Visit with Santa Claus at the Irish Cultural Center! Bring your children or grandchildren to meet Santa on Saturday, December 14 from 4–6 pm in our beautifully decorated pub. Please be prepared to take your own photos. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies during your visit. This free event is open to the public.
GivingTuesday is a Global Generosity Movement on December 3, 2024. There are two ways to support the Irish Cultural Center on this day of giving!
We are so proud of what the Irish Cultural Center has accomplished in the past 25 years as an organization, and we look forward to expanding in the years to come with your help. The ICC is a gathering place, connecting people to each other and helping us all to preserve American-Irish heritage and culture.
Your support allows us to share Irish arts and culture in the community by providing in-person events, virtual events, and educational programming. A traditional Irish music seisiún, concerts, Irish language classes, children’s events, book readings, Irish-oriented lectures, political discussions, international relations, sports, and student international exchange are all examples of what we offer, most of them free, and all available to the public.
The latest phase of construction at the ICC is our Community Performance Center. This space will provide total accessibility for all and welcome the public to a variety of concerts and cultural programs by touring professionals as well as regional performers.
Without financial donations, these achievements would not be realized. In these uncertain times, financial support is more vital than ever to help keep the ICC going into the future. GivingTuesday is the perfect time to make a one-time tax-deductible gift in any amount.
This is also the perfect day to become an ICC annual Patron. A Patron is a person who has made a commitment to preserve, promote and cherish our Irish culture and heritage. The success and continued growth of the ICC is only possible because of the enthusiasm and sustaining commitment of our Patrons. Learn more about Patron levels and benefits.
We are so thankful for your support.
Join us at the ICC’s Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub on December 31, 2024 from 5–9 pm as we ring in the New Year with a live broadcast of the ball drop in Dublin, Ireland.
Gather together and enjoy a delicious upscale buffet dinner, with multiple main course offerings, a selection of side dishes, and decadent desserts.
At 7 pm we’ll celebrate the New Year with a champagne toast while watching the live stream ball drop from Temple Bar in Dublin. We are excited to have Jimmy McArdle, an original member of the Irish folk band The Bards, and Jerry Murphy, Holyoke’s accomplished accordion player, providing great Irish music and entertainment throughout the evening.
Tickets
$65 ICC Patrons / $70 General – includes buffet, music and complimentary champagne toast. Advance tickets are required; tickets are non refundable.
Or call 413-342-4358 or order at the Trinity Pub.
Seating includes tables with regular chairs and taller bistro-style. Please let us know if accessible seating is required. If you have any questions, please email Conor Driscoll at icceventcoordinator@gmail.com.
Join us in the Irish Cultural Center Book Club. We’ll enjoy good craic and delve into Irish and Irish-American literature, with guided discussion in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. This event is open to all.
Our meeting will take place on Thursday, December 12 from 5:30–6:30 pm at the ICC.
We are reading The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods. Participants are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early to get settled, perhaps grab a drink, mix and mingle. You are welcome to stay after at the Trinity Pub to socialize with dinner or drinks.
To Register
The Book Club is free to join. Please register ahead so we know how many people to expect. Register online >
About the Book
“The thing about books,” she said “is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.” On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found. For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives. But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder…where nothing is as it seems.
Available from several vendors online or your favorite local book shop. Or, check your local library.
• Amazon.com (new) >
• Better Worlds Books (used) >
Books for Upcoming Meetings
January 19, 2025 (Sunday at 12 pm): Nora by Nuala O’Connor – Special Book Club Presentation with author via Zoom
Join us at the ICC on Saturday, November 23 at 3 pm for a presentation on Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetery. The history of Glasnevin is fascinating, as well as the stories of those interred on the 124 acres. The “at rest” include revolutionaries, inventors, celebrities, and the mischievous. Presenter Tony Ryan has a wealth of experience and interest in Irish history. After this mixed media presentation, it is hoped that if you’ve ever been to Glasnevin, you’ll want to return. If you’ve never been, you’ll want to visit on your next trip to Ireland.
Celebrate the 2024 holiday season at the Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub with your family and friends! Enjoy a delicious meal in our beautifully decorated pub while listening to some of the area’s best Christmas music from the Tavern Carolers.
PERFORMANCE DATES
Wednesdays
Music 5:30 – 8:30 pm • Doors open at 4:30 pm
• December 4: Purchase tickets online >
• December 18: Purchase tickets online >
Fridays
Music 5:30 – 8:30 pm • Doors open at 4:30 pm
• December 6: Sold Out
• December 13: Sold Out
Sundays
Music 4:30 – 7:30 pm • Doors open at 3:30 pm
• December 8: Sold Out
• December 15: Purchase tickets online >
• December 22 (with Santa!): Purchase tickets online >
Monday
Music 4:30 – 7:30 pm • Doors open at 3:30 pm
• December 23 (with Santa!): Purchase tickets online >
TO ORDER TICKETS
Purchase tickets online (see links above) or call 413-342-4358. Advance tickets for a specific date are required. Ticket price includes music performance, a 3-course meal, and gratuity (for food only). Meal choice must be made at the time of ticket purchase (see below for menu options). Full bar will be open for purchase.
Ticket Cost: $60 ICC Patron / $65 general
(Includes music, meal and server gratuity for food only)
The December 22 and 23 performances include a special visit from Santa! There is a kids ticket option of $25 ICC Patron / $30 general, and includes a kids meal (chicken tenders or grilled cheese with fries, or pasta with marinara).
Tickets are date specific, non-transferable, non-refundable. We expect these shows to sell out – be sure to book soon! Please let us know if accessible seating is required.
MEAL OPTIONS (Each includes soup or salad, sides, and choice of dessert)
• Sliced Pork Loin with Maple Honey Glaze
• Baked Scrod with Lemon Butter
• Roasted Chicken with House BBQ Sauce
• Mushroom Bolognese with Orecchiette Pasta (Vegetarian)
Ireland National Rugby is back in action this fall facing off against 4 of the top 10 teams in the world! All the Ireland matches will be streamed LIVE in the Trinity Pub at the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England.
Coming off their Grand Slam victory at the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, Ireland faces off against the rugby giants of the Southern hemisphere. Come catch the action as the matches are streamed live from Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
See the schedule below and join us in supporting Ireland at your local western New England headquarters for international rugby. The ICC’s Trinity Pub is the only place around to catch all Ireland Rugby matches live!
SCHEDULE
Friday, November 8 at 3:10 pm
Ireland vs New Zealand
Friday, November 15 at 3:10 pm
Ireland vs Argentina
Saturday, November 23 at 10:10 am
Ireland vs Fiji
Saturday, November 30 at 10:10 am
Ireland vs Australia
The Trinity Pub bar will be open for all matches. The Irish House Restaurant kitchen will open early at 4 pm for FRIDAY MATCHES ONLY.
All match times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
The ICC celebrated Halloween on October 26, 2024 with a fun, free, family-friendly open house. The kids arrived in imaginative costumes, and were treated to candy, barmbrack and apple cider. We had Halloween craft projects, coloring sheets and Halloween Irish words and history, plus pumpkin tic-tac-toe and ring toss.
Our special guest, Irish author Ellen Ryan, shared spooky stories about Irish myths and Samhain, and read from her award-winning books Gods Don’t Cry: Unsung Stories of Ireland’s Forgotten Immortals and Girls Who Slay Monsters: Daring Tales of Ireland’s Forgotten Goddesses. Ellen was happy to sign books and chat after her presentation.
Thanks to everyone who made this a fun afternoon, including our ICC volunteers, Trinity Pub staff, Ellen Ryan, and Hannah from Interlink Publishing.
If you didn’t get a chance to purchase one of Ellen’s books, they are available online through Interlink Publishing, a local MA independent publishing house.
See our Facebook gallery for more photos >
Join us in the Irish Cultural Center Book Club. We’ll enjoy good craic and delve into Irish and Irish-American literature, with guided discussion in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. This event is open to all.
Our meeting will take place on Thursday, November 14 from 5:30–6:30 pm at the ICC. This meeting will feature a special in-person reading and discussion of the book with the author, Jack Cashman.
We are reading An Irishman’s Story of Survival by Jack Cashman. Participants are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early to get settled, perhaps grab a drink, mix and mingle. You are welcome to stay after at the Trinity Pub to socialize with dinner or drinks.
To Register
The Book Club is free to join. Please register ahead so we know how many people to expect. Register online >
About the Book
Kevin O’Donnell is a beacon of indomitable spirit, grappling with life’s relentless waves that seek to subdue him. In the turbulent era of mid-20th century, the world could be a harsh, unforgiving place for a young Irish lad. Yet, within Kevin lies a burning desire to carve out his niche, to transcend the barriers that life hurls his way and grasp the reins of a fulfilling existence. Can his resolute will and earnest endeavor outshine the adversities that loom? Can he navigate the maelstrom and anchor himself to the shores of a prosperous life? Traverse the chapters of his journey within these pages, and unveil the saga of a young man’s undying spirit amidst the trials of time. Through Kevin’s eyes, explore a testament to the enduring human spirit that resonates with every beating heart that refuses to yield to life’s storms.
About the Author
Jack Cashman’s career has put him in a number of roles, although the title of “Amazon Best Selling Author” is a relatively new one. Coming from a background of small business ownership, real estate, and insurance, Cashman was first elected to serve in the Maine House of Representatives in 1982. After five terms in office and some time away from state government, he returned to public service in 2003 in a variety of roles with the administration of Maine Governor John Baldacci. Cashman’s first book, An Irish Immigrant Story, was published in 2018 as a historical novel based on the story of his own family’s journey from Ireland to the United States during the time of the Potato Famine. Cashman’s unique background of business owner, elected office-holder, and government official combine with his creative mind to bring together a collection of stories unlike any author working today. Learn more >
Available from several vendors online or your favorite local book shop. Or, check your local library.
• Amazon.com (new) >
• Better Worlds Books (used) >
Books for Upcoming Meetings
December 12, 2024: The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
January 19, 2025 (Sunday at 12 pm): Nora by Nuala O’Connor – Special Book Club Presentation with author via Zoom
The Irish Cultural Center has linked up with Irish historian, Sean Murphy, to introduce our community to live, weekly online Irish history courses. Sean presents two monthly topics, divided into four-week modules. On enrollment, participants will receive the Zoom link, a copy of each week’s PowerPoint presentation, and additional background materials. The courses may be taken as recordings if Thursday presents access difficulties for any reason. Participants also have a half hour one-on-one session with Sean to answer any questions on the course content.
The first topic is a general history of Ireland from ancient times to the present day. The course module for November 2024 is The Great Hunger/Famine – An Gorta Mór 1845–1852. Takes place on Thursdays, October 31, November 7, 14 & 21 from 7:30–9:00 pm.
• View course information and register >
The second topic is a general history of each of the thirty two counties in Ireland. Featured in November 2024 is County Donegal. Takes place on Thursdays, October 31, November 7, 14 & 21 from 6:00–7:30 pm.
• View course information and register >
To Enroll
The enrollment fee is $100 for each four-week course. Please contact Sean directly for information or to enroll in his course(s) – send an email to seanmurphy630@gmail.com or register at www.irishhistory.online. November Special! There is a 20% reduction on both courses for new students and those who last enrolled over six months ago. This offer is only available by contacting Sean directly through email.
About Sean Murphy
Sean Murphy was born in Dublin and came to live on Cape Cod in 2005. He has a passion for his homeland and loves to share his knowledge and interest about his heritage through classes, workshops and conversation. He is a teacher of Irish history, music, and dance.