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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Maine Irish Heritage Center
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250925T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250925T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20240912T071407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240912T071407Z
UID:10000533-1758794400-1758808800@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Open Hours!
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is open to the public every Thursday from 10am-2pm! Stop in to take a tour of the building\, do some research on our genealogy station\, or peruse our library collection! \nFor more information\, contact maineirish@maineirish.com!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/open-hours-2-3/2025-09-25/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Hours-Every-Thursday-from-10-to-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251002T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251002T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20240912T071407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240912T071407Z
UID:10000534-1759399200-1759413600@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Open Hours!
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is open to the public every Thursday from 10am-2pm! Stop in to take a tour of the building\, do some research on our genealogy station\, or peruse our library collection! \nFor more information\, contact maineirish@maineirish.com!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/open-hours-2-3/2025-10-02/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Hours-Every-Thursday-from-10-to-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251002T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251002T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250806T213554Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250806T213554Z
UID:10000591-1759424400-1759431600@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Maine Irish Writes: October
DESCRIPTION:We are thrilled to present our inaugural season of Maine Irish Writes\, an inclusive monthly Writer’s Group that will meet 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. \nCheck out the rest of the series dates HERE!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/maine-irish-writes-october-25/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Maine-Irish-Writes-banner-OCT-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20240912T071407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240912T071407Z
UID:10000535-1760004000-1760018400@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Open Hours!
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is open to the public every Thursday from 10am-2pm! Stop in to take a tour of the building\, do some research on our genealogy station\, or peruse our library collection! \nFor more information\, contact maineirish@maineirish.com!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/open-hours-2-3/2025-10-09/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Hours-Every-Thursday-from-10-to-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T210000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250708T212558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250708T212558Z
UID:10000575-1760038200-1760043600@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Maine Irish Reads "A Thread of Violence" by Mark O’Connell
DESCRIPTION:Maine Irish Reads\, our monthly book club\, meets every second Thursday here at the Center!\n\n\n\nFrom 7:30 – 9 PM in the MIHC Library. Bring a friend. The more\, the merrier. \nAbout this month’s book:\n\n\nA NEW YORK TIMES AND ECONOMIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • From the award-winning author comes the gripping tale of one of the most scandalous murderers in modern Irish history\, at once a propulsive work of true crime and an act of literary subversion. \n“A masterpiece”—The Observer • “Disturbing [and] compelling”—Colm Toíbín • “Superb and unforgettable”—Sally Rooney • “Brilliant”—New York Times Book Review • “A masterly work”—John Banville • “Fascinating”—Emmanuel Carrère • “Morally complex and mesmerizing”—Fintan O’Toole \nMalcolm Macarthur was a well-known Dublin socialite.  Suave and urbane\, he passed his days mingling with artists and aristocrats\, reading philosophy\, living a life of the mind. But by 1982\, his inheritance had dwindled to almost nothing\, a desperate threat to his lifestyle. Macarthur hastily conceived a plan: He would commit bank robbery\, of the kind that had become frightfully common in Dublin at the time. But his plan spun swiftly out of control\, and he needlessly killed two innocent civilians. The ensuing manhunt\, arrest\, and conviction amounted to one of the most infamous political scandals in modern Irish history\, contributing to the eventual collapse of a government. \nWinner of the Wellcome and Rooney Prizes\, Mark O’Connell spent countless hours in conversation with Macarthur—interviews that veered from confession to evasion. Through their tense exchanges and O’Connell’s independent reporting\, a pair of narratives unspools: a riveting account of Macarthur’s crimes and a study of the hazy line between truth and invention. We come to see not only the enormity of the murders but the damage that’s inflicted when a life is rendered into story. \nAt once propulsive and searching\, A Thread of Violence is a hard look at a brutal act\, its subterranean origins\, and the long shadow it casts. It offers a haunting and insightful examination of the lies we tell ourselves—and the lengths we’ll go to preserve them.
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/maine-irish-reads-october-2025/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
CATEGORIES:Maine Irish Reads
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Maine-Irish-Reads-Oct-25-banner-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251010T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251010T210000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250825T221152Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183725Z
UID:10000604-1760124600-1760130000@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Irish Rebel Songs Workshop with Davy Holden
DESCRIPTION:Friday\, October 10th\n7:30pm\nDoors open at 7:00pm\nJoin Irish historian\, Davy Holden\, as he dives into the history behind some of Ireland’s greatest rebel songs. Rebel songs are pieces of music which are written about the Irish revolutionary period\, and every Irish rebel song tells a unique story from Ireland’s struggle for independence\, each a testament to the courage and spirit of the Irish people. Whether you’re drawn to history\, music\, or simply a love for Ireland\, this workshop promises to enlighten\, entertain\, and leave you with a greater understanding of Ireland’s fight for freedom. \nGeneral Admission tickets are $20\, and Priority Seating are $30 in advance! Don’t wait to get your tickets\, prices will go up at the door! \nAbout Davy Holden\nMeet Davy Holden\, an Irish historian\, storyteller and video creator hailing from south Kilkenny\, Ireland.\n\nDavy’s journey into the world of Irish history began as a child\, from playing Irish music\, to listening to old stories from his elders\, and being surrounded by various monuments\, memorials and megalithic structures a stone’s throw from his home. With a passion for Irish history and video production\, he started creating Irish history videos in August 2022. Since then\, his social media channels have blown up\, amassing over 680\,000 followers across all platforms.\n\nSince 2023\, Davy has been travelling all over the United States to perform live Irish history workshops and Irish language workshops. He has also given lectures in various universities and schools. In early 2025\, he featured on the RTÉ show\, ‘Nationwide’\, and in early 2026 he will be featuring on the PBS show ‘Ireland With Michael’. Davy’s mission is to make Irish history more accessible\, and to make the history come alive through the lens of his camera – keeping the stories of our ancestors alive.\n\nLearn more at https://davyholdenhistory.com/\n\n\n\nFeaturing music from the incredible Jim Sharkey!\n\nJim grew up in County Roscommon\, Ireland. His songs reflect the Irish tradition as well as singer-songwriter music he grew up listening to. Regarding his original compositions Sean Smith\, BostonIrish Contributor\, November 2024 writes “there’s such an innate gentleness to his music\, a care and concern expressed about our humanity\, on a large and small scale\, and that tenderness is once again abundant on his fourth album\, “Our Old Village”.   \nLearn more at https://www.jimsharkeymusic.com
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/irish-rebel-songs-workshop-with-davy-holden/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Irish-Rebel-Songs-Workshop-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251016T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251016T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20240912T071407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240912T071407Z
UID:10000536-1760608800-1760623200@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Open Hours!
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is open to the public every Thursday from 10am-2pm! Stop in to take a tour of the building\, do some research on our genealogy station\, or peruse our library collection! \nFor more information\, contact maineirish@maineirish.com!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/open-hours-2-3/2025-10-16/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Hours-Every-Thursday-from-10-to-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251016T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251016T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250807T213037Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250807T213037Z
UID:10000601-1760623200-1760630400@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Maine Irish Makes: October
DESCRIPTION:Calling all makers\, artists\, and creators! Maine Irish Makes is a monthly gathering for crafters of all kinds—knitters\, quilters\, beaders\, sketchers\, weavers\, embroiderers\, and beyond. Whether you’re just starting a project or putting the finishing touches on one\, bring your materials and join us for a cozy\, welcoming afternoon of creativity and conversation. \nHeld at the Maine Irish Heritage Center\, this open event is a chance to connect with fellow artists\, share skills\, and form community across crafting traditions. No instruction is provided—just space\, time\, and good company. \nJoin us on the Third Thursday of each month! Free and open to all. Drop in\, bring a friend\, and get making!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/maine-irish-makes-october-25/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Maine-Irish-makes-banner-OCT-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251016T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251016T210000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250916T212737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183729Z
UID:10000608-1760641200-1760648400@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Michael C. Connolly launches 'As the Twig is Bent'
DESCRIPTION:Michael C. Connolly Launches “As the Twig is Bent”\nA Maine Irish Author Event\nThursday\, October 16th\n7:00pm\nDoors open at 6:30pm\nJoin us for an incredible evening with local Maine author and historian Michael Connolly for the launch of his latest novel/memoir “As the Twig is Bent”! \n__________________________________________________________\nAbout the Book\nA boy evolves to a man. What shapes him\, nurtures him\, supports and challenges him? Over the decades from his deep ancestral roots along the rugged West Coast of Ireland to his own beautiful home port in coastal Maine\, the shaping of the boy emerges as he grows and changes. Grandparents he never knew\, loving parents he knew every day; family\, friends\, classmates\, mentors and fellow travelers — all provide love\, guidance\, challenge and support. \nYoung Coley Folan evolves\, gaining insight\, purpose\, wisdom and humor; all of these he passes on to those he cares about. Share this journey with Coley as he explores and traverses this landscape where the confluence of nature and nurture pave the way for him to an inevitable vocation as a teacher and a scholar. \n“Connolly’s characters and experiences are full of vigor and wry humor\, while the occasional missteps always seem to resolve themselves with a happy ending — and another life lesson learned. Coley Folan and his family\, like so many other immigrants\, then and now\, understood the power of education and assimilation — and that experience is often the best teacher.”\n— Rusty and Sue Atwood\, Former Maine Historical Society Trustee\, and retired educators in Gorham\, Maine \n“Rich with humor\, heart\, and hard-earned wisdom\, this is a coming-of-age memoir for anyone who has ever searched for where they truly belong. Connolly’s odyssey is a mirror of a generation longing to find its place in a shifting world.”\n— Jean Haney\, Entrepreneur and Maine Irish Heritage Center volunteer extraordinaire \n“As the ‘new’ Portland\, Maine\, is quickly replacing the old\, Connolly reminds us of the best of what the gritty\, yet graceful ‘old’ neighborhoods of the ‘Forest City’ offered for those lucky enough to have called them home.”\n— Dr. Mark Hibben\, Professor of Political Science at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine \nLearn more at https://tower-pub.myshopify.com/ \n__________________________________________________________\nAbout the Author\nMike Connolly\, 2016 MIHC Claddagh Award recipient\, retired in 2020 from St Joseph’s college of Maine after teaching there for 36 years. Since then\, he has written 3 novels to go along with his three previous works of history. As the Twig is Bent completes the trilogy of the “Folan Family” through the 20th Century in Portland\, Maine. He lives on Munjoy Hill\, two streets from the place of his birth. \n\n\n__________________________________________________________\n\nOther works\nThey Change Their Sky: The Irish in Maine \nJohn Ford in Focus \nSeated by the Sea \nMurky Overhead \nEver the Twain Shall Meet
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/michael-c-connolly-launches-as-the-twig-is-bent-2/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/As-the-twig-is-bent-banner-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251019T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251019T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20251001T004755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T004755Z
UID:10000611-1760882400-1760889600@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Community Town Hall
DESCRIPTION:Sunday\, October 19th\n2-4pm\nAt the MIHC\nJoin us for an afternoon of conversation and community.\n\nThe Maine Irish Heritage Center Board of Directors and staff have been working closely with professional consultants to chart a vision for our future. Much of this work has been shaped already by input from our earlier July survey\, and we want to hear from you again–or for the first time–as we move towards the final stages of the new Strategic Plan.\n\nAt this Community Town Hall\, we’ll gather for tea and snacks and engage in a facilitated conversation about the future of the MIHC. As members of our valued community\, your ideas and insights are essential in shaping the next chapter of our work to preserve our historic building\, celebrate Irish culture\, and serve as a true community center.\n\nDuring the meeting\, you will have an opportunity to review what has been drafted so far and give feedback through a series of activities\, facilitated discussions\, and breakout groups. Input collected by our outside facilitators Rachel Hodges and Robin O’Brien will be used by the Board to shape the final draft of the strategic plan.\n\nCome share your perspective\, learn about the Center’s progress\, and be part of our forward momentum.\n\nThis event is free and open to all.
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/community-town-hall/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Town-Hall-10.19-1-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251023T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251023T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20240912T071407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240912T071407Z
UID:10000537-1761213600-1761228000@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Open Hours!
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is open to the public every Thursday from 10am-2pm! Stop in to take a tour of the building\, do some research on our genealogy station\, or peruse our library collection! \nFor more information\, contact maineirish@maineirish.com!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/open-hours-2-3/2025-10-23/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Hours-Every-Thursday-from-10-to-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251029T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251029T210000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20251001T010830Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183734Z
UID:10000612-1761764400-1761771600@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Matthew Jude Barker Launches 'Becoming American' and 'The Blue and The Green'
DESCRIPTION:A Maine Irish Author Event\nWednesday\, October 29th\n7:00pm\nJoin us for an exciting evening with local author and historian Matt Barker! \nLimited books will be available at the event\, but we are offering pre-orders that may be picked up at the event! \nPreorder HERE! \nMatt will speak about his new books\, Becoming American\, Portland\, Maine’s Irish and The Making of Immigrant America\, 1840-1861\, and The Blue and The Green\, The Irish of Portland\, Maine During The Civil War Era\, 1861-1870. This era was tumultuous and altered the Irish community of Portland forever. The Great Hunger\, the Great Irish Potato Famine (1845-51); the coming of the railroad and steamships; the Maine Law and Neal Dow’s fanatical battle against alcohol; the rise of the Know-Nothings\, a not so secret nativist group who attacked Irish communities everywhere; the “Rum Riot” of 1855; the Panic of 1857; the creation of the Republican party and their battles with the Democrats; the coming of the Civil War; the countless Portland Irishmen who fought in the war; the Fenians; the Great Fire of July 4\, 1866; and the completion and dedication of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1869) are among the myriad events and issues that appear in these books. Matt will also talk about the social history of the Portland Irish in this era\, including domestic maids\, family life\, the workers of the Portland Company and the Sugar House\, longshoremen\, and social organizations. This era truly was the genesis of the Irish Catholic community of Portland. \nAbout the Author \nMatthew Jude Barker is a lifelong resident of Greater Portland. He has been a genealogical and historical researcher since 1981\, from the age of eight. Since 1996\, he has written Maine history article for multiple publications. Matt was a contributor to\, They Change Their Sky\, The Irish In Maine (2004) and John Ford In Focus (2008)\, as well as two other history books. He is the author of The Irish of Portland\, Maine\, A History of Forest City Hibernians (2014)\, Becoming American (2025)\, and The Blue and The Green (2025). He researched and compiled the Maine Irish Heritage Trail for Acroglobal. Matt is a genealogist and the resident historian at the Maine Irish Heritage Center\, where has been involved since the late 1990s\, when he was a member of the Friends of St. Dominic’s\, working to save the historic Irish church which became the MIHC. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nAbout the Books:\nBecoming American \nThe amazingly transformative years before the American Civil War affected the Portland\, Maine Irish community immensely. That era included the temperance crusade\, the Irish Repeal Society\, the Great Hunger (the Great Famine)\, intense Irish immigration\, prohibition and the fanatical battle Neal Dow fought against King Alcohol\, the Portland Company\, the railroad\, the sugar industry\, the connection via steamers between the city and Great Britain\, the Know-Nothing nativist menace\, abolition\, the rise of the Republicans and their battles with Democrats\, the “Rum Riot\,” – all contributing to the assimilation and rise of the Irish in Portland\, Maine. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nThe Blue and The Green \nThe Blue and the Green: The Irish of Portland\, Maine During the Civil War is the compelling second volume in Matthew Jude Barker’s series on the Irish experience in Maine. Following his acclaimed book Becoming American\, this installment turns to the 1860s\, exploring how Portland’s Irish community navigated one of the most turbulent periods in American history. \nAs the Civil War erupted\, Irish immigrants and their American-born children were faced with a difficult choice-remain on the fringes of society or fight for a country that had not yet fully accepted them. Many enlisted in the Union Army\, joining Irish regiments and the famed Irish Brigade\, seeking both patriotic purpose and social acceptance. Others contributed from the home front\, working in the shipyards\, organizing in churches\, or sending sons and brothers off to war. \nBarker draws from military records\, newspaper accounts\, letters\, and parish archives to tell a vivid\, human story. He introduces us to Irish soldiers from Portland who fought at Antietam\, Fredericksburg\, and Gettysburg\, and explores how the trauma and triumph of war shaped the city’s Irish neighborhoods\, churches\, and civic life. We also see the tensions that arose-between nativists and newcomers\, between North and South sympathizers\, and even within the Irish community itself. \nThis is not just a military history-it is a story of identity\, belonging\, and transformation. Through war\, loss\, and resilience\, Portland’s Irish helped redefine what it meant to be both Irish and American. Their story is one of perseverance and pride\, rooted in both “the Blue” of Union loyalty and “the Green” of Irish heritage. \nRich in detail and narrative power\, The Blue and the Green fills a crucial gap in Civil War and Irish-American scholarship\, making it a must-read for historians\, genealogists\, and anyone interested in Maine’s multicultural roots.
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/matthew-jude-barker-book-launch/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Mat-Barker-Book-Launch-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251030T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251030T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20240912T071121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240912T071121Z
UID:10000500-1761818400-1761832800@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Open Hours!
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is open to the public every Thursday from 10am-2pm! Stop in to take a tour of the building\, do some research on our genealogy station\, or peruse our library collection! \nFor more information\, contact maineirish@maineirish.com! \nPlease note\, for tour groups of 4 or more we require advanced notice to ensure guide availability and proper accommodation. If you’d like to schedule a tour with us\, please fill out this google form HERE!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/open-hours-2-2/2025-10-30/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Hours-Every-Thursday-from-10-to-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251030T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251030T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20240912T071407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240912T071407Z
UID:10000538-1761818400-1761832800@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Open Hours!
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is open to the public every Thursday from 10am-2pm! Stop in to take a tour of the building\, do some research on our genealogy station\, or peruse our library collection! \nFor more information\, contact maineirish@maineirish.com!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/open-hours-2-3/2025-10-30/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Hours-Every-Thursday-from-10-to-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20240912T071407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240912T071407Z
UID:10000539-1762423200-1762437600@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Open Hours!
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is open to the public every Thursday from 10am-2pm! Stop in to take a tour of the building\, do some research on our genealogy station\, or peruse our library collection! \nFor more information\, contact maineirish@maineirish.com!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/open-hours-2-3/2025-11-06/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Hours-Every-Thursday-from-10-to-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250806T214339Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250806T214339Z
UID:10000592-1762448400-1762455600@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Maine Irish Writes: November
DESCRIPTION:We are thrilled to present our inaugural season of Maine Irish Writes\, an inclusive monthly Writer’s 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. \nCheck out the rest of the series dates HERE!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/maine-irish-writes-november-25/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Maine-Irish-Writes-banner-NOV-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251108T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251108T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250725T194037Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250725T194037Z
UID:10000587-1762592400-1762614000@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Annual Celtic Fair 2025
DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, November 8th\n9:00am-3:00pm\nWe are excited to bring back another year of festive holiday fun at our Annual Celtic Fair! Join us as part of the 14th annual State Street Holiday Stroll. \nThe Celtic Christmas Fair features a light luncheon menu\, hot and cold beverages\, baked goods\, a raffle table\, music\, and more. We’ll have featured performances from the incredible Stillson School of Irish Dance! We draw crowds for the beautiful artistry as well as the luncheon and lively entertainment. We hope you can join us for what has become a wonderful holiday tradition. \n  \n  \nVendor Applications are CLOSED! If you are interested in being on our list for next year\, please email events@maineirish.com
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/annual-celtic-fair-2025/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Celtic-Fair-Banner-1-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20240912T071407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240912T071407Z
UID:10000540-1763028000-1763042400@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Open Hours!
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is open to the public every Thursday from 10am-2pm! Stop in to take a tour of the building\, do some research on our genealogy station\, or peruse our library collection! \nFor more information\, contact maineirish@maineirish.com!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/open-hours-2-3/2025-11-13/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Hours-Every-Thursday-from-10-to-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250807T213541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250807T213541Z
UID:10000602-1763042400-1763049600@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Maine Irish Makes: November
DESCRIPTION:Calling all makers\, artists\, and creators! Maine Irish Makes is a monthly gathering for crafters of all kinds—knitters\, quilters\, beaders\, sketchers\, weavers\, embroiderers\, and beyond. Whether you’re just starting a project or putting the finishing touches on one\, bring your materials and join us for a cozy\, welcoming afternoon of creativity and conversation. \nHeld at the Maine Irish Heritage Center\, this open event is a chance to connect with fellow artists\, share skills\, and form community across crafting traditions. No instruction is provided—just space\, time\, and good company. \nJoin us on the Third Thursday of each month! Free and open to all. Drop in\, bring a friend\, and get making! \nPlease note the date change for this month’s meeting to accommodate our event schedule!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/maine-irish-makes-november-25/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Maine-Irish-makes-banner-NOV-1-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T210000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250708T213000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250708T213000Z
UID:10000577-1763062200-1763067600@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Maine Irish Reads "The Sea" by John Banville
DESCRIPTION:Maine Irish Reads\, our monthly book club\, meets every second Thursday here at the Center!\n\n\n\nFrom 7:30 – 9 PM in the MIHC Library. Bring a friend. The more\, the merrier. \nAbout this month’s book:\n\n\nBOOKER PRIZE WINNER • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An “extraordinary meditation on mortality\, grief\, death\, childhood and memory” (USA Today) about a middle-aged Irishman who has gone back to the seaside to grieve the loss of his wife. \n\nIn this luminous novel\, John Banville introduces us to Max Morden\, a middle-aged Irishman who has gone back to the seaside town where he spent his summer holidays as a child to cope with the recent loss of his wife. It is also a return to the place where he met the Graces\, the well-heeled family with whom he experienced the strange suddenness of both love and death for the first time. \nWhat Max comes to understand about the past\, and about its indelible effects on him\, is at the center of this elegiac\, gorgeously written novel—among the finest we have had from this masterful writer.
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/maine-irish-reads-november-2025/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Maine-Irish-Reads-Nov-25-banner-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251115T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251115T210000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250912T202135Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183730Z
UID:10000609-1763235000-1763240400@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Maine Irish Song Project with CASTLEBAY
DESCRIPTION:Castlebay Presents the Maine Irish Song Project\nA CONCERT OF MAINE’S TRADITIONAL IRISH SONGS\nSaturday\, November 15th\n7:30pm\nDoors open at 7:00pm\nMaine’s premier Celtic folk duo Castlebay will present a concert of Maine’s traditional Irish songs at the Maine Irish Heritage Center. 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! \nGeneral Admission is $25\, or you can snag front row seats for $35 – and don’t wait! General Admission will go up to $30 at the door\, and Priority Seating is only available in advance! \nAbout the Artists\n \nJulia 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. \n \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 \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nWant more? Castlebay is holding a workshop at the Center on Sunday\, November 16th from 12-3pm. Click HERE to learn more!\n  \nMany thanks to our Sponsor for this Event:\nHyatt Place Portland Downtown-Old Port Square
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/maine-irish-song-project-with-castlebay/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
CATEGORIES:Performance,Tickteted Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Maine-Irish-Song-Project-Concert-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251116T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251116T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250912T202630Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183733Z
UID:10000610-1763294400-1763305200@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:A Maine Irish Song Project Workshop with Castlebay
DESCRIPTION:A Maine Irish Song Project Workshop with Castlebay\nSunday\, November 16th\n12:00pm-3:00pm\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. \nAbout the Artists\nJulia 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 \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nWant more? Castlebay will be LIVE in concert on Saturday\, November 15th at 7:30pm. Click HERE to learn more!\nMany thanks to our Sponsor for this Event:\nHyatt Place Portland Downtown-Old Port Square
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/a-maine-irish-song-project-workshop-with-castlebay/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Maine-Irish-Song-Project-Workshop-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251120T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251120T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20240912T071407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240912T071407Z
UID:10000541-1763632800-1763647200@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Open Hours!
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is open to the public every Thursday from 10am-2pm! Stop in to take a tour of the building\, do some research on our genealogy station\, or peruse our library collection! \nFor more information\, contact maineirish@maineirish.com!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/open-hours-2-3/2025-11-20/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Hours-Every-Thursday-from-10-to-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251120T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251120T210000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250822T194115Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183723Z
UID:10000603-1763659800-1763672400@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Claddagh Awards 2025
DESCRIPTION:Thursday\, November 20th\, 2025 \nReception begins: 5:30pm \nProgramming begins: 7:00pm \nThe Maine Irish Heritage Center proudly announces the return of the Claddagh Awards\, 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 2025 Claddagh Award to Congresswoman Chellie Pingree\, in recognition of her decades of dedicated public service to Maine. The award will be presented by Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason\, Ireland’s 19th Ambassador to the United States\, who will be making an official visit to Maine.  \nThe evening will also include the presentation of the Halla Cairde Award to Will Woodson and Cait Finley\, recognizing their enduring contributions to our community.  \nGeneral Admission tickets are priced at $100\, and there are ticket sponsorships available for $250 and $500! Members of the Maine Irish Heritage Center may purchase tickets at a $50 discounted price with an exclusive code! For ticketing questions or to obtain your member discount code\, please reach out to events@maineirish.com! \nEvening Program \n5:30 – 6:30 PM | Reception in the Great Hall\nEnjoy a glass of bubbly and conversation in the Great Hall. Surrounded by gorgeous architecture\, stained glass\, and the beautiful music of Maine’s premier Celtic Folk duo\, Castlebay!  \n6:00 PM | Bell Ringing\nGuests are invited to gather as the bell rings out across Portland in honor of our Claddagh Recipient. \n6:00 – 7:00 PM | Food & Bar Open in the Downstairs Function Room\nA festive hour of food\, drinks\, and community. Complete with music from our incredible Halla Cairde inductees\, Will Woodson and Cait Finley!  \n7:00 – 8:00 PM | Awards & Speeches  \n8:00 – 9:00 PM | Social Hour\nAn opportunity to reconnect\, celebrate\, and enjoy community in the spirit of the Claddagh.  \n\n2025 Claddagh Award Recipient: Chellie Pingree \nChellie Pingree never anticipated a life in politics. Living on the offshore island of North Haven\, Maine\, she raised her kids and ran a small business. She served on the school board and as the local tax assessor\, a job no one else in town wanted. But in 1991\, when she was approached about running for State Senate\, she jumped at the chance.  \nShe scored a remarkable upset\, defeating a popular Republican\, and went on to serve four terms in the Maine Senate. But throughout her political career\, from Augusta to Washington and beyond\, the lessons she learned on North Haven have always been her guide: Be accountable to your neighbors\, and always use your common sense.  \nChellie Johnson (she has legally changed her name from “Rochelle”) was born in Minneapolis\, Minnesota\, in 1955\, the youngest of four children. Her father\, Harry\, worked in advertising and her mother\, Dorothy\, was a nurse. Chellie moved to Maine as a teenager\, attended the University of Southern Maine\, and graduated from the College of the Atlantic\, in Bar Harbor. After college\, she moved to North Haven\, an island town of 350 people twelve miles off the coast of Rockland\, to raise her family and make a living.  \nIn 2008\, Chellie was elected to Congress from Maine’s 1st Congressional District—the first woman elected to Congress from that District. She has previously served on the House Rules Committee and Armed Services Committee. She currently sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee\, chairing the Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment\, the Subcommittee on Agriculture\, and Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. She also sits on the House Agriculture Committee.    \nAmong other issues important to Mainers\, Chellie has been an advocate in Congress for reforming federal policy to better support the diverse range of American agriculture—including sustainable\, organic\, and locally focused farming—as well as to reduce food waste. Many provisions from comprehensive legislation she introduced to make these reforms were passed in both the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. She received a 2017 James Beard Leadership Award for her national leadership in food system reform.  \nChellie has also been recognized for her leadership on a number of other issues\, including assisting survivors of military sexual trauma\, strengthening the creative and arts economy\, and helping coastal communities address threats to their future.  \nChellie has three grown children—Asa\, Cecily\, and Hannah\, former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.  \nLearn More about Chellie Pingree here: https://pingree.house.gov/  \n  \nCladdagh Award Presenter: Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason\, Ireland’s 19th Ambassador to the United States \nAmbassador Geraldine Byrne Nason assumed her role as Ireland’s 19th Ambassador to the United States in August 2022. Ambassador Byrne Nason was previously Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations in New York (2017- 22). Previously\, she served as Ambassador to France (2014-17)\, Second Secretary General in the Department of the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) (2011-14)\, Ambassador and Ireland’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU (2005-11))\, and Director of the National Forum on Europe (2004-05).  \nDuring her career\, Ambassador Byrne Nason has served in Brussels\, New York\, Paris\, Vienna and Helsinki. As Second Secretary-General in the Department of the Taoiseach from 2011-2014\, she was the highest ranking female public servant in Ireland. During that period\, she also was Secretary General of Ireland’s Economic Management Council.  \nOn her arrival in New York\, Ambassador Byrne Nason led Ireland’s successful campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council\, and led the New York Security Council team for the 2021-2022 term. Ambassador Byrne Nason was Chair of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for 2018 and 2019. She has also co-chaired high-level political negotiations on the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela and on the ‘Samoa pathway’ for Small Island Developing States.  \nA native of County Louth\, in 2020 Ambassador Byrne Nason was awarded the Freedom of Drogheda\, the town’s highest honour and was the third woman to receive the award of its 35 recipients. In 2014\, Ambassador Byrne Nason was elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy\, Ireland’s highest academic honour. Ambassador Byrne Nason holds an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Maynooth University as well as Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Literature from Saint Patrick’s College in Maynooth (NUIM).  \n  \n2025 Halla Cairde Inductees: Will Woodson and Cait Finley  \nWill Woodson (flute\, uilleann pipes) and Cait Finley (fiddle) play sparky and driving traditional Irish music that’s grounded in the textures and rhythms of the rich Irish-American soundscape of the 1920s and 30s. With roots in the living Irish musical cultures of Boston\, New York City\, and Philadelphia\, and a tremendous admiration for the first generation of recorded Irish musicians\, the duo conjures up the sounds of the dance halls\, vaudeville theaters\, and house sessions central to Irish-American music from the first half of the twentieth century. In 2019\, the two recorded their debut album\, “The Glory Reel” alongside box player and piano accompanist Chris “Junior” Stevens\, which Dan Neely of the Irish Echo called “a fabulous album from three of Irish America’s finest.” During the pandemic years\, the two made “The Phonograph Project”\, a Patreon-supported series examining 78 recordings of traditional Irish music made in New York City in the 1920s and 30s. More recently\, they’ve made musical appearances at the St. Louis Tionól\, the Patrick J. Touhey Memorial Weekend in Boston and the Ward Archives “Archiving Irish America” conference in Milwaukee. Cait and Will live in Portland\, Maine\, and host a regular weekly session at The Continental that starts at 8 pm on Sundays. You can find them online at woodsonfinley.com.  \n  \nPast Claddagh Award Recipients \n\n2019 – George Campbell\, Jr. \n\n\n2018 – David T. Flanagan \n\n\n2017 – Senator Susan Collins \n\n\n2016 – Michael Connolly \n\n\n2015 – Jim Wellehan \n\n\n2014 – Sara J. Burns \n\n\n2013 – Moira Hastings Fuller \n\n\n2012 – Senator George J. Mitchell \n\n\n2011 – William J. Ryan \n\n\n2010 – Cynthia Murray Beliveau \n\n\n2009 – Gerard P. Conley\, Sr. \n\n\n2008 – Governor Joseph E. Brennan \n\nLearn more about past claddagh winners here: https://maineirish.com/videos/  \n  \n\nAbout Castlebay: \nJulia 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 1\,000 songs\, from which the duo have selected and arranged music for performance.  \nIn addition to singing these versions of old Irish music\, Castlebay shares 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  \n  \nThank you to our Sponsors!\nLibrary Sponsors: \nPatricia McDonough Dunn\nRose Window Sponsors:\nRichard Brown & Family\nCoffee By Design\n \nMiss Portland Diner\n \nStained Glass Sponsors:\nJanine Manning\nMary McAleney\nAnn O’Hagan\nLocal #861 of the International Longshoremen Association\nCairde Sponsors:\nMere Point Oyster Co.\nMary Burke\nPeter J. Callnan\nJohn Foley\nJohn J. Hennessy\nJenny & Russ Wolff\nInterested in becoming a sponsor for this event? Click HERE to learn more! \n 
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/claddagh-awards-2025/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Claddagh-SAVE-THE-DATE-Presentation-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251127T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251127T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20240912T071407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240912T071407Z
UID:10000542-1764237600-1764252000@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Open Hours!
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is open to the public every Thursday from 10am-2pm! Stop in to take a tour of the building\, do some research on our genealogy station\, or peruse our library collection! \nFor more information\, contact maineirish@maineirish.com!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/open-hours-2-3/2025-11-27/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Hours-Every-Thursday-from-10-to-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20240912T071407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240912T071407Z
UID:10000543-1764842400-1764856800@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Open Hours!
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is open to the public every Thursday from 10am-2pm! Stop in to take a tour of the building\, do some research on our genealogy station\, or peruse our library collection! \nFor more information\, contact maineirish@maineirish.com!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/open-hours-2-3/2025-12-04/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Hours-Every-Thursday-from-10-to-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250806T214735Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250806T214735Z
UID:10000593-1764867600-1764874800@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Maine Irish Writes: December
DESCRIPTION:We are thrilled to present our inaugural season of Maine Irish Writes\, an inclusive monthly Writer’s 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. \nCheck out the rest of the series dates HERE!
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/maine-irish-writes-december-25/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Maine-Irish-Writes-banner-Dec-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T210000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250708T213611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250708T213611Z
UID:10000576-1765481400-1765486800@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Maine Irish Reads 'Old God’s Time' by Sebastian Barry
DESCRIPTION:Maine Irish Reads\, our monthly book club\, meets every second Thursday here at the Center!\n\n\n\nFrom 7:30 – 9 PM in the MIHC Library. Bring a friend. The more\, the merrier. \nAbout this month’s book:\nRecently retired policeman Tom Kettle is settling into the quiet of his new home\, a lean-to annexed to a Victorian castle overlooking the Irish Sea. For months he has barely seen a soul\, catching only glimpses of his eccentric landlord and a nervous young mother who has moved in next door. Occasionally\, fond memories return of his family: his beloved wife June and their two children\, Winnie and Joe. But when two former colleagues turn up at his door with questions about a decades-old case\, one which Tom never quite came to terms with\, he finds himself pulled into the darkest currents of his past. \nA beautiful\, haunting novel in which nothing is quite as it seems\, Old God’s Time is about what we live through\, what we live with\, and what may survive of us. \nNamed a Best Book of 2023 by the New Yorker\, Washington Post\, NPR\, and Kirkus Reviews \n“You should be reading Sebastian Barry. [He] has a special understanding of the human heart.” —The Atlantic \n“A prose stylist of near-miraculous skill. . . Barry reaches deep into the messenger bag of mystery fiction and turns the whole business inside out . . . marvelous.” —The Washington Post \n“An unforgettable novel from one of our finest writers.” —Douglas Stuart\, author of Shuggie Bain \nFrom the five-time Booker Prize nominee and 2018-2021 Laureate for Irish Fiction\, a virtuosic\, profound novel exploring love\, memory\, grief\, and long-buried secrets
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/maine-irish-reads-december-2025/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
CATEGORIES:Maine Irish Reads
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Maine-Irish-Reads-Dec-25-banner-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251221T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251221T153000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20251127T000116Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251127T000116Z
UID:10000615-1766325600-1766331000@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:Solstice Storytelling at the Maine Irish Heritage Center
DESCRIPTION:The Maine Irish Heritage Center is bringing the cherished Irish tradition of storytelling to Maine this winter! We will have warm drinks\, and the light in the Great Hall on the Solstice is incredible – watch the Stained Glass come to life as we share stories with each other! \nIn days gone by neighbors would gather at night in the local ceili house\, the home of a storyteller. They came for conversation\, and to hear stories of their community\, its history\, old tales handed down by the ancestors\, some music. These gatherings helped build community and preserve the culture and values of the Irish people. \nWe invite you to join us this Solstice in the Great Hall! Bring a story\, a poem\, a song\, or simply come to listen and enjoy an evening among friends—or friends-in-the-making. \nEvent Details:\n\nLocation: 34 Gray Street\, Portland ME\nTime: 2:00pm-3:30pm\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 – come to share or simply to listen\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.glacialsites.com/event/solstice-storytelling-at-the-maine-irish-heritage-center/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/SOLSTICE-Storytelling-banner-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251231T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251231T220000
DTSTAMP:20260403T133606
CREATED:20250827T222716Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183728Z
UID:10000606-1767204000-1767218400@maineirish.glacialsites.com
SUMMARY:New Year's Eve on Irish Time with Bailey's Mistake
DESCRIPTION:Wednesday\, December 31st\n7:00pm\nDoors open at 5:30pm\nCome ring in the New Year at the Maine Irish Heritage Center with Bailey’s Mistake\, a Celtic-inspired\, four-piece folk band from right here in Maine. Known for their pulsing sound driven by bass\, drums\, and guitar\, and lifted by hearty vocal harmonies\, thrilling bagpipes\, and whistle tunes\, Bailey’s Mistake creates an irresistible energy that fills the room. \nDoors open at 5:30; Happy Hour at 6 PM – with opening act Jim Sharkey! The main show starts at 6:50 with a 10-minute countdown to the New Year’s celebration in Dublin at 7 PM. Advance general admission tickets are $35; $45 day of the show. There will be a cash bar with plenty of bubbly available for your New Year’s toast! Grab your friends\, fill a table\, and prepare to rock in the new year! \nAnd come hungry because we will have Noble Barbecue here selling their amazing sandwiches! What better way to ring in the New Year than with great music\, amazing food\, and some good craic. \nWe also have table packages available. These packages include tickets\, light snacks\, a bubbly toast\, and celebratory New Year’s swag! Tables are only available in advance! See below for pricing. \nAbout the Band: Celtic American roots music from Maine’s Bold Coast\n \nBailey’s Mistake is a not-quite-traditional\, Celtic-inspired\, four-piece folk band from Maine. The group mixes traditional music from Ireland\, Scotland and Newfoundland with brand new songs about contemporary life in New England. Bailey’s Mistake’s pulsing sound is driven by bass\, drums and guitar and topped off with hearty vocal harmonies and thrilling bagpipe and whistle tunes. \nBailey’s Mistake is made up of four seasoned musicians who all went to the same rural high school in Maine — aptly named Bonny Eagle. Collectively\, they have about 110 years of touring musical experience. \nTroy R. Bennett plays guitar\, sings soulful lead and writes most of the band’s original songs. Travis Cote learned to play the bagpipes at 10 and thrills audiences with his rhythmic\, majestic sound. Dean Clegg is the band’s inventive percussionist and oversees all technical aspects of every show. Rob Babson plays bass\, sings delicate harmonies and is the band’s musical leader. \nBailey’s Mistake has played gigs all over New England. The band is also recording and releasing one new song\, every month\, throughout 2025. \nThe band takes its name from a legend told for generations along the Maine coast. Back in the 19th century\, there was a certain ship captain named Bailey. He was trying to guide his vessel safely around West Quoddy Head Lighthouse and into Lubec Harbor. Unfortunately\, it was a foggy night and he missed. Instead of safe harbor\, Bailey ran aground in a shallow\, rocky inlet just south of the lighthouse. \nBut rather than face the wrath of the ship’s furious owners in Boston\, Bailey and his crew unloaded the lumber they had on board\, built houses in the cove and settled down with several local ladies. \nTo this day\, on most good maps\, that little harbor is simply labeled “Bailey’s Mistake.” \nLearn more about Bailey’s Mistake: https://www.baileysmistakemusic.com/ \n\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n		\n\n  \nAbout the Opening Act: Jim Sharkey\nJim grew up in County Roscommon\, Ireland. His songs reflect the Irish tradition as well as singer-songwriter music he grew up listening to. Regarding his original compositions Sean Smith\, BostonIrish Contributor\, November 2024 writes “there’s such an innate gentleness to his music\, a care and concern expressed about our humanity\, on a large and small scale\, and that tenderness is once again abundant on his fourth album\, “Our Old Village”.   \nLearn more at https://www.jimsharkeymusic.com \n  \n  \n  \n  \nThe Food!\nWe are so excited to have Noble Pizzeria and Barbecue back at the Center! Come with an empty stomach to make sure you don’t miss out on their delicious sandwiches – for sale 5:30-8:30pm! \n \nA little bit about Noble: \nWe started as a scrappy mobile wood-fired pizza business\, slinging pies at events from upstate New York to the coast of Bar Harbor. We quickly grew into a Maine-inspired\, full service\, wood-fired catering company. Ten years and more than 600 weddings later\, the Fire & Co. flame is still burning strong. \nFrom our love of food\, traditions\, and hospitality\, Noble Barbecue was born. Always searching for better ingredients and techniques\, the Noble crew has taken numerous Southern BBQ “vacations” and East Coast pizza road trips — hard work\, but someone has to do it. \nOver the years\, we’ve watched Portland\, Maine evolve into a culinary highlight of New England. We feel confident that we have the right menu\, experience\, and people to make a new Portland institution in one of the best neighborhoods around. \nLearn more at noblepizzaandbbq.com 
URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/baileys-mistake/
LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Baileys-Mistake-nye-banner-CORRECT-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com
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