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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261020T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261020T200000
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SUMMARY:Spooky Storytelling at the Maine Irish Heritage Center
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is getting spooky this October! Join us as we take the Irish tradition of storytelling into the realm of the chilling and otherworldly in our dramatic\, historic cathedral space. \nWe invite you to join us this October 20th in the Great Hall! All are welcome to share during the open-mic portion of the evening. Bring your favorite spooky story\, poem\, or song! Enjoy a cocktail or sweet treat as you listen and enjoy an evening among friends—or friends-in-the-making. Stories need not be of Irish origin! Ages 12+ \nEvent Details:\n\nLocation: 34 Gray Street\, Portland ME\nTime: 6:30-8:00 PM\nHost: Cathy Furness\nStory Guidelines:\n\nStories\, songs\, or poems should be 10 minutes or less\nA timekeeper will help us keep things moving\nNo hate speech – creative freedom is welcome\, but kindness and inclusivity are essential\n\n\nAll are welcome\, but parents be advised:– Come to share or simply to listen! Stories may be too scary for children under 12.\n\nStorytelling 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.
URL:https://maineirish.com/event/spooky-storytelling-at-the-maine-irish-heritage-center/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community
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ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261025T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261025T160000
DTSTAMP:20260915T184916Z
CREATED:20260903T161249Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260915T184916Z
UID:10001149-1792936800-1792944000@maineirish.com
SUMMARY:Ishna's “Slí Amach": from There to Here
DESCRIPTION:A joyous exploration of the music & stories of Ireland\nSunday\, October 25th\n2:00pm\nDoors open 1:30pm\nAbout Ishna:\nIshna is a Boston-based contemporary Irish folk band\, exploring the traditional repertoire of Ireland within the context of a global setting. It is fronted by husband-wife duo Ciaran Nagle and Tara Novak\, and has been together as this lineup of 6 musicians for more than a decade. Over that time\, the group has evolved\, honing in specifically on the acoustic traditional music of Ireland\, while finding ways to allow each band member to bring their unique musical vocabulary to the overall sound. \nTheir show\, “From There to Here”\, features the music from their debut album\, “Slí Amach: Way Out”.  The album was recorded over a week in 2025\, in a barn in Peterborough NH. It was recorded\, mixed\, and mastered by Oscar-and-Grammy-winning Robert L. Smith at Defy Recordings\, and the artwork was designed by the legendary Steve Averill (creator of all the logos and artwork for U2). \nIshna is fronted by Irish Tenor Ciarán Nagle and fiddler/vocalist Tara Novak (both of Riverdance and the Three Irish Tenors). The husband-and-wife duo bring their humor and dynamic energy to the stage\, and are accompanied by their stellar band of traditional musicians: Dan Meyers: uilleann pipes/whistles; Bjorn Wennas – guitar; David McGrory – piano/accordion/banjo; Brian O’Neill – bodhrán/percussion. \nIshna’s performance is energetic and uplifting\, infusing new rhythms and harmonies into their traditional repertoire. \nFor Ishna\, music is about finding common connections. They invite the audience into the fold of their community and to experience the beloved music of Ireland in a new way. \n  \nFor more information\, go to: https://www.ishnamusic.com \nOr follow Ishna on all social media at: @ishnamusic \n \nCheck Ishna out on YouTube: \nIshna YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ishnamusic
URL:https://maineirish.com/event/ishnas-sli-amach/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
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ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261026T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261026T210000
DTSTAMP:20261007T202159Z
CREATED:20261006T172725Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T202159Z
UID:10001154-1793041200-1793048400@maineirish.com
SUMMARY:Casco Song & Ballad Circle
DESCRIPTION:Casco Song & Ballad Circle at the Maine Irish Heritage Center\nThe Casco Song & Ballad Circle will meet at the Maine Irish Heritage Center Library on the 4th Monday of every month from 7-9 PM to share traditional songs. Some participants sing ballads: stark\, spellbinding story-songs handed down orally as homespun entertainment. But traditional songs of any kind\, from any tradition\, in any language\, are welcome! The first gathering will be on October 26th\, 2026. \nBring a couple of your favorite old songs\, ballads\, shanties\, seasonal songs\, pub songs\, or what have you—memorized or not—and share them with our friendly circle. Unaccompanied voices are the norm\, but you’re welcome to accompany your own song on an instrument if you choose. Or\, just come to listen and immerse yourself in the world of these tales and their tunes! If a song has a chorus to join in on\, we’ll learn it together by ear\, but solo songs are great\, too. This is a participatory event where everyone is welcome regardless of ability\, expertise\, or confidence. \nThese sessions are free to attend\, and a suggested donation of $5 per session will be gratefully accepted. All funds raised through donations will go straight back into MIHC programming! We ask that you RSVP before each session you expect to attend\, even if at the last minute.
URL:https://maineirish.com/event/casco-song-ballad-circle/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
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ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261029T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261029T210000
DTSTAMP:20260918T172545Z
CREATED:20260827T194151Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260918T172545Z
UID:10001147-1793300400-1793307600@maineirish.com
SUMMARY:Forest Issac Jones’ GOOD TROUBLE
DESCRIPTION:Forest Issac Jones’ ‘Good Trouble’\nA Maine Irish Author Event\nThursday\, October 29th\, 7:00pm\nDoors open 6:30pm\nJoin us on Thursday\, October 29th for an evening of conversation with author Forest Issac Jones as he discusses his book\, ‘Good Trouble.’ \nJones will be joined in conversation by author Margo Shea\, a history professor at Salem State University. \nBooks will be available for sale and signing at the event! \nAbout the Author:\nForest Issac Jones is an award-winning author of non-fiction and essays\, specializing in the study of Irish History\, the US Civil Rights Movement and Northern Ireland. His latest essay\, ‘The Civil Rights Connection Between the USA and Northern Ireland’ was awarded honorable mention in the category of nonfiction essay by Writer’s Digest in their 93rd annual writing competition in 2024. \nOver the years\, Jones has won awards from Writer’s Digest in 2022 and 2023. His award winning essay about African Americans at D-Day was published in 2024 by WWII History Magazine. \nIn addition to writing\, Jones is a frequent speaker who has given talks about everything from African Americans at D-Day and The Troubles in Northern Ireland. \nHis first nonfiction book\, ‘Good Trouble: The Selma\, Alabama and Derry\, Northern Ireland Connection 1963-1972’ was released by Anthem Press on April 1\, 2025. \nHe has presented ‘Good Trouble’ at the MLK Library in Washington\, DC\, the Columbus Book Festival\, the Frederick Douglass Celebration Week in Boston at the Irish Embassy\, and the Fall for the Book festival at George Mason University. \nIn 2026\, he presented ‘Good Trouble’ at the Jack Hadley Black History Museum in Thomasville\, Georgia\, the Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville\, Virginia\, and the Belfast Book Festival. ‘Good Trouble’ is being used at Macalester College\, Buffalo State University\, Saint Mary’s University\, and Sacred Heart University. \nForest is a member of the James River Writers\, American Conference for Irish Studies\, African American Irish Diaspora Network\, and the Historical Writers Association. \nDr. Jones holds a doctorate degree from Virginia Tech in education and a master’s degree from Hollins University in history (focusing on Northern Ireland history and South Africa history). He currently is an adjunct professor for James Madison University. He currently lives in Salem\, Virginia. \nAbout the Book:\n“Good Trouble” shows the strong connection between the Black Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the Catholic Civil Rights Movement in Northern Ireland – specifically the influence of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march on the 1969 Belfast to Derry march through oral history\, based on numerous interviews of events leading up to both marches and afterwards. This is close to the author’s heart as both of his parents marched to integrate lunch counters and movie theatres in Salisbury\, North Carolina\, in 1963 as college students. His mother was at the 1963 March to Washington where Martin Luther King gave his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. \nAward winning author Julieann Campbell (On Bloody Sunday) wrote the introduction for Good Trouble\, looking back at her times growing up in Derry\, in the heart of the Catholic Civil Rights Movement. Forest travelled to Dublin\, Belfast\, and Derry to conduct interviews for the book. In all\, he did fifteen interviews with people who were involved in the movement in Northern Ireland (including Billy McVeigh – featured in the BAFTA winning documentary\, Once Upon A Time In Northern Ireland) and in the United States (including Richard Smiley and Dr. Sheyann Webb-Christburg – both were at Bloody Sunday in Alabama and on the Selma to Montgomery march among others). Jones was also able to talk with civil rights leader Eamonn McCann. \n  \n  \nPraise for “Good Trouble”:\n“Jones has written a book that is worthy of its subject”- The Daily Express UK \n“His book reads like a historical thriller at times. A must read.” – The Sun UK \n“Good Trouble is very much\, a historical tale of the good\, the bad and the ugly\, and ultimately\, the good again.”- The Belfast Telegraph \n“This is a wide-ranging story about connections between the civil rights movement in Alabama and Northern Ireland”- The Irish Times \n“The new history may well be the definitive account of the connection between the civil rights and liberation movement mounted by Black Americans in the 1960s and its sister campaign in the North.” -The Derry Journal \n“Good Trouble is a fascinating read that connects America’s civil rights movement with Northern Ireland’s movement to end discrimination against Catholics in the 1960s.”- Kristen Green\, NY Times Best Selling Author of ‘Something Must Be Done About Prince Edward County’ \n“Jones creates an insightful and compelling examination of a terrible period in our shared histories.” – Brian McGilloway\, Sunday Times and NY Times Best Selling Author \n  \nAbout Margo Shea:\n Margo Shea is Professor of History at Salem State University\, in Salem\, Massachusetts\, where she teaches public history\, Irish history and world history\, oversees a graduate public history certificate program and supervises internships for History majors. She is the author of Derry City: Memory and Political Struggle in Northern Ireland and many articles and chapters in anthologies on heritage\, memory and collaborative practice.
URL:https://maineirish.com/event/forest-isaac-jones-good-trouble/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Good-Trouble-banner-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261105T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261105T190000
DTSTAMP:20260724T202939Z
CREATED:20260724T202034Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260724T202939Z
UID:10001125-1793898000-1793905200@maineirish.com
SUMMARY:Maine Irish Writes: November
DESCRIPTION:We are thrilled to present our second season of Maine Irish Writes\, an inclusive monthly writers’ group that will meet in the MIHC Library on the first Thursday of each month! \nLed by the incredible poet and author Robert Breen\, this welcoming writers group is open to all—whether you’re just starting out or deep into a manuscript. Bring your works in progress\, share your voice\, and receive supportive\, thoughtful feedback in a relaxed and inspiring setting. Together\, we’ll explore storytelling\, poetry\, memory\, and the written word in all its forms. Come to listen\, come to write\, come to connect. \nA few notes on the format of these Writers’ Group meetings: \nFor all interested writers \n\nDetermine your goal\, the primary target for your project— fiction\, poetry\, nonfiction\, memoir or autobiography.\nFor beginners this will be a discovery time\, your goal should be to have fun with this phase.\nTake time and have patience with yourself!\nWe ask that all members actively bring work to participate in each session\nThose that have work ready will be heard— with a 10-minute reading time and critique so to allow all to be heard.\nHave your written piece of literature with 3 copies allowing the group to follow and partake in the evaluation of the work.\n\nWriter’s Technique Method Used\nThe Layer Cake Method is a classic technique used to deliver constructive criticism without causing defensiveness. And keep the writer motivated while highlighting areas that need improvement. \n\n(Positive): Start with genuine praise. Highlight a specific strength\, like a strong voice\, sharp dialogue\, or an engaging hook.\n(Constructive): Insert the critique or area for improvement. Focus on actionable issues like pacing lags\, confusing plot points\, or passive verbs. Poetry example- the use of metaphors\, and forms.\n(Upbeat): End with encouragement and forward momentum. Reiterate your belief in the story or poem express excitement to read the next draft.\n\nCheck out the rest of the series dates HERE!
URL:https://maineirish.com/event/maine-irish-writes-november-26/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Maine-Irish-Writes-nov-26.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261105T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261105T210000
DTSTAMP:20260731T183915Z
CREATED:20260731T183915Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T183915Z
UID:10001134-1793907000-1793912400@maineirish.com
SUMMARY:Maine Irish Reads "Land" by Maggie O'Farrell
DESCRIPTION:NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The award-winning\, bestselling author of Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait returns with a soaring historical novel set in Ireland in the years before and after the Great Hunger. \n“A breathtaking hymn to the sanctity of natural spaces\, operating on timescales both intimate and geological. I finished Land moved not only by the vivid lives of its human characters\, but the thrumming\, gorgeous presence of its mosses\, waters\, winds\, and skies.” —Daniel Mason\, author of North Woods \nOn a windswept peninsula stretching out into the Atlantic\, Tomás and his reluctant son\, Liam\, are working for the great Ordnance Survey project to map the whole of Ireland. The year is 1865\, and in a country not long since ravaged and emptied by the Great Hunger\, the task is not an easy one. Tomás\, however\, is determined that his maps will be a record of the disaster. \nThe British soldiers in charge are due to arrive any day\, expecting the work to be completed\, but Tomás is unexpectedly sent off course by an unsettling encounter in a copse. His life\, and the lives of those of his family\, will never be the same again. Liam is terrified by the sudden change in his taciturn father. What was it that caused such cracks to open in Tomás\, and how is Liam\, aged only ten\, going to finish the mapping and get them both home? \nLand is a novel about separation and reunion\, tragedy and recovery\, colonization and rebellion. It is a story of buried treasure\, overlapping lives\, ancient woodland\, persistent ghosts\, a particularly loyal dog\, and how\, when it comes to both land and history\, nothing ever goes away. As spellbinding and varied as the landscape that inspired it\, Land is\, above all\, a story of survival\, for our times and for all time. \nSee more Maine Irish Reads Events Here
URL:https://maineirish.com/event/maine-irish-reads-land-by-maggie-ofarrell/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
CATEGORIES:Maine Irish Reads
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ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261107T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261107T213000
DTSTAMP:20260925T153817Z
CREATED:20260924T173211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T153817Z
UID:10001152-1794067200-1794087000@maineirish.com
SUMMARY:Maine Irish Song Project with CASTLEBAY
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, November 7th\, 2026\nAt the Maine Irish Heritage Center\nWorkshop: 4:00pm-6:00pm\nDinner: 6:00pm-7:00pm\nConcert: 7:30pm\, doors open at 7:00pm\nA CONCERT OF MAINE’S TRADITIONAL IRISH SONGS\nMaine’s premier Celtic folk duo Castlebay will present a concert of Maine’s traditional Irish songs at the Maine Irish Heritage Center in Portland on Saturday\, November 7th at 7:30pm 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. \nThis 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! \nIn addition to the concert\, Castlebay will be offering an exclusive workshop\, and the opportunity to have dinner with the artists!\nGo 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. \nThis 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. We’d also love to encourage our workshop participants to bring and share their family songs! Whether it’s the lullaby your grandmother used to sing\, or something that’s been passed down for generations\, we’d love to hear it. \nIn the break between the workshop and concert\, the artists would love to invite workshop participants to join them for a communal dinner. This will be BYO food\, with light snacks and drinks available for purchase from the Center! \nAbout the Artists:\n 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. \nFor 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.
URL:https://maineirish.com/event/maine-irish-song-project-with-castlebay-2026/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Maine-Irish-Song-Project-2026-banner.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261112T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261112T203000
DTSTAMP:20260917T152330Z
CREATED:20260911T212835Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260917T152330Z
UID:10001150-1794510000-1794515400@maineirish.com
SUMMARY:Mary Beth Keane: Whale Harbor
DESCRIPTION:A Maine Irish Author Event with Print: A Bookstore\nThursday\, November 12th\, 2026\n7:00 PM\nJoin us on Thursday\, November 12th for an evening of conversation with New York Times bestselling author Mary Beth Keane as she launches her new novel\, Whale Harbor. Keziah Weir\, author of The Mythmakers\, will moderate the discussion.  \nBooks will be available for sale and signing courtesy of Print: A Bookstore. \nABOUT WHALE HARBOR\nFrom New York Times bestselling author of the “magnificent” (Fresh Air)\, “propulsive” (People)\, and “profound” (Vogue) Ask Again\, Yes\, a sweeping multi-generational saga inspired by the author’s own family history\, following eleven brothers torn apart and set on different paths between Ireland\, England\, Montana\, and New York. \n1960s\, Ireland. In the wake of tragedy\, a father makes choices for his eleven grieving sons. The older brothers will emigrate to England for work\, while the younger ones will stay behind. The second eldest\, Macdara\, is offered a job on a Montana cattle ranch and sets off. His spirited younger brother Rian begs Mac to take him along and Mac promises to bring Rian to America as soon as he’s old enough. But then one day Mac gets a call that Rian has disappeared. It’s a call that will haunt Mac and his family across decades. \nSpanning lifetimes and continents\, Whale Harbor is an expansive and unforgettable novel written with award-winning author Mary Beth Keane’s signature wit\, eloquence\, and attention to the emotional resonance of family. \nABOUT MARY BETH KEANE\nMary Beth Keane was awarded a John S. Guggenheim fellowship for fiction writing\, and has received citations from the National Book Foundation\, PEN America\, and the Hemingway Society. She is the author of The Half Moon\, The Walking People\, Fever\, and Ask Again\, Yes\, which spent eight weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List. To date\, Ask Again\, Yes has been translated into twenty-two languages. \nWhale Harbor\, her fifth novel\, is forthcoming in North America and the U.K. in November 2026\, and in Ireland January 2027. \nPhoto credit: Jesse Dittmar \n  \nABOUT KEZIAH WEIR\n \nKeziah Weir is the author of the novel The Mythmakers\, which was named a New York Times Book Review ​Editors’ Choice and a best book of the year by Harper’s Bazaar and Barnes & Noble. She has previously worked as a senior staff writer and editor at Vanity Fair\, and on the editorial team at Elle. Her writing has also appeared in Esquire\, the New York Times\, the Los Angeles Review of Books and Vol. 1 Brooklyn\, and her work has been supported by Monson Arts and the Pasadena Literary Alliance. She grew up in San Francisco\, California and on Salt Spring Island\, British Columbia\, and now lives in Maine.
URL:https://maineirish.com/event/mary-beth-keane-whale-harbor/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
CATEGORIES:book-talk,Community
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://maineirish.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/MIHCPRINT-11.12.26-Mary-Beth-Keane-Banner.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261114T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261114T150000
DTSTAMP:20260827T171317Z
CREATED:20260825T232244Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260827T171317Z
UID:10001142-1794646800-1794668400@maineirish.com
SUMMARY:Annual Celtic Fair 2026
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is excited to bring back another year of festive fun at our Annual Celtic Fair! Join us for the 15th annual State Street Stroll on Saturday\, November 14th from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM.  \nBrowse local\, handcrafted goods and enjoy lively performances from the incredible Stillson School of Irish Dance! The Celtic Fair features a selection of local artists and craftspeople\, a light lunch menu\, hot and cold beverages\, baked goods\, a raffle table\, music\, and more. We hope you can join us for what has become a wonderful pre-holiday tradition in Portland\, Maine. \nVendor Applications are now OPEN! Register here.\n 
URL:https://maineirish.com/event/annual-celtic-fair-2026/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://maineirish.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Celtic-Faire-Presentation.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261119T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261119T210000
DTSTAMP:20260918T141633Z
CREATED:20260807T160031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260918T141633Z
UID:10001144-1795113000-1795122000@maineirish.com
SUMMARY:Claddagh Awards 2026: Honoring Pat Callaghan
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, November 19th\, 2026 \nThe Maine Irish Heritage Center’s Claddagh Awards return on Thursday\, November 19th! \nThe Claddagh Awards are 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. \nThis year\, we are honored to present the 2026 Claddagh Award to Pat Callaghan in recognition of his extraordinary career in news and broadcasting\, serving for decades as a trusted and judicious voice in the state of Maine. \nStay tuned for updates on programming! \n2026 Claddagh Award Recipient: Pat Callaghan\n \nPat Callaghan began his broadcast journalism career in 1978 at New Hampshire Public Television. \nBeginning in 1979\, he spent 43 years as a news anchor and reporter for NEWS CENTER Maine (WCSH6 in Portland and WLBZ2 in Bangor). Notable stories along the way included being on the air live when the Challenger space shuttle exploded in 1986\, and reporting from Belfast\, Northern Ireland when former Maine Sen. George Mitchell chaired the talks that culminated in the Good Friday Agreement. In 2015 Pat produced award-winning reports on efforts in Utah to end chronic homelessness. \nPat spent much of his time covering politics\, with extensive reporting from Washington\, DC and Augusta\, as well as covering Maine’s delegations at numerous national political conventions. He produced documentaries on notable Maine figures including Ed Muskie\, Bill Cohen\, Olympia Snowe and George Mitchell. \nHe is the host of “In The Arena\,” a Maine politics podcast available on the WMTW TV website and everywhere you get your podcasts. \nPat holds a BA in History from the University of New Hampshire. He is a member of the Maine Broadcasting Hall of Fame and the New England Emmy Awards “Silver Circle.” \nHe and his wife Karen are the parents of two grown children \n  \nPast Claddagh Award Recipients \n• 2025 – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree\n• 2019 – George Campbell\, Jr.\n• 2018 – David T. Flanagan\n• 2017 – Senator Susan Collins\n• 2016 – Michael Connolly\n• 2015 – Jim Wellehan\n• 2014 – Sara J. Burns\n• 2013 – Moira Hastings Fuller\n• 2012 – Senator George J. Mitchell\n• 2011 – William J. Ryan\n• 2010 – Cynthia Murray Beliveau\n• 2009 – Gerard P. Conley\, Sr.\n• 2008 – Governor Joseph E. Brennan \nLearn more about past claddagh winners here: https://maineirish.com/videos/  \n  \nInterested in becoming a sponsor for this event? See more details below\nTo secure your sponsorship\, click HERE or email lauren@maineirish.com\n  \n 
URL:https://maineirish.com/event/claddagh-awards-2026/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Claddagh-SAVE-THE-DATE-Presentation-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
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