Irish language workshops. He has also given lectures in various universities and schools. In early 2025, he featured on the RTÉ show, ‘Nationwide’, and in early 2026 he will be featuring on the PBS show ‘Ireland With Michael’. Davy’s mission is to make Irish history more accessible, and to make the history come alive through the lens of his camera – keeping the stories of our ancestors alive.

Learn more at https://davyholdenhistory.com/

Featuring music from the incredible Jim Sharkey!

Jim grew up in County Roscommon, Ireland. His songs reflect the Irish tradition as well as singer-songwriter music he grew up listening to. Regarding his original compositions Sean Smith, BostonIrish Contributor, November 2024 writes “there’s such an innate gentleness to his music, a care and concern expressed about our humanity, on a large and small scale, and that tenderness is once again abundant on his fourth album, “Our Old Village”.
Learn more at https://www.jimsharkeymusic.com

Michael C. Connolly launches 'As the Twig is Bent'
2025-10-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Michael C. Connolly Launches “As the Twig is Bent”
A Maine Irish Author Event
Thursday, October 16th
7:00pm
Doors open at 6:30pm
Join us for an incredible evening with local Maine author and historian Michael Connolly for the launch of his latest novel/memoir “As the Twig is Bent”!
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About the Book
A boy evolves to a man. What shapes him, nurtures him, supports and challenges him? Over the decades from his deep ancestral roots along the rugged West Coast of Ireland to his own beautiful home port in coastal Maine, the shaping of the boy emerges as he grows and changes. Grandparents he never knew, loving parents he knew every day; family, friends, classmates, mentors and fellow travelers — all provide love, guidance, challenge and support.
Young Coley Folan evolves, gaining insight, purpose, wisdom and humor; all of these he passes on to those he cares about. Share this journey with Coley as he explores and traverses this landscape where the confluence of nature and nurture pave the way for him to an inevitable vocation as a teacher and a scholar.
“Connolly’s characters and experiences are full of vigor and wry humor, while the occasional missteps always seem to resolve themselves with a happy ending — and another life lesson learned. Coley Folan and his family, like so many other immigrants, then and now, understood the power of education and assimilation — and that experience is often the best teacher.”
— Rusty and Sue Atwood, Former Maine Historical Society Trustee, and retired educators in Gorham, Maine
“Rich with humor, heart, and hard-earned wisdom, this is a coming-of-age memoir for anyone who has ever searched for where they truly belong. Connolly’s odyssey is a mirror of a generation longing to find its place in a shifting world.”
— Jean Haney, Entrepreneur and Maine Irish Heritage Center volunteer extraordinaire
“As the ‘new’ Portland, Maine, is quickly replacing the old, Connolly reminds us of the best of what the gritty, yet graceful ‘old’ neighborhoods of the ‘Forest City’ offered for those lucky enough to have called them home.”
— Dr. Mark Hibben, Professor of Political Science at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
Learn more at https://tower-pub.myshopify.com/
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About the Author
Mike Connolly, 2016 MIHC Claddagh Award recipient, retired in 2020 from St Joseph’s college of Maine after teaching there for 36 years. Since then, he has written 3 novels to go along with his three previous works of history. As the Twig is Bent completes the trilogy of the “Folan Family” through the 20th Century in Portland, Maine. He lives on Munjoy Hill, two streets from the place of his birth.

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Other works
They Change Their Sky: The Irish in Maine
John Ford in Focus
Seated by the Sea
Murky Overhead
Ever the Twain Shall Meet

Community Town Hall
2025-10-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Sunday, October 19th
2-4pm
At the MIHC
Join us for an afternoon of conversation and community.

The Maine Irish Heritage Center Board of Directors and staff have been working closely with professional consultants to chart a vision for our future. Much of this work has been shaped already by input from our earlier July survey, and we want to hear from you again–or for the first time–as we move towards the final stages of the new Strategic Plan.

At this Community Town Hall, we’ll gather for tea and snacks and engage in a facilitated conversation about the future of the MIHC. As members of our valued community, your ideas and insights are essential in shaping the next chapter of our work to preserve our historic building, celebrate Irish culture, and serve as a true community center.

During the meeting, you will have an opportunity to review what has been drafted so far and give feedback through a series of activities, facilitated discussions, and breakout groups. Input collected by our outside facilitators Rachel Hodges and Robin O’Brien will be used by the Board to shape the final draft of the strategic plan.

Come share your perspective, learn about the Center’s progress, and be part of our forward momentum.

This event is free and open to all.

Matthew Jude Barker Launches 'Becoming American' and 'The Blue and The Green'
2025-10-29 19:00 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
A Maine Irish Author Event
Wednesday, October 29th
7:00pm
Join us for an exciting evening with local author and historian Matt Barker!
Limited books will be available at the event, but we are offering pre-orders that may be picked up at the event!
Preorder HERE!
Matt will speak about his new books, Becoming American, Portland, Maine’s Irish and The Making of Immigrant America, 1840-1861, and The Blue and The Green, The Irish of Portland, Maine During The Civil War Era, 1861-1870. This era was tumultuous and altered the Irish community of Portland forever. The Great Hunger, the Great Irish Potato Famine (1845-51); the coming of the railroad and steamships; the Maine Law and Neal Dow’s fanatical battle against alcohol; the rise of the Know-Nothings, a not so secret nativist group who attacked Irish communities everywhere; the “Rum Riot” of 1855; the Panic of 1857; the creation of the Republican party and their battles with the Democrats; the coming of the Civil War; the countless Portland Irishmen who fought in the war; the Fenians; the Great Fire of July 4, 1866; and the completion and dedication of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1869) are among the myriad events and issues that appear in these books. Matt will also talk about the social history of the Portland Irish in this era, including domestic maids, family life, the workers of the Portland Company and the Sugar House, longshoremen, and social organizations. This era truly was the genesis of the Irish Catholic community of Portland.
About the Author
Matthew Jude Barker is a lifelong resident of Greater Portland. He has been a genealogical and historical researcher since 1981, from the age of eight. Since 1996, he has written Maine history article for multiple publications. Matt was a contributor to, They Change Their Sky, The Irish In Maine (2004) and John Ford In Focus (2008), as well as two other history books. He is the author of The Irish of Portland, Maine, A History of Forest City Hibernians (2014), Becoming American (2025), and The Blue and The Green (2025). He researched and compiled the Maine Irish Heritage Trail for Acroglobal. Matt is a genealogist and the resident historian at the Maine Irish Heritage Center, where has been involved since the late 1990s, when he was a member of the Friends of St. Dominic’s, working to save the historic Irish church which became the MIHC.

About the Books:
Becoming American
The amazingly transformative years before the American Civil War affected the Portland, Maine Irish community immensely. That era included the temperance crusade, the Irish Repeal Society, the Great Hunger (the Great Famine), intense Irish immigration, prohibition and the fanatical battle Neal Dow fought against King Alcohol, the Portland Company, the railroad, the sugar industry, the connection via steamers between the city and Great Britain, the Know-Nothing nativist menace, abolition, the rise of the Republicans and their battles with Democrats, the “Rum Riot,” – all contributing to the assimilation and rise of the Irish in Portland, Maine.

The Blue and The Green
The Blue and the Green: The Irish of Portland, Maine During the Civil War is the compelling second volume in Matthew Jude Barker’s series on the Irish experience in Maine. Following his acclaimed book Becoming American, this installment turns to the 1860s, exploring how Portland’s Irish community navigated one of the most turbulent periods in American history.
As the Civil War erupted, Irish immigrants and their American-born children were faced with a difficult choice-remain on the fringes of society or fight for a country that had not yet fully accepted them. Many enlisted in the Union Army, joining Irish regiments and the famed Irish Brigade, seeking both patriotic purpose and social acceptance. Others contributed from the home front, working in the shipyards, organizing in churches, or sending sons and brothers off to war.
Barker draws from military records, newspaper accounts, letters, and parish archives to tell a vivid, human story. He introduces us to Irish soldiers from Portland who fought at Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg, and explores how the trauma and triumph of war shaped the city’s Irish neighborhoods, churches, and civic life. We also see the tensions that arose-between nativists and newcomers, between North and South sympathizers, and even within the Irish community itself.
This is not just a military history-it is a story of identity, belonging, and transformation. Through war, loss, and resilience, Portland’s Irish helped redefine what it meant to be both Irish and American. Their story is one of perseverance and pride, rooted in both “the Blue” of Union loyalty and “the Green” of Irish heritage.
Rich in detail and narrative power, The Blue and the Green fills a crucial gap in Civil War and Irish-American scholarship, making it a must-read for historians, genealogists, and anyone interested in Maine’s multicultural roots.

Annual Celtic Fair 2025
2025-11-08 09:00 - 15:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Saturday, November 8th
9:00am-3:00pm
We are excited to bring back another year of festive holiday fun at our Annual Celtic Fair! Join us as part of the 14th annual State Street Holiday Stroll.
The Celtic Christmas Fair features a light luncheon menu, hot and cold beverages, baked goods, a raffle table, music, and more. We’ll have featured performances from the incredible Stillson School of Irish Dance! We draw crowds for the beautiful artistry as well as the luncheon and lively entertainment. We hope you can join us for what has become a wonderful holiday tradition.

Vendor Applications are CLOSED! If you are interested in being on our list for next year, please email events@maineirish.com

Maine Irish Song Project with CASTLEBAY
2025-11-15 19:30 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Castlebay Presents the Maine Irish Song Project
A CONCERT OF MAINE’S TRADITIONAL IRISH SONGS
Saturday, November 15th
7:30pm
Doors open at 7:00pm
Maine’s premier Celtic folk duo Castlebay will present a concert of Maine’s traditional Irish songs at the Maine Irish Heritage Center. The concert will include ballads and blarney gleaned from Maine’s vibrant Irish tradition accompanied with 12-string guitar, Celtic harp, fiddle and tin whistle.
This performance offers a rare opportunity to experience Maine’s Irish musical heritage in an intimate setting. With over three decades of touring throughout the U.S., Scotland, England, and Ireland, and more than two dozen recordings, Castlebay brings authenticity, scholarship, and artistry to every note!
General Admission is $25, or you can snag front row seats for $35 – and don’t wait! General Admission will go up to $30 at the door, and Priority Seating is only available in advance!
About the Artists

Julia Lane & Fred Gosbee have been exploring and transcribing archives of music collected in Maine in the early 20th century. Collectors ranged throughout the state gathering hundreds of traditional songs many of which are from Ireland brought by the people emigrating and settling here and working on the coast, in the woods, farms and factories. Field recordings and journals document over 1000 songs from which the duo have selected and arranged music for performance. In addition to singing these versions of old Irish music, Castlebay will share the lore and history of this potent musical legacy which embodies stories of romance and rogues, shipwreck and survival as well as a good dose of humor and blarney. The duo has transcribed many of these songs, “mending” them, and publishing a series titled “Bygone Ballads of Maine”. Volume 1, “Songs of Ships and Sailors” was presented by Loomis House Press in 2021 and is available in local bookstores as well as online. Castlebay has recorded two albums of these songs “Bound Away” and “The Maid on the Shore” which are available from their website. A subsequent volume and recording of Maine’s Irish songs is in process.

For over 30 years, Castlebay has toured the eastern US, Scotland, England and Ireland being appreciated at arts centers, folk clubs, festivals, schools and on radio and television. They have released over two dozen recordings and their music has been used on numerous video soundtracks. More information is available at their website www.castlebay.net

Want more? Castlebay is holding a workshop at the Center on Sunday, November 16th from 12-3pm. Click HERE to learn more!

Many thanks to our Sponsor for this Event:
Hyatt Place Portland Downtown-Old Port Square

A Maine Irish Song Project Workshop with Castlebay
2025-11-16 12:00 - 15:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
A Maine Irish Song Project Workshop with Castlebay
Sunday, November 16th
12:00pm-3:00pm
Go deeper into the living tradition of Maine’s Irish songs with an intimate, hands-on workshop led by Castlebay (Julia Lane & Fred Gosbee), Maine’s premier Celtic folk duo. Building on their concert performance, this workshop will guide participants through the fascinating process of uncovering, preserving, and performing songs collected in Maine’s Irish communities during the early 20th century.
This workshop offers a unique opportunity to not only enjoy Maine’s traditional Irish songs but to actively engage with them. Whether you are a musician, singer, historian, or simply curious about Maine’s cultural heritage, you’ll come away with new insights into the stories, humor, and humanity woven into this potent musical legacy.
About the Artists
Julia Lane & Fred Gosbee have been exploring and transcribing archives of music collected in Maine in the early 20th century. Collectors ranged throughout the state gathering hundreds of traditional songs many of which are from Ireland brought by the people emigrating and settling here and working on the coast, in the woods, farms and factories. Field recordings and journals document over 1000 songs from which the duo have selected and arranged music for performance. In addition to singing these versions of old Irish music, Castlebay will share the lore and history of this potent musical legacy which embodies stories of romance and rogues, shipwreck and survival as well as a good dose of humor and blarney. The duo has transcribed many of these songs, “mending” them, and publishing a series titled “Bygone Ballads of Maine”. Volume 1, “Songs of Ships and Sailors” was presented by Loomis House Press in 2021 and is available in local bookstores as well as online. Castlebay has recorded two albums of these songs “Bound Away” and “The Maid on the Shore” which are available from their website. A subsequent volume and recording of Maine’s Irish songs is in process.
For over 30 years, Castlebay has toured the eastern US, Scotland, England and Ireland being appreciated at arts centers, folk clubs, festivals, schools and on radio and television. They have released over two dozen recordings and their music has been used on numerous video soundtracks. More information is available at their website www.castlebay.net

Want more? Castlebay will be LIVE in concert on Saturday, November 15th at 7:30pm. Click HERE to learn more!
Many thanks to our Sponsor for this Event:
Hyatt Place Portland Downtown-Old Port Square

Claddagh Awards 2025
2025-11-20 17:30 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Thursday, November 20th, 2025
Reception begins: 5:30pm
Programming begins: 7:00pm
The Maine Irish Heritage Center proudly announces the return of the Claddagh Awards, a cherished tradition honoring the Irish values of friendship, loyalty, and community. Each year, the award is presented to a distinguished individual in Maine whose life of service strengthens our communities and inspires others through their leadership and commitment.
This year, we are honored to present the 2025 Claddagh Award to Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, in recognition of her decades of dedicated public service to Maine. The award will be presented by Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland’s 19th Ambassador to the United States, who will be making an official visit to Maine.
The evening will also include the presentation of the Halla Cairde Award to Will Woodson and Cait Finley, recognizing their enduring contributions to our community.
General Admission tickets are priced at $100, and there are ticket sponsorships available for $250 and $500! Members of the Maine Irish Heritage Center may purchase tickets at a $50 discounted price with an exclusive code! For ticketing questions or to obtain your member discount code, please reach out to events@maineirish.com!
Evening Program
5:30 – 6:30 PM | Reception in the Great Hall
Enjoy a glass of bubbly and conversation in the Great Hall. Surrounded by gorgeous architecture, stained glass, and the beautiful music of Maine’s premier Celtic Folk duo, Castlebay!
6:00 PM | Bell Ringing
Guests are invited to gather as the bell rings out across Portland in honor of our Claddagh Recipient.
6:00 – 7:00 PM | Food & Bar Open in the Downstairs Function Room
A festive hour of food, drinks, and community. Complete with music from our incredible Halla Cairde inductees, Will Woodson and Cait Finley!
7:00 – 8:00 PM | Awards & Speeches
8:00 – 9:00 PM | Social Hour
An opportunity to reconnect, celebrate, and enjoy community in the spirit of the Claddagh.

2025 Claddagh Award Recipient: Chellie Pingree
Chellie Pingree never anticipated a life in politics. Living on the offshore island of North Haven, Maine, she raised her kids and ran a small business. She served on the school board and as the local tax assessor, a job no one else in town wanted. But in 1991, when she was approached about running for State Senate, she jumped at the chance.
She scored a remarkable upset, defeating a popular Republican, and went on to serve four terms in the Maine Senate. But throughout her political career, from Augusta to Washington and beyond, the lessons she learned on North Haven have always been her guide: Be accountable to your neighbors, and always use your common sense.
Chellie Johnson (she has legally changed her name from “Rochelle”) was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1955, the youngest of four children. Her father, Harry, worked in advertising and her mother, Dorothy, was a nurse. Chellie moved to Maine as a teenager, attended the University of Southern Maine, and graduated from the College of the Atlantic, in Bar Harbor. After college, she moved to North Haven, an island town of 350 people twelve miles off the coast of Rockland, to raise her family and make a living.
In 2008, Chellie was elected to Congress from Maine’s 1st Congressional District—the first woman elected to Congress from that District. She has previously served on the House Rules Committee and Armed Services Committee. She currently sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, chairing the Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, and Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. She also sits on the House Agriculture Committee.
Among other issues important to Mainers, Chellie has been an advocate in Congress for reforming federal policy to better support the diverse range of American agriculture—including sustainable, organic, and locally focused farming—as well as to reduce food waste. Many provisions from comprehensive legislation she introduced to make these reforms were passed in both the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. She received a 2017 James Beard Leadership Award for her national leadership in food system reform.
Chellie has also been recognized for her leadership on a number of other issues, including assisting survivors of military sexual trauma, strengthening the creative and arts economy, and helping coastal communities address threats to their future.
Chellie has three grown children—Asa, Cecily, and Hannah, former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.
Learn More about Chellie Pingree here: https://pingree.house.gov/

Claddagh Award Presenter: Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland’s 19th Ambassador to the United States
Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason assumed her role as Ireland’s 19th Ambassador to the United States in August 2022. Ambassador Byrne Nason was previously Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations in New York (2017- 22). Previously, she served as Ambassador to France (2014-17), Second Secretary General in the Department of the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) (2011-14), Ambassador and Ireland’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU (2005-11)), and Director of the National Forum on Europe (2004-05).
During her career, Ambassador Byrne Nason has served in Brussels, New York, Paris, Vienna and Helsinki. As Second Secretary-General in the Department of the Taoiseach from 2011-2014, she was the highest ranking female public servant in Ireland. During that period, she also was Secretary General of Ireland’s Economic Management Council.
On her arrival in New York, Ambassador Byrne Nason led Ireland’s successful campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council, and led the New York Security Council team for the 2021-2022 term. Ambassador Byrne Nason was Chair of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for 2018 and 2019. She has also co-chaired high-level political negotiations on the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela and on the ‘Samoa pathway’ for Small Island Developing States.
A native of County Louth, in 2020 Ambassador Byrne Nason was awarded the Freedom of Drogheda, the town’s highest honour and was the third woman to receive the award of its 35 recipients. In 2014, Ambassador Byrne Nason was elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, Ireland’s highest academic honour. Ambassador Byrne Nason holds an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Maynooth University as well as Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Literature from Saint Patrick’s College in Maynooth (NUIM).

2025 Halla Cairde Inductees: Will Woodson and Cait Finley
Will Woodson (flute, uilleann pipes) and Cait Finley (fiddle) play sparky and driving traditional Irish music that’s grounded in the textures and rhythms of the rich Irish-American soundscape of the 1920s and 30s. With roots in the living Irish musical cultures of Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia, and a tremendous admiration for the first generation of recorded Irish musicians, the duo conjures up the sounds of the dance halls, vaudeville theaters, and house sessions central to Irish-American music from the first half of the twentieth century. In 2019, the two recorded their debut album, “The Glory Reel” alongside box player and piano accompanist Chris “Junior” Stevens, which Dan Neely of the Irish Echo called “a fabulous album from three of Irish America’s finest.” During the pandemic years, the two made “The Phonograph Project”, a Patreon-supported series examining 78 recordings of traditional Irish music made in New York City in the 1920s and 30s. More recently, they’ve made musical appearances at the St. Louis Tionól, the Patrick J. Touhey Memorial Weekend in Boston and the Ward Archives “Archiving Irish America” conference in Milwaukee. Cait and Will live in Portland, Maine, and host a regular weekly session at The Continental that starts at 8 pm on Sundays. You can find them online at woodsonfinley.com.

Past Claddagh Award Recipients

2019 – George Campbell, Jr.

2018 – David T. Flanagan

2017 – Senator Susan Collins

2016 – Michael Connolly

2015 – Jim Wellehan

2014 – Sara J. Burns

2013 – Moira Hastings Fuller

2012 – Senator George J. Mitchell

2011 – William J. Ryan

2010 – Cynthia Murray Beliveau

2009 – Gerard P. Conley, Sr.

2008 – Governor Joseph E. Brennan

Learn more about past claddagh winners here: https://maineirish.com/videos/

About Castlebay:
Julia Lane & Fred Gosbee have been exploring and transcribing archives of music collected in Maine in the early 20th century. Collectors ranged throughout the state gathering hundreds of traditional songs, many of which are from Ireland, brought by the people emigrating and settling here and working on the coast, in the woods, farms, and factories. Field recordings and journals document over 1,000 songs, from which the duo have selected and arranged music for performance.
In addition to singing these versions of old Irish music, Castlebay shares the lore and history of this potent musical legacy, which embodies stories of romance and rogues, shipwreck and survival, as well as a good dose of humor and blarney. The duo has transcribed many of these songs, “mending” them, and publishing a series titled Bygone Ballads of Maine. Volume 1, Songs of Ships and Sailors, was presented by Loomis House Press in 2021 and is available in local bookstores as well as online. Castlebay has recorded two albums of these songs, Bound Away and The Maid on the Shore, which are available from their website. A subsequent volume and recording of Maine’s Irish songs is in process.
For over 30 years, Castlebay has toured the eastern US, Scotland, England, and Ireland, being appreciated at arts centers, folk clubs, festivals, schools, and on radio and television. They have released over two dozen recordings, and their music has been used on numerous video soundtracks. More information is available at their website: www.castlebay.net

Thank you to our Sponsors!
Library Sponsors:
Patricia McDonough Dunn
Rose Window Sponsors:
Richard Brown & Family
Coffee By Design

Miss Portland Diner

Stained Glass Sponsors:
Janine Manning
Mary McAleney
Ann O’Hagan
Local #861 of the International Longshoremen Association
Cairde Sponsors:
Mere Point Oyster Co.
Mary Burke
Peter J. Callnan
John Foley
John J. Hennessy
Jenny & Russ Wolff
Interested in becoming a sponsor for this event? Click HERE to learn more!

Solstice Storytelling at the Maine Irish Heritage Center
2025-12-21 14:00 - 15:30 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
The Maine Irish Heritage Center is bringing the cherished Irish tradition of storytelling to Maine this winter! We will have warm drinks, and the light in the Great Hall on the Solstice is incredible – watch the Stained Glass come to life as we share stories with each other!
In days gone by neighbors would gather at night in the local ceili house, the home of a storyteller. They came for conversation, and to hear stories of their community, its history, old tales handed down by the ancestors, some music. These gatherings helped build community and preserve the culture and values of the Irish people.
We invite you to join us this Solstice in the Great Hall! Bring a story, a poem, a song, or simply come to listen and enjoy an evening among friends—or friends-in-the-making.
Event Details:

Location: 34 Gray Street, Portland ME
Time: 2:00pm-3:30pm
Host: Cathy Furness
Story Guidelines:

Stories, songs, or poems should be 10 minutes or less
A timekeeper will help us keep things moving
No hate speech – creative freedom is welcome, but kindness and inclusivity are essential

All are welcome – come to share or simply to listen

Storytelling is central to Irish culture—as it is to so many cultures around the world. This gathering of storytellers is part of MIHC’s mission to share this tradition across Maine. Let’s build community together, one story at a time.

New Year's Eve on Irish Time with Bailey's Mistake
2025-12-31 18:00 - 22:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Wednesday, December 31st
7:00pm
Doors open at 5:30pm
Come ring in the New Year at the Maine Irish Heritage Center with Bailey’s Mistake, a Celtic-inspired, four-piece folk band from right here in Maine. Known for their pulsing sound driven by bass, drums, and guitar, and lifted by hearty vocal harmonies, thrilling bagpipes, and whistle tunes, Bailey’s Mistake creates an irresistible energy that fills the room.
Doors open at 5:30; Happy Hour at 6 PM – with opening act Jim Sharkey! The main show starts at 6:50 with a 10-minute countdown to the New Year’s celebration in Dublin at 7 PM. Advance general admission tickets are $35; $45 day of the show. There will be a cash bar with plenty of bubbly available for your New Year’s toast! Grab your friends, fill a table, and prepare to rock in the new year!
And come hungry because we will have Noble Barbecue here selling their amazing sandwiches! What better way to ring in the New Year than with great music, amazing food, and some good craic.
We also have table packages available. These packages include tickets, light snacks, a bubbly toast, and celebratory New Year’s swag! Tables are only available in advance! See below for pricing.
About the Band: Celtic American roots music from Maine’s Bold Coast

Bailey’s Mistake is a not-quite-traditional, Celtic-inspired, four-piece folk band from Maine. The group mixes traditional music from Ireland, Scotland and Newfoundland with brand new songs about contemporary life in New England. Bailey’s Mistake’s pulsing sound is driven by bass, drums and guitar and topped off with hearty vocal harmonies and thrilling bagpipe and whistle tunes.
Bailey’s Mistake is made up of four seasoned musicians who all went to the same rural high school in Maine — aptly named Bonny Eagle. Collectively, they have about 110 years of touring musical experience.
Troy R. Bennett plays guitar, sings soulful lead and writes most of the band’s original songs. Travis Cote learned to play the bagpipes at 10 and thrills audiences with his rhythmic, majestic sound. Dean Clegg is the band’s inventive percussionist and oversees all technical aspects of every show. Rob Babson plays bass, sings delicate harmonies and is the band’s musical leader.
Bailey’s Mistake has played gigs all over New England. The band is also recording and releasing one new song, every month, throughout 2025.
The band takes its name from a legend told for generations along the Maine coast. Back in the 19th century, there was a certain ship captain named Bailey. He was trying to guide his vessel safely around West Quoddy Head Lighthouse and into Lubec Harbor. Unfortunately, it was a foggy night and he missed. Instead of safe harbor, Bailey ran aground in a shallow, rocky inlet just south of the lighthouse.
But rather than face the wrath of the ship’s furious owners in Boston, Bailey and his crew unloaded the lumber they had on board, built houses in the cove and settled down with several local ladies.
To this day, on most good maps, that little harbor is simply labeled “Bailey’s Mistake.”
Learn more about Bailey’s Mistake: https://www.baileysmistakemusic.com/

About the Opening Act: Jim Sharkey
Jim grew up in County Roscommon, Ireland. His songs reflect the Irish tradition as well as singer-songwriter music he grew up listening to. Regarding his original compositions Sean Smith, BostonIrish Contributor, November 2024 writes “there’s such an innate gentleness to his music, a care and concern expressed about our humanity, on a large and small scale, and that tenderness is once again abundant on his fourth album, “Our Old Village”.
Learn more at https://www.jimsharkeymusic.com

The Food!
We are so excited to have Noble Pizzeria and Barbecue back at the Center! Come with an empty stomach to make sure you don’t miss out on their delicious sandwiches – for sale 5:30-8:30pm!

A little bit about Noble:
We started as a scrappy mobile wood-fired pizza business, slinging pies at events from upstate New York to the coast of Bar Harbor. We quickly grew into a Maine-inspired, full service, wood-fired catering company. Ten years and more than 600 weddings later, the Fire & Co. flame is still burning strong.
From our love of food, traditions, and hospitality, Noble Barbecue was born. Always searching for better ingredients and techniques, the Noble crew has taken numerous Southern BBQ “vacations” and East Coast pizza road trips — hard work, but someone has to do it.
Over the years, we’ve watched Portland, Maine evolve into a culinary highlight of New England. We feel confident that we have the right menu, experience, and people to make a new Portland institution in one of the best neighborhoods around.
Learn more at noblepizzaandbbq.com

Women in Social Services Panel
2026-02-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Sunday, February 1st
1:00pm-2:00pm
Join us for an incredible and lively panel discussion on Women in Social Services in honor of Brigid’s Day. We will be joined by a group of phenomenal panelists who will discuss their experiences and the current healthcare climate.
There will be light food and warm beverages available for purchase. All are welcome for this free event!
Our Panelists:
Catherine Cooper, Suicide Prevention Coordinator for VA Maine
Catherine Cooper is a clinical social worker with more than 25 years of human services experience. She currently serves as VA Maine’s Program Manager for the Suicide Prevention Program and has been in this role since August 1, 2022. Previously she was an Emergency Department Social Worker in Massachusetts and has held a variety of leadership positions for agencies serving adults with disabilities, unhoused individuals and children involved in the child welfare system. Catherine also maintains a small, part-time private practice as a therapist. She lives with her spouse and their cat in the 1840’s house of their dreams in Augusta.
Hannah Longley, Clinician and Critical Incident Responder, Dochas Wellness
Hannah Longley, LCSW is a mental health clinician, educator, and advocate with nearly two decades of experience in crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and statewide systems development. She is the Owner of Dochas Wellness, LLC, providing mental health training, consultation, and specialized support to organizations and communities across Maine. Hannah serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Central Maine Community College, where she teaches public safety, psychology, and sociology courses and contributes to workforce development in crisis response.
Previously, she was Director of Advocacy and Crisis Intervention at NAMI Maine, leading statewide training initiatives, advancing Platinum-level Crisis Intervention Teams, managing state and federal grants, and advocating for mental health policy and crisis system reform. Her earlier work includes leadership roles in crisis services and serving as Psychological Health Coordinator for the Maine Army National Guard. Hannah is nationally recognized for her work in law enforcement–mental health collaboration and has received multiple state and national awards. She holds a BA in Psychology from Wheaton College and an MSW from Boston College
Mary Ann Folley, School social worker, Bonny Eagle Middle School
Mary Ann Folley, LCSW. I graduated with my master’s degree in Social Work concentration Child Welfare, in 2003 from the University of Vermont. While in graduate school, I started with grassroots social work, working as a residential counselor for Northeastern Family Institute NFI. Upon graduation, I went to work for SRS (current day DCF) in Vermont. I remained in that position in Vermont until 2009 when I moved to Maine. I worked for DHHS in Biddeford Maine from 2009 until 2015. After the death of my college friend and colleague Lara Sobel in Vermont, I began to question the safety of my position. Lara was shot and killed in the parking lot of the DCF office I worked at, by an angry parent. That same weekend, a friend and principal at Bonny Eagle Middle School reached out and asked if I would apply for a job at his middle school. Although my heart lay with children in foster care, I took the chance and got the job. This is my 10th year with Bonny Eagle Middle school as their General Education Social Worker. This means any student, whether they have a special education identification or not, can meet with me. We also have 2 other dedicated Special education social workers in our building. I pull from all of my social work experience and schooling in each position I have held. I thoroughly enjoy working with students in some of the most challenging schooling years of their life. If I can be a blip on their radar, that they recall with fondness then I have done my job.
Kiley Wilkens-O’Brien, Public health strategist, death doula, and leader in suicide prevention, postvention, and crisis system reform, Covenstead
Kiley Wilkens-O’Brien is a public health strategist, death doula, and nationally recognized leader in suicide prevention, postvention, and crisis system reform. Her work bridges frontline care and systems change, grounded in a deep commitment to dignity, consent, and meaning-making. She has led the development of Maine’s Suicide Mortality Review initiative, supported the launch of 988 and oversaw creation of novel community-based crisis services, such as the Living Room Crisis Center and Children’s Behavioral Health Urgent Care. She advises state and national partners on ethical, person-centered approaches to distress. Through her community practice, Covenstead, she creates spaces for honest conversations about grief, survival, and the realities of being human.

Multigenerational Writing Workshop with Irish Author Áine Greaney
2026-02-01 14:30 - 16:30 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
In collaboration with The Telling Room!
Sunday, February 1st
2:30-4:30pm
All are welcome, entry is free!
Join us at the Center for an exciting afternoon of storytelling and reflection with acclaimed Irish author Áine Greaney, in partnership with The Telling Room. This multigenerational writing workshop invites participants to come just as they are—no prior writing experience required!
Rooted in the spirit of Imbolc, this session will explore themes of looking back and looking forward, drawing inspiration from personal memory, family stories, and hopes for the season ahead. The workshop will include guided writing prompts, followed by an optional sharing circle. Áine will also share selections from her own work, alongside participants who wish to read aloud.
Designed for middle schoolers and up, this program is ideal for individuals, families, and friends who want to write together across generations. Expect an encouraging, accessible environment that centers voice, story, and connection. All are welcome, however, and we will have activities for any young friends who may not be ready to engage in the writing but wish to attend!
Details:
📍 At the Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray Street, Portland Maine
🕝 2:30–4:30 PM
Coffee, tea, hot cocoa, juice, and light snacks will be provided!
This is a special opportunity to take a workshop with Áine Greaney and engage directly with an internationally published Irish writer in an intimate, community-centered setting.
About Áine Greaney:
Áine Greaney grew up on a small farm in County Mayo, Ireland. In the late 1980s, she joined the 200,000 (approximately) young Irish who left their native land to emigrate to the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere.
Greaney’s fifth published book, “Trespassers and Other Stories” was released in spring 2025 and is now available to order from the publisher and wherever good books are sold. Trespassers is a transatlantic collection of literary stories about characters (mostly women) who feel perpetually displaced or stuck in misfit places.
In America, Greaney’s work has been cited in “Best American Essays,” and her second novel, “Dance Lessons” was named a “great group read” by the Women’s National Book Association. Her essay, “Sanctuary” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
In addition to her books (Simon & Schuster, Writers Digest/Penguin Random House, Syracuse UP), her essays, features and stories have appeared in Creative Nonfiction, The Boston Globe Magazine, The New York Times, Books Ireland, KevinMD, Another Chicago Magazine, NPR’s WBUR Radio, Salon, The Mindful Word, IMAGE Magazine, The Irish Times, The Wisdom Daily, Pulse: Voices from the Heart of Medicine, Tendon, Johns Hopkins Center for Medical Humanities and many other publications.
A trained teacher with a master’s degree in English and certified in leading expressive writing workshops, she has designed and led creative and wellness writing events for 20+ years.
Learn more about Aine Greaney: https://www.ainegreaney.com/
About the Telling Room:
The Telling Room was founded in 2004 by three writers—Sara Corbett, Mike Paterniti, and Susan Conley—who imagined that getting in touch with the youth of Portland and their stories could be like putting your ear to a seashell and hearing the whole ocean. They were right!
Enthusiasm and demand for our programs grew exponentially—The Telling Room now works with over 2,500 young writers each year, reaching students and teachers from over 50 schools and serving more than 100 communities across the state of Maine annually.
Our accomplishments have been recognized with awards and major funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Maine Alliance for Arts Education’s Imagination Intensive Communities program, Maine Arts Commission, and the Maine Humanities Council among many others.
In November 2015, our Young Writers & Leaders program won a prestigious National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award as one of the top 12 youth arts and humanities programs in the nation. In 2024, we were awarded the Golden Apple Award by the Maine Education Association.
Learn more about the amazing organization and the programs they offer here: https://www.tellingroom.org

Generously Sponsored by Holiday Inn by the Bay!

Maine Irish Author Talk: Betsy Cornwell
2026-02-03 18:30 - 20:30 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
In conversation with Patrisha McLean
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026
6:30pm
Doors open at 6:00pm

Join us for another Brigid’s Day program: a Maine Irish Author Talk with Betsy Cornwell! Focusing on her new memoir, “Ring of Salt,” Betsy will be in conversation with Patrisha McLean, founder of Finding our Voices. We will have books for sale (and signing!) at the event from Print: A Bookstore!

About the Author:
Betsy Cornwell is a New York Times bestselling author of six novels and founder of The Old Knitting Factory, an arts residency and retreat space for single parents in Connemara. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Notre Dame and a BA from Smith College, and currently teaches at the University of Galway. She serves as a mentor for the Irish Writers Centre and was the first recipient of their Blue Mountains (Australia) Residency in 2023.
Learn more here: https://www.betsycornwell.com/about

About the Book:
“Extraordinarily moving, exquisitely written and socially revolutionary”—The Irish Times
“Ring of Salt is so vast and tender and urgent, it’s almost like reading a novel. I couldn’t put it down. I haven’t cheered for a heroine like Betsy in ages.” —Jen Hatmaker, author of Awake
For readers of Maggie Smith and Stephanie Land, an inspiring and lyrical memoir about a writer and mother who flees an abusive marriage and must learn to reclaim the story of her life through a search for home on Ireland’s wild, western coast.
At twenty-four, Betsy Cornwell runs away to Ireland for a fresh start. Leaving behind a painful past, she chases her dream of becoming a novelist to the misty shores of the Aran Islands. There she meets a handsome and charming horse trainer, and her life takes on the glow of a fairy tale when they elope to Gretna Green.
Five years later, her happy ending has twisted into a nightmare. Betsy is trapped in an abusive marriage, isolated and afraid with a newborn baby. On her son’s first birthday, she must flee home again, this time turning to the women around her—her local survivor support group, a trusted family friend, and an online Smith College alumnae network—for help she’d never known she could ask for.
After a brush with homelessness, she struggles to scrape together a living for herself and her son. On sleepless nights, she scrolls through real estate listings that might as well be castles in the air, and starts to foster an impossible dream: What if she could use her writing to buy a home, one that no one could take away from her and her baby? One that might become a haven, not just for her family, but other single parent artists and writers, too?
When she discovers a historic knitting factory and former cinema on Ireland’s rugged Connemara coastline, left empty and crumbling for years, that precarious dream becomes her lifeline. Over the next two years she works to crowdfund the old knitting factory’s purchase by sharing its story and her own, in candid posts that range from the unexpectedly steep learning curves she encounters with home renovations and internet dating, to her heartbreaking fight to keep custody of her son, with her growing online community. But as the deadline to buy nears, she realizes she will have to reckon with everything she believes about family, survival, and what happily-ever-after truly means for her dream to have any chance of coming true.
Ring of Salt combines a powerful and relatable narrative of survivorship and healing with lush writing about the windswept landscapes and rich mythology of rural Ireland to craft a real-world fairy tale about the ordinary, but no less life-changing, forms of magic we can all access: vulnerability, community, and the power of telling your own story.

About Patrisha McLean:
Patrisha McLean is the Founder+CEO of the grassroots nonprofit Finding Our Voices which is breaking the silence of domestic abuse across Maine.. She is also the host of the Let’s Talk About It podcast that is conversations with survivors of domestic abuse, and an online book club featuring authors talking about the domestic abuse in their books, lives, countries.
Betsy Cornwell is the guest of the online Finding Our Voices Book Club on March 24 at 1 p.m. Info and sign-up is here: https://findingourvoices.net/book-club

About Finding Our Voices:
Finding Our Voices is the grassroots nonprofit breaking the silence of domestic abuse across Maine as well as providing resources and peer-support to women survivors. Its programs include preventive and educational outreach to students; access to donated dental care; financial assistance; and online support groups and Healing Together retreats. For more information visit https://findingourvoices.net

Brian Conway & Brendan Dolan Live in Concert
2026-02-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Friday, February 6th
7:30pm
Doors open 7:00pm
Join us for an evening of incredible music from two legendary artists: Brian Conway and Brendan Dolan! Don’t miss your chance to immerse yourself in some traditional Irish tunes. General Admission tickets are $25, or you can snag priority seating for just $35! Don’t wait – General Admission prices go up at the door, and priority seating is only available in advance!
About the Artists:
Brian Conway:
New York born fiddler Brian Conway is a leading exponent of the tastefully ornamented Sligo fiddling style made famous by the late Michael Coleman. The winner of two All- Ireland junior titles in 1973 and 1974 and the All-Ireland senior championship of 1986, Brian’s early studies were with his father Jim of Plumbridge, County Tyrone and with Limerick born fiddler/teacher Martin Mulvihill. However, it was the legendary fiddler and composer Martin Wynne who taught him the real secrets of the County Sligo style. Later, Brian met and befriended the great Andy McGann of New York, a direct student of Michael Coleman, who further shaped his precision and skill on the instrument.
In 1979, Brian recorded a duet album, The Apple In Winter (Green Linnet) with fellow New York fiddler Tony Demarco. He released his debut solo CD, First Through the Gate, on the Smithsonian-Folkways label in July 2002. This CD was voted the Album of the Year by the Irish Echo. Brian is also featured on the CD, My Love is in America, recorded at the Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival, and on the documentary “Shore to Shore” which highlights traditional Irish music in New York. He is considered one of the musical rocks of the New York area.
In 2007, Brian released a CD titled A Tribute to Andy McGann on the prestigious Irish Label Cló Iar-Chonnachta. This CD pairs up Irish Music legends Joe Burke and Felix Dolan along with Brian in a CD which has received glowing accolades since its release in the summer of 2007. Brian followed this CD with a much-anticipated Solo CD titled “Consider the Source” in deference to the rich environment from which Brian learned his music. This CD was released in 2008 on the Cló Iar-Chonnachta Label. This CD features guest appearances by music greats Niamh Parsons, Dan Milner, Billy McComiskey, Joannie Madden, Felix Dolan, and Brendan Dolan. Earle Hitchner of the Irish Echo described this CD as “Easily one of the best releases this year.” Brian followed up that recording with the highly acclaimed Pride of New York, and last year, in 2017, recorded with the group Gailfean, featuring John Whelan, Mairtin DeCogain and Don Penzien.
Brian remains faithful to the rich tradition handed down to him. The distinctness of his tone, the lift of his playing, and the deft ornamentation he brings to the tunes have placed him among the finest Irish fiddlers of any style, Sligo or otherwise. He has performed all over North America from San Francisco to New York and places in between, such as Chicago, Milwaukee and Colorado. His talents have also been enthusiastically received throughout Ireland and the rest of Europe. He is also considered one of the premier instructors of traditional Irish music who has mentored many fine fiddle players, including several who have gone on to win All-Ireland championships.
Learn more at www.brianconway.com
“Certainly one of the finest Irish-American musician fiddlers…”
– Dirty Linen Magazine
Irish Echo’s Top Trad Artist for 2008
Brendan Dolan:
Brendan is the son of legendary pianist, Felix Dolan, and set dancer, Joan Dolan. Brendan learned his music from his parents while growing up in Golden’s Bridge, NY. playing frequently at events with their neighbors, Eugene and Celia Clancy and their children at Irish events around Westchester County. While at college at Brown University, Brendan connected with local musicians in Providence, Rhode Island and became passionate about the music. With New York transplant, Jimmy Devine and his student Tina Lech, Brendan began playing ceilis and occasional sessions with the Providence Ceili Club. After graduation, Brendan starting playing regular ceilis with accordionist Kevin Killeen at St. Mary’s in Woodside where he was encouraged by accordion great, Gerry Lynch.
Throughout the 1990s, Brendan worked in advertising and played ceilis, sessions and concerts on the weekends, most often with accordionist, Patty Furlong and Mayo native fiddler, Fiona Doherty. At the same time, Brendan regularly played for dance competitions along with his father throughout the year.
During this time, Brendan learned the whistle and the flute from his father and from the great flute players, Joanie Madden and Catherine McEvoy. He got to know and play with many of the great New York musicians such as Eamon O’Leary, Patrick Ourceau and Dana Lyn playing sessions at places like Mona’s and The Scratcher.
In the late 90s, Brendan went back to school to study music at SUNY New Paltz and music education at Queens College. After teaching at St. John’s Preparatory School in Astoria and at Franklin Central School in Franklin, NY, Brendan began teaching Irish music at the Mineola Irish Center and the New York Irish Center in Long Island City. He also started teaching and coaching groups in the Pearl River assisting the great musicians and teachers, Rose Flanagan, Margie Mulvihill and Patty Furlong.
After earning a Master’s degree in Irish Studies at NYU, Brendan spent the next three years as the main archivist on the Mick Moloney Irish-American Music and Popular Culture Collection.
He is currently Music Director at Avenues: The World School in Manhattan, while continuing to play and teach Irish music.
Over the years, Brendan has recorded with Patrick Ourceau, Patty Furlong, Kathy Ludlow and Mary Coogan, Billy McComiskey, Brian Conway, Mick Moloney and The Green Fields of America and the Pride of New York, of which he is a member.
Brendan also taught at the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins West Virginia, and continues to teach at the Irish Arts Week in East Durham, New York.

POSTPONED: The Irish Famine Immigrant Experience on Staten Island
2026-02-20 18:30 - 20:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
This event has been postponed due to inclement weather! Stay tuned for a new date!
The Irish Famine Immigrant Experience on Staten Island:
A Lecture with Loretto Leary
Friday, February 20th
6:30pm
Doors open at 6:00pm
In the wake of the Great Irish Famine, thousands of men, women, and children crossed the Atlantic in search of survival and opportunity. For many, the Port of New York represented the promise of a new beginning. Yet for countless others, it marked the tragic end of their journey.
At the Staten Island Marine Hospital and Quarantine Station—now the site of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal—thousands of famine immigrants perished shortly after arrival. Their suffering and resilience are commemorated in two nearby burial grounds that remain vital to understanding this chapter of Irish and American history.
Join Loretto Leary on Friday, February 20th at the Maine Irish Heritage Center at 6:30 PM for an illuminating exploration of Staten Island’s profound connection to the Irish Famine immigrant story and the enduring legacy of those who never reached the lives they dreamed of.
About the Speaker:
Loretto Horrigan Leary, originally from Portumna, County Galway, has made her home in Connecticut for over three decades. A seasoned educator, she has taught Language Arts at the elementary and middle school levels in Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, and Stamford.
As a freelance journalist, her writing has appeared in publications such as The Irish Echo, Irish Central, Irish Examiner USA, and Australia’s Irish Scene.
Currently, Loretto serves as Educational and Cultural Director of Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum of Fairfield and is also Co-Chair of the Connecticut–Ireland Trade Commission.
Loretto is pursuing her PhD at Trinity College Dublin, where her research focuses on Irish American Famine memory and the memorial landscapes of New York, with particular attention to Staten Island’s role in this transatlantic story of loss, survival, and remembrance.

Irish Day at the Maine Celtics
2026-03-01 12:00 - 17:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Maine Celtics vs. Windy City Bulls

March 1st, 2026 at 12:00 PM

Portland Exposition Building, 239 Park Ave, Portland, ME 04102

Purchase Deadline: Feb 15, 2026 11:59 PM EST

The Maine Celtics are excited to host the Maine Irish Heritage Center on March 1 at 12 PM as we take on the Windy City Bulls at the Portland Expo! All tickets purchased through this special ticket offer will include a FREE Maine Celtics Hat!
*$5 from every ticket purchased will be donated back to the Maine Irish Heritage Center!
You will receive an order confirmation email from letsgo@fevo.com immediately after your purchase. All tickets are mobile. All sales are final.
You will receive an email before the game with instructions on how to pick up your free hats at the game.
Get your tickets here: https://www.gofevo.com/event/MIHC25

Paul Byrom LIVE in Concert
2026-03-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Friday, March 6th
7:30pm
Doors open at 7:00pm
***Meet & Greet after the Show!***
Following the huge success of his 40 city tour with Celtic Thunder, original member, Paul Byrom returns to America this March with his own solo tour “Songs From Home”. Performing many fan favourites from his 8 solo albums and telling endless amounts of stories in between. This is a concert like no other. So whether it’s songs such as Danny Boy, You Raise Me Up, Irelands Call or Isle Of Hope, this is a show that will take you on a journey to the isle across the sea. General Admission tickets are only $40, or score yourself early access to a meet and greet with Paul for only $55!
Get your tickets now: CLICK HERE!

About Paul

Paul Byrom is considered by many to be one of Ireland’s finest crossover tenors. Starting in the business at a very young age, the Dublin-born singer has been in the music industry for over 30 years. Paul has performed in a wide range of productions, from operas and oratorio to recitals and in particular, musical theatre.
After releasing his first album at age 14 (The Golden Voice of Paul Byrom), Paul got a taste for recording studios and soon became a recording artist. Subsequently, he recorded his first major album as a tenor (VELVET), in 2005 and swiftly followed this with his first Christmas album (I’ll Be Home for Christmas) in 2008.
This has led to many appearances on Irish television and national radio stations.
Paul is also very fond of acting and made his onscreen debut in Ireland’s longest-running soap, “FAIR CITY” where he appeared regularly as Maurice the chef for a short stint.
His talent as a singer has taken him far and wide, and some of his many career highlights include performing for dignitaries such as Emperor Akihito of Japan, former Irish Presidents Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson, and more recently, United States President Barack Obama.
In 2007, Paul was approached to become one of the original soloists in the hit show Celtic Thunder. He toured America, Canada and Australia with the group and had six No. 1 World Billboard Chart albums with the group. This allowed Paul to perform on many international TV shows including “The Today Show.”
After leaving the production in 2010 to continue his solo career, his subsequent album (This is the Moment) debuted at No. 1 on the World Billboard charts and was shortlisted for a Grammy nomination.
This has led to a successful solo touring career and he now performs his shows regularly throughout Ireland, North America and Canada. In 2013, Paul filmed his first solo TV special for Public Television, called “This is the Moment Live”, with his orchestra. It has aired throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and indeed at home here in Ireland. Paul followed this up with his 6th studio album, (Thinking of Home) which reached the top of the iTunes, Amazon and World Billboard charts and features two of his own, original songs. He has been named IRISH TENOR OF THE YEAR by the Irish Music Association on two separate occasions.
Paul is an avid sports fan and has been invited regularly over the past 15 years to perform the anthem for the Boston Celtics and again recently he did this on his past tour. He has also performed at six All-Ireland Finals, and at many international rugby games including a recent performance for the Ireland v England game in Dublin. He was hugely honoured to be the official voice on “Ireland’s Call” for the Rugby World Cup in 2011 which has now been streamed over 3 million times.
Despite 2020 being a catastrophic year for many in the music and entertainment business, Paul released his biggest album to date with a full 65 piece orchestra (What I Did for Love). The album showcases Paul in his best light. What I Did For Love is his most crossover album to date and debuted in the top ten IMRO charts and no.1 on iTunes.
Paul’s latest album BY CONTRAST is as the title suggests, completely different to the previous, in that it is an acoustic album with some of his favourite Irish and crossover songs on it.
2025 has picked up where he left off with a recent tour of North America and will be returning to Celtic Thunder this Autumn after 15 years to tour with them for two months across America.
Learn more at https://paulbyrom.ie/

Shalom and Shamrocks: an Irish-Jewish Corned Beef Feast (SOLD OUT)
2026-03-08 17:00 - 19:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
This event is SOLD OUT!
Sunday, March 8, 2026
5:00 PM
At the Maine Irish Heritage Center
Irish corned beef dinner or Jewish corned beef sandwich on rye? Why choose one when you can have both?
Join the Maine Jewish Museum and the Maine Irish Heritage Center for our second annual Shalom & Shamrocks, a festive, flavor-forward evening celebrating shared foodways, music, and immigrant histories — bringing together the luck of the Irish and the chutzpah of the Jews for a joyful night in Portland.
What’s on the menu (literally):
Corned beef, cabbage, and colcannon alongside a Jewish deli buffet — plus red ale and Dr. Brown’s.
And for dessert? Guinness brownies and black-and-white cookies, because Irish-Jewish harmony is sweet.
The story behind the feast:
Did you know the iconic Irish corned beef dinner has Jewish roots?
In the early 20th century, Irish and Jewish immigrants often lived side by side in American cities. Irish immigrants noticed that the corned beef enjoyed by their Jewish neighbors was similar to bacon — but cheaper and more accessible. Kosher butchers, in fact, counted nearly as many Irish customers as Jewish ones.
In that spirit, Shalom & Shamrocks brings together people of all backgrounds to celebrate shared immigrant experiences through food, music, and memory, right here in Portland.
Live music & special guests

Klezmer musicians
Will Woodson (flute, uilleann pipes) & Cait Finley (fiddle), performing dynamic Irish music rooted in early-20th-century Irish-American traditions
Special appearance by Hasia R. Diner, author of Hungering for America, exploring Italian, Irish, and Jewish foodways in the age of migration

🎶 Expect sparky tunes, deep roots, and a room full of joy.
Tickets

$60 — General admission
$100 — Supporter ticket (helps fund future programs like this)

🎟️ Space is limited — and we sold out last year — so don’t wait!
Tickets go on sale at 10:00am on Monday, January 26th!
About the Artists:
Hasia R. Diner
Hasia R. Diner is Professor Emerita at the Departments of History and the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University, and Director of the Goldstein-Goren Center for American Jewish History. She is the former series editor for our Goldstein-Goren series in American Jewish History. Among her many books are Hungering for America: Italian, Irish and Jewish Foodways in the Age of Migration, The Jews of the United States, 1654 to 2000, We Remember With Reverence and Love: American Jews and the Myth of Silence after the Holocaust, 1945–1962, and Immigration: An American History, with Carl Bon Tempo.
Will Woodson & Cait Finley
Will Woodson (flute, uilleann pipes) and Cait Finley (fiddle) play sparky and driving traditional Irish music that’s grounded in the textures and rhythms of the rich Irish-American soundscape of the 1920s and 30s. With roots in the living Irish musical cultures of Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia, and a tremendous admiration for the first generation of recorded Irish musicians, the duo conjures up the sounds of the dance halls, vaudeville theaters, and house sessions central to Irish-American music from the first half of the twentieth century. In 2019, the two recorded their debut album, “The Glory Reel” alongside box player and piano accompanist Chris “Junior” Stevens, which Dan Neely of the Irish Echo called “a fabulous album from three of Irish America’s finest.” During the pandemic years, the two made “The Phonograph Project”, a Patreon-supported series examining 78 recordings of traditional Irish music made in New York City in the 1920s and 30s. More recently, they’ve made musical appearances at the St. Louis Tionól, the Patrick J. Touhey Memorial Weekend in Boston and the Ward Archives “Archiving Irish America” conference in Milwaukee. Cait and Will live in Portland, Maine, and host a regular weekly session at The Continental that starts at 8 pm on Sundays. You can find them online at woodsonfinley.com.
Klezmer Musicians
The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine has hosted a monthly Klezmer Open Jam Session since May 2023. Sponsored by the JCA and led by members of the Maine’s very own klezmer band, the Casco Bay Tummlers, it has proven to be popular with local musicians – of all levels – interested in the music of eastern European Jewry. We have an average attendance of 15-25, so there’s room for you, too! All instruments and singers are welcome. Or just come to listen and enjoy the heimish vibe! (Check out www.mainejewish.org/jcaevents for more info).
The Casco Bay Tummlers have been moving audiences – in their hearts and on their feet – for well over 30 years in southern Maine and beyond. We are very happy that we are still performing and playing for all sorts of celebrations and delighted to have the opportunity to share our love of this music through the JCA’s jam sessions. For more information on the band, visit cascobaytummlers.com. All four of our albums are available at cascobaytummlers.bandcamp.com and on most of your favorite streaming platforms.

This event is generously sponsored by The Holiday Inn by the Bay!

Irish Heritage Night at the Maine Mariners
2026-03-13 19:15 - 22:00 | Cross Insurance Arena, 1 Civic Center Square, Portland, 04101, United States
Maine Mariners vs Norfolk Admirals

March 13th, 2026 7:15 PM

Cross Insurance Arena
1 Civic Center Square, Portland, ME 04101

Purchase Deadline: Mar 13, 2026 6:59 PM

You are invited to join the Maine Irish Heritage Center at the Maine Mariners game on Friday, March 13th @7:15pm as we celebrate Irish Heritage Night, please stop by the community spotlight table in the concourse to say hi and make a donation!
*PORTION OF EVERY TICKET SOLD WILL BE DONATED BACK TO THE MAINE IRISH HERITAGE CENTER*
TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
1.) Head to https://www.gofevo.com/event/MaineIrishHeritageCenterMarch13th
2.) Click GET TICKETS
3.) Choose your section, row, and seat locations
4.) Hit REVIEW ORDER & CONTINUE TO PAYMENT
5.) Enter information and check out
TICKET DELIVERY:
You will receive an email from FEVO (noreply@fevo-enterprise.com) to access to your tickets through Account Manager

Irish Flag Raising: Portland Observatory
2026-03-14 10:30 - 11:00 | Portland Observatory, 138 Congress St, Portland, ME
March 14th
10:30 am
at the Portland Observatory
138 Congress St, Portland, ME
Join us as we raise the Irish Flag to the sound of bagpipes at the Portland Observatory!
RSVP below!
Want to join for our other flag-raising? Click HERE to learn more!

Irish Flag Raising: Charles J. Loring Memorial
2026-03-14 11:30 - 12:00 | Charles Loring Memorial
March 14th
11:30 am
at the Charles J. Loring Memorial
Corner of Eastern Promenade and North Street
Join us as we raise the Irish Flag to the sound of bagpipes at the Charles J. Loring Memorial!
RSVP below!
Want to join for our other flag-raising? Click HERE to learn more!

St. Patrick's Day Parade
2026-03-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Commercial Street, Commercial Street, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Saint Patrick’s Parade
Portland, Maine – March 15, 2026. The Saint Patrick’s Parade by the Irish American Club of Maine will be held this year on Commercial Street in Portland.
The parade starts at Noon on Sunday, March 15th, beginning at the Portland Fish Pier parking lot on the corner of Center Street and Commercial Street. The parade proceeds east along Commercial Street, ending at the reviewing stand at Bell Buoy Park between RiRa Irish Restaurant and the Casco Bay Parking Garage by Franklin Street.
The parade features the Claddagh Mhor Pipe Band, the Dunlap Highland Band, and the Stillson School of Irish Dance (who will be doing a short performance in front of RiRa at the end of the parade). Other participants include the Maine Irish Heritage Center and Portland Gaelic Athletic Association. They will be joined by, among others, mascots from local teams and companies, superheroes, local dignitaries, public safety representatives, and the Irish American Club Parade of Flags.
Special guest marchers will be the Grand Marshal—Portland Fire Chief Chad Johnston, Maine Maritime Academy from Castine, Maine, along with Saint Patrick himself.
The Irish American Club of Maine was founded in 1973 and has preserved and promoted Irish-American culture, history, and community in Maine for over 50 years. In addition to the parade, the Club offers céilís with live music, Irish language lessons, and opportunities for cultural travel.
For more information on the organization, please visit irishofmaine.org or email club2@irishofmaine.org
Want to march with the MIHC?
We’d love to have you! Meet us at our float at the Portland Fish Pier at 11am on Sunday March 15th! For more information, please email volunteer@maineirish.com!

St. Patrick's Day Celebration at the Maine Irish Heritage Center
2026-03-15 13:00 - 16:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Sunday, March 15th
1pm-4pm

Join us after the IAC St. Patrick’s Day Parade over at the Maine Irish Heritage Center for a sham-rocking good time!
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with music, dance, food, and family-friendly fun at the Maine Irish Heritage Center! This annual community celebration brings together traditional Irish culture, local performers, and festive activities for all ages inside our historic building.
Event Schedule
1:00–3:00 PM – Live music with Jim Sharkey
2:00–2:30 PM – Photo opportunities with Saint Patrick
3:00–3:45 PM – Performance by Stillson School of Irish Dance
3:45–4:00 PM – Raffle winners announced
(times subject to change)
Available Throughout the Event

Traditional Irish Bake Sale – Enjoy a selection of homemade Irish and Irish-inspired treats prepared by community volunteers, including breads, sweets, and seasonal favorites. Items will be available for purchase while supplies last.
Bar Serving Irish Classics – The bar will feature a curated menu of Irish beer, cider, and Irish Coffee, along with non-alcoholic options.
Book and Rummage Sale in the Library – Browse a wide assortment of gently used books, Irish literature, music, and unique finds. Proceeds support ongoing programs, archives, and preservation efforts.
Kids’ Crafts and Activities With Jennifer Comeau – Family-friendly craft stations and hands-on activities designed to introduce children to Irish culture through creativity and play.
Guided Sanctuary Tours – Step inside the historic sanctuary for informal tours highlighting the building’s architecture, history, and its role in Portland’s Irish community.

Check out our Food Trucks!
Noble BBQ
Serving slow-smoked meats and classic barbecue sides, Noble BBQ brings bold flavors and hearty comfort food perfect for a winter celebration. Learn more: noblepizzaandbbq.com
Cheese the Day
Offering gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches with creative combinations, plus vegetarian-friendly options and warm comfort-food favorites. Learn more: www.cheesethedayme.com
Fred’s Fried Dough
Freshly made fried dough served hot with a variety of sweet toppings, delivering a classic festival treat for all ages. Learn more: www.facebook.com/fredsfrieddough/
Plot Twist Pretzels
Handcrafted soft pretzels with both savory and sweet flavor twists, paired with house-made dips and sauces. Learn more: www.facebook.com/plottwistpretzels/

More about our Kids Corner with Jen Comeau!
Author, Songwriter, and Storyteller Jennifer Comeau is excited to read and lead a call-and-response song from her children’s book, “The Inside of ME,” which features nine special outdoor places in Maine. She also has a crafty game she wants to share: Create Me a Story, where families or groups draw 3 characters, 2 places, and 3 objects. Using these prompts, together, they create a story! Expect laughter, props, mischief, broken rules, and always a “happily ever after” ending!

About Jennifer:

Of Irish descent, anything connected with creativity, storytelling, singing, and laughter is Jennifer Comeau’s jam. She inspires humans big and small to remember their connection with the rest of the natural world. A certified Forest Therapy Guide, singer-songwriter, and author-speaker, Jen is published in four anthologies. Her children’s book, “The Inside of ME” won a Nautilus Gold for Books that Change the World and received a 5-star rating from Reader Views. Her debut novel, A Moon in All Things—a heroine’s journey to reclaim the old nature ways—[2025 12Willows Press]—was a finalist in the Independent Author Network’s Best Book of the Year contest and received 5 stars from IndieReader Reviewhouse. Jen has produced two albums of original music.
Website: www.jennifercomeau.com Email: jen@jennifercomeau.com

Join us for an afternoon of music, tradition, and community as we celebrate Irish heritage together. This event is family-friendly and open to all.

For more information on the parade, click HERE!

St. Patrick's Day West End Walk
2026-03-17 08:30 - 10:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Join us for a celebratory walk through the West End, and an Irish flag raising in Harborview park! We will gather in the Function Room before ringing our historic bell to kick off our walk. Followed by tea and Irish bread at the Center to warm up and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!
This event is free for all to attend!

World Storytelling Day: The Light in the Dark
2026-03-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Coffee By Design, 1 Diamond St, Portland, ME, 04101
World Storytelling Day: Light in the Dark
With the Maine Irish Heritage Center
Friday, March 20th, 6:30pm
Coffee by Design
1 Diamond St., Portland ME
$10 suggested donation
This celebration of the power of the spoken word has been spreading throughout the world since 2003. Join story lovers from over 70 countries who are gathering on this day to share stories that reflect the theme for 2026. Bring a story, a poem, or a song for the open mic and help us fill the night with light.
Join the Maine Irish Heritage Center at Coffee By Design where we will take part in a worldwide day of storytelling. This global celebration of oral storytelling has been held on March 20 since 2003 with an annual theme chosen by participating storytellers themselves. Light in Darkness was the theme chosen for 2026. The event will be open to storytellers from across Maine’s vibrant communities, offering a rich diversity of voices and perspectives. The program will begin with two featured storytellers sharing their tales. After a brief break, we will have an open mic, inviting attendees to sign up and share a 5-10 minute story.
“Storytelling creates community, breaks down barriers, shares wisdom and tradition, with vivid and intimate experiences, powerful and deep. More and more people each year discover what they’ve been missing!”
Join us for our World Storytelling Day event, and become part of an global community that can inspire us all, and help build bridges between fellow Mainers!
Featured Storytellers:
Tae Chong
Tae Chong is a dedicated advocate for Maine’s underserved communities and a pioneer in local leadership. In 2019, he became the first Asian American elected to both the Portland City Council and the Portland School Committee.
Currently the Executive Director of Furniture Friends, Tae leverages over 30 years of experience in economic development and workforce diversity. An MBA graduate from the University of Southern Maine, he has consulted for major organizations like Allagash Brewing and Hannaford. Beyond his professional impact, Tae is an acclaimed storyteller, frequently sharing his journey from South Korea to Maine on stages like WGBH.

Cathy Furness
Although three generations removed from the family farm in County Laois, Cathy felt drawn to Ireland from a very young age. She followed that gravitational pull to Dublin, where she earned a graduate degree in Irish literature and folklore. She also studied traditional music while she was there by attending sessions at O’Donohue’s on Merrion Row nearly every night.

Cathy retired early from her professional life in New York to take a deep dive into storytelling. Since then, she has told stories on two continents to audiences of all ages. She likes to share the layered wisdom of folktales of many cultures, but is especially drawn to the heroes, heroines and stories of her Irish ancestors. Now living in the woods outside Brunswick, Maine, she shares her home with Redmond, Conor, Molly and Desmond, four very spoiled cats.

How World Storytelling Day Happens
World Story Day has been celebrated around the world with great success since 2003.
Throughout that one day, oral storytellers around the world are busy inspiring audiences, and creating community, by telling classical tales, local stories, glorious, horrendous, happy, challenging, spooky, romantic and dramatic epic stories. Some wrapped in music, some staged and others intimate – but every story is told in a unique and compelling way, by a storyteller whose heart is full of great tales to bridge our divides and remind us what it is to be human
Oral storytelling is tens of thousands of years old, and has strongly regained popularity because of its deeply satisfying power to unite and entertain. Here’s what storytellers have in store for you on this special day…

Professional and amateur storytellers all over the world choose a theme together, then find relevant oral stories to inspire adults or children
Storytellers schedule live local events, and virtual online events, on or around 20th March each year, to celebrate, entertain, and inspire with these themed oral tales. You’re welcome to join in!
Audiences gather in person or online, for big group concerts or single stories, for adults or children, for money or free
Storytelling creates community, breaks down barriers, shares wisdom and tradition, with vivid and intimate experiences, powerful and deep. More and more people each year discover what they’ve been missing!

Learn more at https://momentofimpact.co.uk/wsd
Hosted by Coffee By Design!
Coffee By Design is a woman-owned, Maine-made, farmer-focused coffee roaster, retail, and wholesale business. Since 1994, Coffee By Design has always been about doing things the right way, not the easy way. From day one, we made choices rooted in values, not shortcuts. We believe every bean has a story. Every farm deserves respect. And every cup should be as thoughtful as it is delicious. Every coffee we roast reflects our commitment to quality, integrity, and impact. This isn’t coffee made for trends. It’s coffee for people who care. You’ll taste layered, complex flavors — because we roast to reveal the bean’s origin, not hide it. And you’ll know every cup supports real farmers, real communities, and real change.
Learn more at https://coffeebydesign.com/
Featured Tellers
Information Coming soon!

Paddy Cullivan's 'The Murder of Michael Collins'
2026-04-03 19:30 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Friday April 3rd, 7:30pm
Doors open at 7:00pm

Paddy Cullivan returns to the Maine Irish Heritage Center! Join us for an incredible evening of history, entertainment, and good craic.
General admission tickets are $25 in advance, or snag priority seating for $35! Don’t wait to get your tickets: general admission goes up at the door, and priority seating is only available in advance!

ABOUT THE SHOW: THE MURDER OF MICHAEL COLLINS
Historical Entertainer Paddy Cullivan brings you the incredible story of the death of Ireland’s first Commander-in-Chief. An audio-visual spectacular featuring hundreds of images, shocking new research and incredible songs, Paddy dares to unravel the secrets and lies around what happened that fateful day in Béal na mBlath, 22nd August 1922.
Did Michael Collins have a secret son in London? Was he really going to keep to the Anglo-Irish Treaty or was he planning to resume the war? If the anti-treaty side shot him, why did the Free State instigate a massive cover-up? How can one of the most important men in Irish history have no autopsy report, no investigation, inquest or even a death cert? And who really shot Michael Collins? Why is there such reticence from certain quarters – to this day – to find out the truth?
No less complex or mysterious than the death of JFK and with as many twists and turns, ‘The Murder of Michael Collins’ is a fascinating rollercoaster ride that will change your perceptions of Irish history forever…

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Paddy Cullivan is an acclaimed Irish entertainer renowned for his versatility in music, comedy and historical storytelling. As frontman of The Camembert Quartet he captivated audiences for 20 years with the band’s unique blend of humor and musical talent. This led to their becoming House Band on the world’s longest running chat show, the (Irish) ‘Late Late Show’ for over a decade, along with presenter Ryan Tubridy.
Cullivan’s passion for history is evident in his solo ‘historical entertainment’ shows which he devised and performed since 2016, including “The Murder of Wolfe Tone” and “The Murder of Michael Collins”. These shows combined storytelling, music and visuals to explore pivotal events in Irish history. His latest project, “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Ireland,” offers an optimistic vision of a future United Ireland, combining humor and hope to inspire audiences. Paddy Cullivan continues to be a dynamic force in Irish culture, engaging and educating through his diverse creative endeavours.
For more info, visit https://www.paddycullivan.com/

REVIEWS
A huge hit online, Paddy has brought this mind-blowing solo show to the stage – here are just some of the reviews…
★★★★★
‘Mesmerising stuff – a complicated story, brilliantly told.’ – Ronan McGreevy (Irish Times)
★★★★★
‘Agatha Christie meets Monty Python – a century-year-old mystery with the best form of comedy; tinged with unpalatable truth’ – Oliver Callan
★★★★★
‘Begging for the live stage – superb job’ – Erskine Childers
★★★★★
‘This is worth watching for the tune about mediocre Irish political leaders through the ages alone! ‘Safe Pair of Hands’ – instant classic.’ – Tadhg Hickey (online political comedy genius)
★★★★★
‘In awe of the research you have done, the way you have put the story together and presented it.’ – Mags Amond (Trinity College School of Education)
★★★★★
‘Great show Paddy, scholarly and entertaining’ – Mick O’Dea (Former RHA President)
★★★★★
‘A must watch for anyone interested in Irish history and politics’ – Dr. Wayne O’Brien (Northumbia University)
★★★★★
‘Amazing work – hard history told with a light touch. Comhghairdeas’ – Mary Lou McDonald (President of Sinn Fein)
★★★★★
‘Greatest show on the Emerald Isle!…essential viewing for the price of Dublin pint!’ – Sean Napier (The 1798 Belfast walking tour)
Support for Paddy Cullivan’s tour comes in part from Culture Ireland

Maine Irish Poetry Night
2026-04-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Maine Irish Poetry Night
In Celebration of National Poetry Month & Seamus Heaney’s Birthday

Saturday, April 11th

7:00pm
Doors open at 6:30pm
Join us for an evening of poetry in celebration of National Poetry Month and Seamus Heaney’s birthday! We will have readings from three incredible poets, followed by a Q&A with the audience.
Doors open at 6:30 PM, and readings begin at 7:00 PM. Admission is free, and books will be available for purchase at the event
Stay tuned for more details soon!

A Fragile Peace: Documentary Screening and Talkback
2026-04-19 18:00 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Sunday, April 19th
6:00pm
Doors open at 5:30pm
A FRAGILE PEACE
BREXIT AND NORTHERN IRELAND
THE INTERNATIONALLY AWARD WINNING FILM
Will Brexit destroy the peace and bring back violence to war torn Northern Ireland?
Join us on Sunday, April 19th, for a screening of this incredible documentary, immediately followed by a talkback with Director Rory Duffy! General admission tickets are just $20, or snag priority seating for just $30! Don’t wait to buy your tickets – prices go up at the door, and priority seating is only available in advance!
SYNOPSIS
A Fragile Peace: Brexit and Northern Ireland is a film about the intersection of history and the present, about a peace agreement that many assumed was solid but now faces new and unexpected challenges due to Brexit.
The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998, created a delicate balance of identities, political parties, and loyalties within Northern Ireland. However, Brexit has reopened a wound that many thought was healed, casting uncertainty on the future of this hard-won peace.

DIRECTED BY RORY DUFFY
Rory Duffy is an award winning documentary filmmaker, and adjunct professor of United States history at City College of New York. As an actor, Rory has had recurring roles on Blue Bloods, Law and Order SVU, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. His masters thesis on the John F. Kennedy Administration won the Judith Stein Prize in Political Economy.
On stage and screen, he has worked with director Hal Hartley, Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, and Amy Sherman-Palladino.
His production company Maci Duffy Productions, which he co-runs with his wife Hyun Joo Lee, produces films with a concentration on history, politics, and art.

THE SUBJECTS:
DAMIAN MCGENITY
Political Activist and Farmer
Damian McGenity is a political activist and farmer who faces financial ruin due to Brexit. A supporter of peace in Northern Ireland, Damian joined Border Communities Against Brexit to maintain the peace and save his family farm.

MARTINA ANDERSON
Politician and former combatant
Martina Anderson is an Irish politician from Northern Ireland. She became involved in the Irish Republican movement in the late 1970s and is a former IRA volunteer.
In June 1986, she was convicted of conspiring to cause explosions and sentenced to life in prison. Today, she is working towards uniting Ireland through politics.

ARON HUGHES
Political Activist
Aron Hughes was too young to vote in the Brexit referendum and has taken to the streets to advocate for a second Brexit vote. He now runs an organization that brings the youth of Belfast together in a safe welcoming space.

CREW CREDITS
HYUN JOO DUFFY
Producer

RONAN KILLEEN
Cameraman

PRESS
“Responsible history as it occurs, frankly portrayed.”
— Hal Hartley, director Henry Fool, Ned Rifle
“The acclaimed documentary keeps picking up prestigious new awards.”
— Cahir O’Doherty
“A Fragile Peace reminds us that we should always be careful whenever we believe history has reached an endpoint.”
— Patricia Harty, Editor in Chief, Irish America

AWARDS
Best Picture
London Movie Awards
Best Documentary Feature – Winner
New York Monthly Film Festival
New York Movie Awards
Crown Points International Film Festival
Queens (Unisphere) Film Festival
Cork Indie Film Award
Massachusetts International Film Festival
Best Film Essay
Area 51 Film Festival
Best International Documentary Feature Film
Austin International Art Film Festival
Best Feature Documentary – Nominee
Copenhagen Doc Only
Big Apple Film Festival
Liverpool Indie Awards
Finalist
Out of the Can International Film Festival
Darkland Film Festival
Hawaii International Film Awards
Prazske Filmove Ceny
Indiemania

GET IN TOUCH
Email
AFRAGILEPEACEFILM@GMAIL.COM
Instagram
@AFRAGILEPEACEMOVIE

Celtic Woman: A New Era at the State Theatre
2026-04-24 19:30 - 22:00 | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Fri, April 24, 2026
State Theatre
Doors: 6:30pm – Show: 7:30pm – all ages
$75-$45 reserved seating
Meet & Greet Package – $100 upgrade
• Private backstage photo opportunity with Celtic Woman pre-show
• Brief chat with the cast
• Early entry
Tickets available through the State Theatre HERE!

GRAMMY ® nominated global music sensation Celtic Woman returns to North America and Canada in Spring 2026 with their all-new show A New Era.
Celebrating their rich musical and cultural heritage with a fresh and contemporary spirit, A New Era marks the beginning of a new chapter for the world-renowned ensemble.
This tour marks a new, exciting chapter in the group’s celebrated 21-year journey, blending the ensemble’s signature sound with fresh arrangements and dynamic stage production.
A New Era showcases the timeless traditions of Irish music and culture while reflecting on Celtic Woman’s continued evolution. Audiences can expect a captivating performance featuring new orchestrations, exquisite harmonies and world-class musicianship brought to life by sopranos Mairéad Carlin, Muirgen O’Mahony, Sean-Nós singer Caitríona Sherlock, and fiddle player Ciara Ní Mhurchú, together with the Celtic Woman band and dancers.
Since their debut in 2004, Celtic Woman has captivated millions of fans worldwide with their powerful performances and storytelling. The group has achieved over 3 billion streams, 12.5 million global equivalent album sales, and performed to millions of fans across 23 countries. With A New Era, the group invites audiences to experience the next chapter in their extraordinary story, one that honours the past while embracing the future.
