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, June 12 from 5:30–6:30 pm at the ICC.

We are reading The Outside Boy by Jeanine Cummins. 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
Ireland, 1959: Young Christopher Hurley is a tinker, a Pavee gypsy, who roams with his father and extended family from town to town, carrying all their worldly possessions in their wagons. Christy carries with him a burden of guilt as well, haunted by the story of his mother’s death in childbirth.

The wandering life is the only one Christy has ever known, but when his grandfather dies, everything changes. His father decides to settle briefly, in a town, where Christy and his cousin can receive proper schooling and prepare for their first communions. But still, always, they are treated as outsiders.

As Christy struggles to find his way amid the more conventional lives of his new classmates, he starts to question who he is and where he belongs. But then the discovery of an old newspaper photograph, and a long-buried secret from his mother’s mysterious past, changes his life forever…

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
No meeting in July. 

The ICC held our 3rd Celtic Music Festival on Saturday, May 10, 2025. This free afternoon festival showcased traditional and popular Irish music in our Trinity Pub and on the outdoor patio. Thank you to the over 200 people who visited the festival throughout the day, in chilly, windy and rainy weather.

Entertainment included Celtic-influenced jam band Kilashandra, Irish rock with Billy Eagan and The Rising, and a traditional Irish music session featuring the weekly Trinity Pub session players. Wake the Dead Donuts provided delicious mini donuts for everyone’s sweet tooth.

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, and all the generous sponsors of the ICC.

See more photos in our Facebook gallery >

Join us at the ICC on Saturday, May 17 at 3 pm for a presentation by photographer Paul Griffin and to view his exhibit The Stones They Left Behind.

The Stones They Left Behind is a photographic presentation of some of the historic remnants of ancient Irish culture that inhabit the natural landscape of that beautiful and enigmatic island. Paul Griffin made this series of black and white infrared photographs during his visits to his ancestral homeland. The photographs of Neolithic  Dolmens and abandoned castles explore the intersection of history and myth, the physical and spiritual and the visual and the unseen.

The twelve black and white images were made using an infrared sensitive camera rendering aspects of the scenes beyond the visible spectrum that our eyes are normally sensitive to.

Photographer Paul Griffin lives in Leeds, MA. He has taught and worked with photography for over fifty years. His work has been exhibited in Paraguay, Washington DC, Thailand, Singapore and Northampton. His photographs have also appeared in books, newspapers, magazines, and online.

The ICC is proud to officially sponsor the UMass Gaelic Football Club. ICC President, Sean Cahillane, said, “We are thankful to be able to support and influence Irish sports, culture and history so directly in the western New England area.”

UMass played their first game at the ICC on April 27 against The College of the Holy Cross. It was great to see the excitement of the first Gaelic football game being played on our field, bringing another important element of Irish culture to the ICC for the whole community to enjoy.

Aidan Skillin, president of the UMass Gaelic Football Club, stated, “We all had a great time yesterday – the ICC was very hospitable and made us feel welcome. It was great to get down there and show what collegiate GAA has to offer. The final score was UMass: 4-5 (17) to HC: 5-1 (16). Hard fought game by both sides.”

Gaelic football has been played in North America ever since Irish immigrants brought this important piece of their cultural heritage with them. The first historical recording of the sport can be found as early as the 14th century. Gaelic football as it is played today dates back to the late 1800s. It combines suspense, skills and speed in an action-packed sport.

ICC Co-Vice President Ed Sullivan is proud of this new partnership. “It was great to see the GAA affiliation between the ICC and the University of Massachusetts Amherst come to fruition on the ICC field yesterday! A tremendous accomplishment by all concerned bringing GAA to Western Massachusetts.”

The National Collegiate Gaelic Athletic Association was established in 2009 by college students to assist in the development of new hurling and Gaelic football teams on college campuses throughout North America. (www.ncgaa.org)

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 10! The Irish Cultural Center presents the return of the our Celtic Music Festival. This free event will feature Billy Eagan and The Rising, plus the Celtic-influenced jam band Kilashandra, and our traditional Irish music session.

Doors and the Trinity Pub bar open at 12 pm. Kitchen opens at 1 pm. Enjoy fresh mini donuts from Wake the Dead Donuts, and a special menu from the Trinity Pub. 

Music Schedule:
• 1–3 pm Kilashandra (patio)
• 3–4 pm Traditional Irish music session (inside the pub)
• 4–6 pm Billy Eagan and The Rising (patio)

Update: the hurling & Gaelic football showcase with Hartford GAA is canceled due to the wet field conditions.  

Free admission. The entertainment takes place in the Trinity Pub and on the covered outdoor patio. Guests are welcome to bring chairs for additional seating on the field. Plus, the kids can jump in our Kerry Castle bounce house!

Presenting Business Sponsor: Westfield Bank. Thanks to all our Sponsors >

This festival is supported by the Mass Cultural Council.

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 May 2025 is The Irish Free State from 1922 to 1937. Takes place on Thursdays, May 15, 22, 29 and June 5 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 May 2025 is The History of County Armagh. Takes place on Thursdays, May 15, 22, 29 and June 5 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 [email protected] or register at www.irishhistory.online.

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.

Springfield resident Rose Boyle has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England. Boyle happily committed to serving, and especially being named to the Cultural Events Committee.

Boyle was born and raised in Springfield, spending 30 years living on Hungry Hill, and still resides in the Atwater Park neighborhood, just a stone’s throw away from her childhood home. Growing up in an Irish community deeply rooted in traditions has kept Boyle connected to the culture throughout her life.

Though currently semi-retired, Boyle has always found joy in staying involved locally. In addition to her involvement on the ICC board, she is the Secretary of the Genesis Spiritual Life and Conference Center in Westfield, which is affiliated with the Sisters of Providence in Holyoke, and is active in the Atwater Park Civic Association. When asked to put her name forward for the ICC Board, she was thrilled to accept and grateful to be voted in.

ICC President Sean Cahillane welcomed Boyle to the board that oversees all aspects of the organization, now in its 26th year.

“I foresee Rose playing a big role in the Events Committee and helping the ICC with the dynamics of opening and promoting the future Community Performance Center,” Cahillane said.

Boyle says, “I look forward to contributing to the board’s work and continuing to strengthen the bonds of our Irish-American community here in western Massachusetts.”

In 1987, she married William Boyle, and they have three adult children and one grandchild.

West Springfield native Caroline Morrissey has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England, bringing with her a wealth of global experience and a deep passion for Irish heritage.

Morrissey, a proud Colby College alumna, earned her Master’s in International Administration with a Policy Focus from the University of Denver. She spent nearly a decade working in post-conflict zones across Africa, most recently serving with President Carter’s The Carter Center in Liberia, before returning to Western Massachusetts just before the pandemic.

Since returning, she has been an active member of the ICC’s Events Committee, where she founded the ICC Book Club—a now-thriving literary group that she continues to moderate monthly. In summer 2024, she took on a larger leadership role by joining the ICC Board of Directors.

ICC President Sean F. Cahillane welcomed Morrissey to the board, recognizing her dedication and breadth of experience.

“Caroline’s passion for cultural engagement, combined with her extensive international work and deep Irish roots, make her a tremendous addition to our leadership team,” Cahillane said. “She has already contributed so much to the ICC, and we’re thrilled to have her guiding us into the future.”

A lifelong traveler who has visited 50 countries, Morrissey takes immense pride in her Irish heritage, with family ties to County Galway, Westmeath and Wexford. She is also the proud new mom of Mae, a beloved presence at the ICC and likely its youngest patron.

In her role on the board, Morrissey will continue to foster community connections and support the ICC’s Capital Campaign, which aims to develop its first-class Community Performance Center to showcase Irish arts, music and culture for generations to come.

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, May 8 from 5:30–6:30 pm at the ICC.

We are reading The Wilderness Way by Anne Madden. 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
Ten years ago Declan Conaghan’s father died in the Great Famine, and since then, Declan has kept his promise to keep his family out of the workhouse. But all that is threatened with the arrival of new landlord, John Adair. Adair is quick to cause trouble and fear among his tenants. When he turns them off his land, Declan has no option but to break his promise…

Declan is in despair until he receives a letter from America offering him the chance of a new life and salvation for his family. But it would mean signing up to the US Army and fighting for Lincoln. Despite knowing nothing of war, or US politics, Declan leaves behind all he knows.

Set against the wild landscapes of Ireland and the turbulent times of the American Civil War, this sweeping narrative takes us on an epic journey to understand the strength and endurance of the human spirit.

Available from several vendors online or your favorite local book shop. Or, check your local library.
• Amazon.com (new) >
• Better Worlds Books (used) >

Anne Madden is visit the ICC in person to discuss her novel on May 4! Register here >

Books for Upcoming Meetings
June 12: The Outside Boy by Jeanine Cummins

The ICC invites you to a special evening with celebrated Irish fiddle player Gerry O’Connor, from County Louth. Unanimously considered a master fiddler by his peers, Gerry tours the world teaching and performing at festivals and prestigious venues, and with the iconic Irish Rovers. Gerry has performed and recorded with his bands Lá Lúgh, Skylark, and Oirialla, and toured and recorded with members of Boys of the Lough, The Chieftains, Bothy Band and more.

This performance on his Northeast tour takes place on Sunday, May 18 at 5:30 pm at the ICC’s Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub. Doors open at 4 pm. Food and drinks will be available for purchase (not included in ticket cost). Guests are encouraged to arrive early if ordering food.

Tickets
Tickets are $25 for current ICC Patrons, and $30 for the general public in the main room. Tickets for the rear room, which has an obstructed view of the show when seated, are $20/ICC Patrons and $25/general (the music can still be heard, and guests may stand in the main room during the show).

Purchase your tickets online or call 413-342-4358.

Joining Gerry is guitarist and singer Kevin McElroy. For the past three decades Kevin has performed regularly with such luminaries as Séamus Connolly, Brendan Tonra and Joe Burke. Gerry’s expressive melodies and Kevin’s tasteful accompaniment come together through a seamless bit of musical alchemy.

This is a seated show, including tables with regular chairs and taller bistro-style, and the bar. Seating location is first come, first served. Please let us know if accessible seating is needed.

About Gerry O’Connor
Originally from Dundalk, Co. Louth, Gerry grew up in a family of musicians, dancers and singers. From an early age Gerry was involved in Irish music, winning numerous All Ireland awards in a range of duets, trios and céilí band titles. Gerry is a four-time winner of the Fiddler of Oriel competition, and in 2018 was awarded the Ceannródaí, the prestigious Bardic Award by Comhaltas for his valued contribution to the Trad Arts. He also launched his second solo album Last Nights Joy and published The Rose in the Gap Dance Music of Oriel from the Donnellan Collection, not heard for a hundred years. His critically acclaimed solo album Journeyman was heralded as a milestone in the recorded music of the Oriel region of South Ulster.

” … this is one fiddler whose pulse is quickened by the sheer delight in the tunes, rather than in the accolades that might accompany them.” – The Irish Times

About Kevin McElroy
Kevin has celebrated Irish traditional music since his teens, singing and playing guitar, fiddle, banjo and mandolin. Kevin had the good fortune to play with and learn from some of Boston’s best Irish musicians, including Brendan Tonra, Mike McDonagh, Larry Reynolds, and the Connaught Céilí Band. Kevin played regularly with Séamus Connolly and has shared the stage with Joe Burke, Paddy Keenan, Jerry O’Sullivan, Father Charlie Coen and Séamus Egan. Kevin performs at many fine venues and festivals across the U.S. and Canada, teaches workshops and hosts concert series. Kevin’s solo performances include traditional songs as well as instrumental pieces played on fiddle, banjo and mandolin.

Presenting Sponsors
Westfield Bank, Freedom Credit Union. Thanks to our Business Sponsors.

All sales are final. Refunds are given ONLY in the event of cancellation by performers.