Category: Latest News

We are excited to see the return of The Big E! The popular Dingle Peninsula Merchants area is reduced in size this year, with Brian de Staic Jewelry and the ICC having in-person booths. Come see our display and beautiful 100+ year old jaunting cart in the Young Building. The Big E has again partnered with the Dingle Peninsula Alliance to present virtual exhibits and online codes to learn about and shop with all your favorite vendors who can’t be here this year.

View The Big E’s video tour of the Dingle Peninsula exhibit >

Please join us at the Irish House Restaurant for a special German Pairing Dinner on October 14 at 6:00 pm; dinner begins at 6:30 pm. Four courses, including Beet Salad, Flammkuchen (German pizza), Rack of Lamb and Black Forest Cake, are paired with four perfectly chosen German beers to accompany the meal.

Tickets are $50 for ICC Patrons, $55 for general public. There is a special ICC Patron presale for the first 7 days – tickets for the public go on sale September 29. General public may call for reservations during this time, and will be placed on a wait list until the presale is over. Seating is limited for this special event – for tickets, please call 413-342-4358.

Download information flyer and full menu.

The Irish Cultural Center is linking up with Irish historian, Sean Murphy, to introduce our community to live, weekly online Irish history courses. The courses are presented using Zoom. If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, no problem. Sean will contact you directly and assist you to get connected.

Sean presents two courses, divided into four-week modules. The first is a chronological general history of Ireland from ancient times to the present day. Students can enroll on a rolling basis for those parts of Irish history they are most interested in or have the time to participate in. The course module for October is The United Irishmen Rebellions of 1798 and 1803. Takes place on Thursdays, October 7, 14, 21 & 28 from 7:30–9:00 pm. Download course flyer. 

The second course is a general history of each of the thirty two counties in Ireland. This covers the major events from ancient times to the present day. A profile of the major clans and of the most famous individuals from the county will be featured. Segments will also focus on historic sites, the county name, landscapes, and music and dance. This course will be particularly useful to those interested in their Irish heritage, seeking to understand their ancestral home, and the reasons their ancestors left. Featured in October is County Clare. Takes place on Thursdays, October 7, 14, 21 & 28 from 6:00–7:30 pm. Download course flyer. 

The enrollment fee is $80 for each four-week course. Courses are presented on Zoom. Each student will receive an electronic copy of each presentation. The classes are one and a half hours long to allow adequate time for questions and answers.

To Enroll
Please contact Sean directly for information or to enroll in his course(s) – send an email to [email protected] or call 508-790-0438.

About Sean Murphy
Sean Murphy was born and reared 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. Over the past twelve years he has taught courses at the Irish Cultural Center of New England in Canton, Cape Cod Sons of Erin, Cape Cod Cultural Center, the Cotuit Center for the Arts, and at venues on Nantucket.

His interest in Irish history and culture stems from his involvement in a wide range of community activities in Ireland starting in the late ’60’s. In 1998 he was elected as the representative of the community and voluntary sector on the Dublin City Development Board that produced the strategic Plan “Dublin: A City of Possibilities 2001-2012.”

In 2014 and 2019 he was awarded the Thomas P McCann “Altruism Award” trophy by the Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Committee for his “support and commitment to the Culture and Heritage of Ireland and its people.” He leads a traditional Irish music session in O’Shea’s Old Inne in West Dennis every Sunday night. He speaks on Irish cultural and historic issues at libraries, and at private and community events across the Cape and beyond.

Now you can proudly wear your support for the Irish Cultural Center!

Introducing all new apparel with the ICC logo, in an array of styles and colors you can customize. Our new online store offers tees, polo shirts, light jackets, hoodies, golf shirts and more – the product options will change with the seasons. It’s easy to order online directly with our local supplier.

View the online ICC apparel store and place your order. 

The Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub is hiring! We are looking to add experienced Bartenders, Servers, Greeters and Dishwashers to our team. 

Please contact General Manager Sheri Hannifan for all the details if you or someone you know is interested. Call 413-342-4358 or email [email protected].

The ICC held our annual Lúnasa Feis on August 29. We welcomed over 400 Irish dance competitors and their families and friends. Thank you to our adjudicators, musicians, dancers and families, vendors, our many hard working volunteers, committee members, and the Eastern States Exposition! Special thanks to our Main Stage Sponsor Congressman Richard Neal, and Dance Stage Sponsor Ed Sullivan.

See more photos in our Facebook album > 

Mary Lou (Sullivan) Connolly lived the first 14 years of her life on Newbury Street in the Hungry Hill neighborhood of Springfield, Massachusetts. Her unique experiences growing up in this primarily working class, Irish Catholic section of the city shaped her childhood. She decided to commit her wonderful memories to paper— hence, Growing Up Irish, Memories of a Hungry Hill Childhood.

In her book, Mary Lou shares stories of the characters and events that were an integral part of her childhood in the 50’s and 60’s, including memories of her Irish immigrant grandparents, her parents and three brothers, friends, and her Catholic education. Full of self-deprecating humor and warmth, this book is about a special childhood in a special time and place.

Mary Lou is a graduate of Cathedral High School in Springfield, St. Francis Nursing School in Hartford, Boston College (BSN), and Boston University (MSN). She practiced nursing in a variety of settings and ended her 40-plus year career managing a home health consulting business. 

After living in the Boston area for several years, she met and married her husband Barry and following a short stay in Dearborn, Michigan, moved to Del Mar, California where they raised their children Meaghan and Michael.

Growing Up Irish, Memories of a Hungry Hill Childhood can be purchased online.

This past April, the Irish Cultural Center mourned the loss of our longtime friend, Patron, and advocate of the ICC, Steve Goldthwaite. Steve was an integral part of the Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub as a bartender, always ready with a smile or a joke from behind the bar. Steve’s family will be holding a celebration of life memorial with memories, music, and drinks at the ICC on August 21, from 12–4 pm. Our ICC Patrons and restaurant customers are welcome to attend to raise a glass and remember Steve’s kindness and friendship. Please RSVP to [email protected].

The Irish Cultural Center is linking up with Irish historian, Sean Murphy, to introduce our community to live, weekly online Irish history courses. The courses are presented using Zoom. If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, no problem. Sean will contact you directly and assist you to get connected.

Sean presents two courses, divided into four-week modules. The first is a chronological general history of Ireland from ancient times to the present day. Students can enroll on a rolling basis for those parts of Irish history they are most interested in or have the time to participate in. The course module for September is The Protestant Ascendency and the Penal Laws: Late 17th and 18th Century Ireland. Takes place on Thursdays, September 9, 16, 23 & 30 from 7:30–9:00 pm. Download course flyer. 

The second course is a general history of each of the thirty two counties in Ireland. This covers the major events from ancient times to the present day. A profile of the major clans and of the most famous individuals from the county will be featured. Segments will also focus on historic sites, the county name, landscapes, and music and dance. This course will be particularly useful to those interested in their Irish heritage, seeking to understand their ancestral home, and the reasons their ancestors left. Featured in September is County Galway. Takes place on Thursdays, September 9, 16, 23 & 30 from 6:00–7:30 pm. Download course flyer. 

The enrollment fee is $80 for each four-week course. Courses are presented on Zoom. Each student will receive an electronic copy of each presentation. The classes are one and a half hours long to allow adequate time for questions and answers.

To Enroll
Please contact Sean directly for information or to enroll in his course(s) – send an email to [email protected] or call 508-790-0438.

About Sean Murphy
Sean Murphy was born and reared 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. Over the past twelve years he has taught courses at the Irish Cultural Center of New England in Canton, Cape Cod Sons of Erin, Cape Cod Cultural Center, the Cotuit Center for the Arts, and at venues on Nantucket.

His interest in Irish history and culture stems from his involvement in a wide range of community activities in Ireland starting in the late ’60’s. In 1998 he was elected as the representative of the community and voluntary sector on the Dublin City Development Board that produced the strategic Plan “Dublin: A City of Possibilities 2001-2012.”

In 2014 and 2019 he was awarded the Thomas P McCann “Altruism Award” trophy by the Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Committee for his “support and commitment to the Culture and Heritage of Ireland and its people.” He leads a traditional Irish music session in O’Shea’s Old Inne in West Dennis every Sunday night. He speaks on Irish cultural and historic issues at libraries, and at private and community events across the Cape and beyond.