The twenty-second Lá na Gaeilge, the ICC’s annual language day, took place on May 6, 2023 at Elms College. After a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, it was great to deliver the program in person so that Irish language enthusiasts could renew old friendships and new students could have the opportunity to develop an appreciation for the language. Based on the feedback for the day, everyone was pleased with our format at the college.

At the start of the event, we remembered Kathleen Gilhooly and acknowledged her contributions over the years to the language day and to the Irish language program. The veterans at the day remembered Kathleen as an extremely friendly and knowledgeable teacher as well as an accomplished musician. She inspired many people to learn and improve their Irish at past events and as a classroom instructor. Her contribution of time and energy was essential in establishing and growing the language day and Irish language course offerings.

Emer Maguire, the Fulbright Irish Language Teaching Assistant, and her committee organized the day. Their challenge was to restart the program in person by creating an attractive schedule that included three different levels of Irish classes. Workshops including set dancing, calligraphy and language games were provided to appeal to various interests. Finally, they assembled a staff that included the FLTA from UCONN and instructor from the Albany Conradh na Gaeilge. Erin Mulvaugh, Kathleen Joss and Emer facilitated the workshops.

The highlight of the day was a lecture offered by Emer on her native County Louth. Although it is Ireland’s smallest county, we learned there were numerous layers of history, culture and geography that helped us get a better understanding of the area. In addition, all had an opportunity to hear and appreciate some of the unique features of the Ulster dialect.

At the end of the day, participants had a rewarding day. It is clear that language learning is a social event, and that learning is easier when there is a positive environment. This language journey is best done with others and encouraged by enthusiastic teachers. Thanks for your help on the day and the whole year, Emer.

– written by Irish language instructor Gerald Costello

We would like to welcome Conor Driscoll as our new ICC Events Coordinator. Conor is responsible for planning and promoting our own ICC cultural events and coordinating private events booked at the Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub.  

Conor initially became involved with the ICC as Vice President of the Springfield Rifles Rugby Club, who practice and play their home games here. Conor serves as ambassador for the rugby organization to the ICC and jumped at the chance to start working as Events Coordinator.

“I fell in love with the ICC almost instantly. It has always felt like a second home to me so when I got the opportunity to come on in an official capacity, I couldn’t say no to something that felt so natural to me.”

Born and raised in East Longmeadow, Conor currently lives in Springfield, MA. He embraced his Irish Heritage at a young age by going on multiple trips to Ireland for the O’Driscoll Clan family gathering every June in Baltimore, County Cork. He also worked in his family’s restaurant, O’Driscoll’s Irish Pub, in Wilbraham, MA.

After completing his service in the United States Air Force at Moody AFB in Valdosta, GA, he moved back to western MA and worked a variety of jobs from the food service industry to landscape construction. In his time off he enjoys playing rugby, golfing, skiing and traveling.

The Irish Cultural Center is linking up with Irish historian, Sean Murphy, to introduce our community to live, weekly online Irish history courses. Sean presents monthly topics divided into four-week modules. Courses are presented on Zoom. Each student will receive an electronic copy of each presentation.

This summer, Sean offers one topic, continuing the general history of each of the thirty two counties in Ireland. Featured in June 2023 is County Tipperary. Takes place on Thursdays, June 15, 22, 29 and July 6 from 6:00–7:30 pm. Download course flyer.

To Enroll
The enrollment fee is $90 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.

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.

www.irishhistory.online

We would like to welcome Peter Stewart as our new chef here at the ICC’s Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub. Chef Peter is the 3rd generation of restaurant workers in his family. He grew up on Mulberry Street in Springfield then moved to Southwick as a youngster. Peter and his family often visited NYC to sample all different types of food during the seventies and eighties, as the city’s fine restaurants flourished then.

Peter’s career unofficially began at the age of 8 when his mother managed Page One in Westfield and she would occasionally bring him with her to work. He would watch the chefs work in the kitchen, so eventually he was put to work peeling potatoes. That was all it took to foster his love of the kitchen excitement as well as the challenges. Peter has great plans, as he says, “My focus here at the Irish House Restaurant is to evolve the restaurant into an Irish Gastro Pub, like you find in Europe.”

Peter has worked in multiple restaurants for over 40 years, and his main goal is to “seriously up the game here at the ICC.” He has already started adding new, innovative additions to our menu with the focus of evolving into to an “all scratch kitchen.” Peter has known and worked alongside our new General Manager Michael Ratte for decades. Together Michael and Peter with their decades of experience have the vision to make the dining experience at the Irish House Restaurant top notch!

ICC President Sean Cahillane praised the new menu additions. “The Fish Fry Friday special is delicious, outstanding. My go to place on Fridays will now be the Irish House for Peter’s fish and chips.” Board member Will Carey believes Peter is driven, focused on delivering quality and constant food.  

One of Peter’s goals is to feature traditional homemade desserts, like your mom our auntie used to make, all prepared exclusively in house by our new sous-chef, Carina. Look for her upcoming feature! Homemade desserts are a special treat these days, as most restaurants offer premade products.

Our tempting new dessert items:

• “Personal Size” Cheesecake with choice of raspberry or caramel sauce
• Apple Crisp with vanilla bean ice cream, caramel sauce, and whipped cream
• Puff Pastry Éclair filled with vanilla ice cream, smothered in fudge sauce, and topped with a cherry
• Coming soon – Strawberry Angel Food Bundt Cake served “Shortcake Style”

Our Fish Fry Special is available every Friday! Choose lightly breaded or beer battered fish with chips.

The ICC held our 2nd annual Celtic Music Festival on Sunday, May 21, 2023. This free afternoon festival showcased traditional and popular Irish music along with Irish dancing, in our Trinity Pub and on the outdoor patio. Thank you to the over 400 people who visited the festival throughout the day!

Entertainment included a traditional Irish music session featuring the weekly Trinity Pub session players, Boston-based band Boxty, Trinity Pub favorites The Stout Porters, the Black Rose Academy of Irish Dance, and the Cassin Academy of Irish Dance. Caravan Kitchen Food Truck provided delicious sandwiches and paninis.

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to all the volunteers who helped set up and run the festival, to our Events Committee, and restaurant staff.

Thanks to our festival sponsor, the Mass Cultural Council, plus our Presenting Business Sponsors, Westfield Bank, Freedom Credit Union, and PeoplesBank.

See more photos in our Facebook gallery >

We would like to welcome Michael Ratte as our new General Manager here at the ICC’s Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub. Michael comes with over four decades of restaurant experience from the ground up, starting as a busboy at Springfield Country Club and moving up to managing, consulting, designing, and owning restaurants in the area. He brings a wealth of ideas and knowledge to the table here at the ICC and we look forward to working with him as we begin our new direction with construction of the Community Performance Center and new kitchen.

Michael and his staff are preparing an ever-expanding menu, all crafted on site with house-made desserts as well. According to Fred Haska, a new Irish House customer, “This is the best Guinness Beef Stew I have ever had!”

Board member Will Carey says, “The changing of the guard at the Irish House Restaurant has been remarkably smooth. Mike is a professional, pleasant, and engaging with our customers, so please stop by and say hello to him.”

And if you are looking for Michael in October, you will have to do some traveling as he spends the month in upstate NY teaching clients how to fly fish, tie flies and find salmon. He is looking forward to joining us on an Ireland trip to try his luck in Castleconnell on the Shannon River. Fishing is one of Michael’s passions and has been since his grandfather began taking him at the age of five. When you see him at the ICC, ask him to show you a picture or two.

ICC President Sean Cahillane is excited for the future of the Irish House Restaurant. “Mike has really stepped up, taken control and turned around the kitchen remarkably fast. The chefs that Mike has brought in have kicked up the quality and consistency of our food. I extend an offer to all our Patrons and friends to come on in soon and try out our new menu.”

 

The Irish Cultural Center of Western New England presents our 2nd annual Celtic Music Festival on Sunday, May 21. Traditional and popular Irish music along with Irish dancing will be presented in our Trinity Pub and on the covered outdoor patio, located at the ICC at 429 Morgan Road in West Springfield, MA.

SCHEDULE
12–1:15 pm (pub): Trad Irish Session
1:15–2:45 pm (patio): Boxty
2:45–3:45 pm (pub): Cassin Academy of Irish Dance and Black Rose Academy of Irish Dance
4–5:30 pm (patio): The Stout Porters

Free admission. The entertainment takes place in the Trinity Pub and on the covered outdoor patio. Delicious sandwiches and paninis will be available from the Caravan Kitchen Food Truck. The Trinity Pub bar will be open. Guests are welcome to bring chairs or blankets for additional seating on the grass.

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

Trad Irish Session
The Trinity Pub’s weekly Irish session players, led by Ellen Redman and John Tabb, present an authentic Irish pub experience.

Boxty
Boxty performs a unique blend of Irish and American music supplemented by dynamic original material that draws from both traditions, mixing Irish roots music with a bluegrass vibe and an authentic folk flavor. The Boston-based band, led by singer Cormac Marnell from Dublin, is renowned for energetic performances that engage the audience in a fun and lively experience. Watch their promo video >

The Stout Porters
Always popular at the Trinity Pub, local group The Stout Porters play the jigs and reels of Irish trad/folk, modern Irish classics, and Americana classics. Led by ICC board member Tom Landers, along with Mike Rosemond, Jerry Murphy, and Jimmy Kenney.

Cassin Academy of Irish Dance
Led by Maura Cassin, TCRG, the Cassin Academy in West Springfield teaches students about Irish dance, music and culture.

Black Rose Academy of Irish Dance
Led by Bridget Barcomb Dupuis, TCRG, the Black Rose Academy is an all-inclusive Irish dance school community serving Greater Springfield.

SPONSORED BY


 

The Irish Cultural Center is linking 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. Courses are presented on Zoom. Each student will receive an electronic copy of each presentation.

The first topic is a general history of Ireland from ancient times to the present day. The course module for May 2023 is Six Counties/Northern Ireland 1998–2023. Takes place on Thursdays, May 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 7:30–9:00 pm. Download course flyer.

The second topic is a general history of each of the thirty two counties in Ireland. Featured in May 2023 is County Laois. Takes place on Thursdays, May 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 6:00–7:30 pm. Download course flyer.

To Enroll
The enrollment fee is $90 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 call 508-790-0438.

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. 

We were honored to have Congressman Richard E. Neal visit the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England on Monday, April 10 to release the following statement regarding the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement:

“Twenty-five years ago, the governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom signed the Good Friday Agreement, marking the end of the longest period of conflict in Irish history. It happened because everyone involved acted together in good faith, with both parties giving up something to come to this agreement. The Republic of Ireland relinquished Articles 2 and 3 of its Constitution, and the United Kingdom gave up the Border. The world was a witness to these proceedings. 

“I have no doubt that my ancestors, who instilled a deep and emotional connection to this country, would be proud of the Ireland we have today. A strong, prosperous, and confident Ireland has firmly found its place on the world stage and used its voice, as always, to stand up for the less fortunate.

“One of my first speeches on the floor of the House of Representatives condemned the use of rubber bullets in the North of Ireland. My own heritage compelled me to do what I could, but many of the people I represent in Springfield, Holyoke, and Pittsfield would tell the same story. It was that story, bolstered by Americans all over the country, who kept the fortune of Ireland close to their heart. This, above all else, encouraged and invigorated me to continue our fight for peace.

“Today, on this distinguished occasion, we must remember that the Good Friday Agreement can and should be used as a template for peace around the world. Two generations have now grown up not knowing the violence of the Troubles or living with a hard border. As a guarantor of the agreement, the US has the indispensable role of continuing to uphold the principles embodied in the peace accord, ensuring no return to a hard border. The gains of this agreement have brought peace to the island of Ireland for twenty-five years, and we must continue our work to protect and strengthen these gains for future generations to enjoy.”

See news coverage of the event > 

Official Statement > 

After six years of opening and running the Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub, General Manager Sheri Hanifan Boardway is leaving the position.

Sheri began her work at the Irish Cultural Center when the new facility opened. As such, she has headed up the food, beverage, and entertainment end of things since March 2017.

To say Sheri will be missed is quite an understatement.

“Sheri has had a long, successful, memorable run, since the day we opened,” noted ICC President Sean Cahillane.

“Sheri put down the foundation for the Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub to open and operate in all these years. We all have many fond memories that go right back to Sheri. She did a wonderful job through the pandemic – not an easy feat,” said Sean. “We wish her all the best and hope Sheri is no stranger to the ICC in the future.”

As general manager, Sheri was charged with hiring and maintaining staff, scheduling, payroll, ordering food and supplies, and in general running a tight ship and keeping customers happy. She also brought in live music and set up many a fine private party, including reunions, showers and even a few weddings. Her dedication to the ICC was absolute, and much appreciated.

Administrative Director Ellen Gallivan said “It has been a great pleasure working with her all these years and, along with so many others, I will miss her wonderful ‘pairing dinners’. They were the best!”

Board member, Restaurant Committee member and longtime friend of Sheri, Mick Corduff, said her presence will be missed.

“Sheri was exactly the right person to start us off on the right foot, and to carry us through the first several years of growing, learning and putting the ICC on the map,” Mick said. “We wish her all the best and we know we’ll be seeing her a lot in the future.”

Board member and Secretary Jeanne Ahern agreed, saying “Sheri will be missed. She always had a welcome greeting for everyone, and she was so dedicated and hard working. Best wishes to Sheri!”

Sheri’s last day will be Saturday, April 8. Please stop by and wish her all the best, as we do.