BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Maine Irish Heritage Center - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Maine Irish Heritage Center REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251019T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251019T160000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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:20260403T134859 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 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T190000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 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 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T210000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 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 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251221T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251221T153000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 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 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251231T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251231T220000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 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 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260106T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260106T190000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 CREATED:20250806T215100Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250806T215100Z UID:10000594-1767718800-1767726000@maineirish.glacialsites.com SUMMARY:Maine Irish Writes: January 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! Please note\, in January we will be meeting on TUESDAY the 6th to accommodate the New Year’s Holiday! \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-january-26/ 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-JAN-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260108T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260108T210000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 CREATED:20250708T213944Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250708T213944Z UID:10000578-1767900600-1767906000@maineirish.glacialsites.com SUMMARY:Maine Irish Reads 'Wild Houses' by Colin Barrett 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:\nThe riotous\, raucous and deeply resonant debut novel from “one of the best story writers in the English language today” (Financial Times) Wild Houses follows two outsiders caught in the crosshairs of a small-town revenge kidnapping gone awry. \nWith his acclaimed and award-winning collections Young Skins and Homesickness Colin Barrett cemented his reputation as one of contemporary Irish literature’s most daring stylists. Praised by the Oprah Daily as “a doyen of the sentence\,” and by the Los Angeles Times as a writer of “unique genius\,” Barrett now expands his canvas with a debut novel that contains as much grit\, plot\, and linguistic energy as any of his celebrated short stories. \nAs Ballina prepares for its biggest weekend of the year\, introspective loner Dev answers his door on Friday night to find Doll English— younger brother of small-time local dealer Cillian English—bruised and in the clutches of Gabe and Sketch Ferdia\, County Mayo’s fraternal enforcers and Dev’s cousins. Dev’s quiet homelife is upturned as he is quickly and unwillingly drawn headlong into the Ferdias’ frenetic revenge plot against Cillian. Meanwhile\, Doll’s girlfriend\, seventeen-year-old Nicky\, reeling from a fractious Friday and plagued by ghosts and tragedy of her own\, sets out on a feverish mission to save Doll\, even as she questions her future in Ballina. \nSet against Barrett’s trademark depictions of small town Irish life\, Wild Houses is thrillingly-told story of two outsiders striving to find themselves as their worlds collapse in chaos and violence. URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/maine-irish-reads-january-2026/ 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-Jan-26-banner-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260201T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260201T140000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 CREATED:20260112T225950Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183742Z UID:10000624-1769950800-1769954400@maineirish.glacialsites.com SUMMARY:Women in Social Services Panel DESCRIPTION:Sunday\, February 1st\n1:00pm-2:00pm\nJoin us for an incredible and lively panel discussion on Women in Social Services in honor of  Brigid’s Day. We will be joined by a group of phenomenal panelists who will discuss their experiences and the current healthcare climate. \nThere will be light food and warm beverages available for purchase. All are welcome for this free event! \nOur Panelists:\nCatherine Cooper\, Suicide Prevention Coordinator for VA Maine\nCatherine Cooper is a clinical social worker with more than 25 years of human services experience. She currently serves as VA Maine’s Program Manager for the Suicide Prevention Program and has been in this role since August 1\, 2022. Previously she was an Emergency Department Social Worker in Massachusetts and has held a variety of leadership positions for agencies serving adults with disabilities\, unhoused individuals and children involved in the child welfare system. Catherine also maintains a small\, part-time private practice as a therapist. She lives with her spouse and their cat in the 1840’s house of their dreams in Augusta. \nHannah Longley\, Clinician and Critical Incident Responder\, Dochas Wellness\nHannah Longley\, LCSW is a mental health clinician\, educator\, and advocate with nearly two decades of experience in crisis intervention\, trauma-informed care\, and statewide systems development. She is the Owner of Dochas Wellness\, LLC\, providing mental health training\, consultation\, and specialized support to organizations and communities across Maine. Hannah serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Central Maine Community College\, where she teaches public safety\, psychology\, and sociology courses and contributes to workforce development in crisis response.\nPreviously\, she was Director of Advocacy and Crisis Intervention at NAMI Maine\, leading statewide training initiatives\, advancing Platinum-level Crisis Intervention Teams\, managing state and federal grants\, and advocating for mental health policy and crisis system reform. Her earlier work includes leadership roles in crisis services and serving as Psychological Health Coordinator for the Maine Army National Guard. Hannah is nationally recognized for her work in law enforcement–mental health collaboration and has received multiple state and national awards. She holds a BA in Psychology from Wheaton College and an MSW from Boston College\nMary Ann Folley\, School social worker\, Bonny Eagle Middle School\nMary Ann Folley\, LCSW. I graduated with my master’s degree in Social Work concentration Child Welfare\, in 2003 from the University of Vermont. While in graduate school\, I started with grassroots social work\, working as a residential counselor for Northeastern Family Institute NFI. Upon graduation\, I went to work for SRS (current day DCF) in Vermont. I remained in that position in Vermont until 2009 when I moved to Maine. I worked for DHHS in Biddeford Maine from 2009 until 2015. After the death of my college friend and colleague Lara Sobel in Vermont\, I began to question the safety of my position. Lara was shot and killed in the parking lot of the DCF office I worked at\, by an angry parent. That same weekend\, a friend and principal at Bonny Eagle Middle School reached out and asked if I would apply for a job at his middle school. Although my heart lay with children in foster care\, I took the chance and got the job. This is my 10th year with Bonny Eagle Middle school as their General Education Social Worker. This means any student\, whether they have a special education identification or not\, can meet with me. We also have 2 other dedicated Special education social workers in our building.  I pull from all of my social work experience and schooling in each position I have held.  I thoroughly enjoy working with students in some of the most challenging schooling years of their life. If I can be a blip on their radar\, that they recall with fondness then I have done my job. \nKiley Wilkens-O’Brien\, Public health strategist\, death doula\, and leader in suicide prevention\, postvention\, and crisis system reform\, Covenstead\nKiley Wilkens-O’Brien is a public health strategist\, death doula\, and nationally recognized leader in suicide prevention\, postvention\, and crisis system reform. Her work bridges frontline care and systems change\, grounded in a deep commitment to dignity\, consent\, and meaning-making. She has led the development of Maine’s Suicide Mortality Review initiative\, supported the launch of 988 and oversaw creation of novel community-based crisis services\, such as the Living Room Crisis Center and Children’s Behavioral Health Urgent Care. She advises state and national partners on ethical\, person-centered approaches to distress. Through her community practice\, Covenstead\, she creates spaces for honest conversations about grief\, survival\, and the realities of being human. URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/women-in-social-services-panel/ LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States CATEGORIES:Community ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/BD-panel-26-banner-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260201T143000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260201T163000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 CREATED:20251222T235329Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183737Z UID:10000616-1769956200-1769963400@maineirish.glacialsites.com SUMMARY:Multigenerational Writing Workshop with Irish Author Áine Greaney DESCRIPTION:In collaboration with The Telling Room!\nSunday\, February 1st\n2:30-4:30pm\nAll are welcome\, entry is free!\nJoin us at the Center for an exciting afternoon of storytelling and reflection with acclaimed Irish author Áine Greaney\, in partnership with The Telling Room. This multigenerational writing workshop invites participants to come just as they are—no prior writing experience required! \nRooted in the spirit of Imbolc\, this session will explore themes of looking back and looking forward\, drawing inspiration from personal memory\, family stories\, and hopes for the season ahead. The workshop will include guided writing prompts\, followed by an optional sharing circle. Áine will also share selections from her own work\, alongside participants who wish to read aloud. \nDesigned for middle schoolers and up\, this program is ideal for individuals\, families\, and friends who want to write together across generations. Expect an encouraging\, accessible environment that centers voice\, story\, and connection. All are welcome\, however\, and we will have activities for any young friends who may not be ready to engage in the writing but wish to attend! \nDetails:\n At the Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray Street\, Portland Maine\n 2:30–4:30 PM\nCoffee\, tea\, hot cocoa\, juice\, and light snacks will be provided! \nThis is a special opportunity to take a workshop with Áine Greaney and engage directly with an internationally published Irish writer in an intimate\, community-centered setting. \nAbout Áine Greaney: \nÁine Greaney grew up on a small farm in County Mayo\, Ireland. In the late 1980s\, she joined the 200\,000 (approximately) young Irish who left their native land to emigrate to the U.S.\, the U.K. and elsewhere. \nGreaney’s fifth published book\, “Trespassers and Other Stories” was released in spring 2025 and is now available to order from the publisher and wherever good books are sold. Trespassers is a transatlantic collection of literary stories about characters (mostly women) who feel perpetually displaced or stuck in misfit places. \nIn America\, Greaney’s work has been cited in “Best American Essays\,” and her second novel\, “Dance Lessons” was named a “great group read” by the Women’s National Book Association. Her essay\, “Sanctuary” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. \nIn addition to her books (Simon & Schuster\, Writers Digest/Penguin Random House\, Syracuse UP)\, her essays\, features and stories have appeared in Creative Nonfiction\, The Boston Globe Magazine\, The New York Times\, Books Ireland\, KevinMD\, Another Chicago Magazine\, NPR’s WBUR Radio\, Salon\, The Mindful Word\, IMAGE Magazine\, The Irish Times\, The Wisdom Daily\, Pulse: Voices from the Heart of Medicine\, Tendon\, Johns Hopkins Center for Medical Humanities and many other publications. \nA trained teacher with a master’s degree in English and certified in leading expressive writing workshops\, she has designed and led creative and wellness writing events for 20+ years. \nLearn more about Aine Greaney: https://www.ainegreaney.com/ \nAbout the Telling Room: \nThe Telling Room was founded in 2004 by three writers—Sara Corbett\, Mike Paterniti\, and Susan Conley—who imagined that getting in touch with the youth of Portland and their stories could be like putting your ear to a seashell and hearing the whole ocean. They were right! \nEnthusiasm and demand for our programs grew exponentially—The Telling Room now works with over 2\,500 young writers each year\, reaching students and teachers from over 50 schools and serving more than 100 communities across the state of Maine annually. \nOur accomplishments have been recognized with awards and major funding from the National Endowment for the Arts\, the Maine Alliance for Arts Education’s Imagination Intensive Communities program\, Maine Arts Commission\, and the Maine Humanities Council among many others. \nIn November 2015\, our Young Writers & Leaders program won a prestigious National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award as one of the top 12 youth arts and humanities programs in the nation. In 2024\, we were awarded the Golden Apple Award by the Maine Education Association. \nLearn more about the amazing organization and the programs they offer here: https://www.tellingroom.org \n  \nGenerously Sponsored by Holiday Inn by the Bay! URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/multigenerational-writing-workshop-with-irish-author-aine-greaney/ LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Telling-Room-Writers-Workshop-1-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260203T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260203T203000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 CREATED:20260112T215718Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183740Z UID:10000622-1770143400-1770150600@maineirish.glacialsites.com SUMMARY:Maine Irish Author Talk: Betsy Cornwell DESCRIPTION:In conversation with Patrisha McLean\nTuesday\, February 3rd\, 2026\n6:30pm\nDoors open at 6:00pm\n  \nJoin us for another Brigid’s Day program: a Maine Irish Author Talk with Betsy Cornwell! Focusing on her new memoir\, “Ring of Salt\,” Betsy will be in conversation with Patrisha McLean\, founder of Finding our Voices. We will have books for sale (and signing!) at the event from Print: A Bookstore! \n  \nAbout the Author:\nBetsy Cornwell is a New York Times bestselling author of six novels and founder of The Old Knitting Factory\, an arts residency and retreat space for single parents in Connemara. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Notre Dame and a BA from Smith College\, and currently teaches at the University of Galway. She serves as a mentor for the Irish Writers Centre and was the first recipient of their Blue Mountains (Australia) Residency in 2023. \nLearn more here: https://www.betsycornwell.com/about \n  \n\n\nAbout the Book:\n“Extraordinarily moving\, exquisitely written and socially revolutionary”—The Irish Times \n“Ring of Salt is so vast and tender and urgent\, it’s almost like reading a novel. I couldn’t put it down. I haven’t cheered for a heroine like Betsy in ages.” —Jen Hatmaker\, author of Awake \nFor readers of Maggie Smith and Stephanie Land\, an inspiring and lyrical memoir about a writer and mother who flees an abusive marriage and must learn to reclaim the story of her life through a search for home on Ireland’s wild\, western coast. \nAt twenty-four\, Betsy Cornwell runs away to Ireland for a fresh start. Leaving behind a painful past\, she chases her dream of becoming a novelist to the misty shores of the Aran Islands. There she meets a handsome and charming horse trainer\, and her life takes on the glow of a fairy tale when they elope to Gretna Green. \nFive years later\, her happy ending has twisted into a nightmare. Betsy is trapped in an abusive marriage\, isolated and afraid with a newborn baby. On her son’s first birthday\, she must flee home again\, this time turning to the women around her—her local survivor support group\, a trusted family friend\, and an online Smith College alumnae network—for help she’d never known she could ask for. \nAfter a brush with homelessness\, she struggles to scrape together a living for herself and her son. On sleepless nights\, she scrolls through real estate listings that might as well be castles in the air\, and starts to foster an impossible dream: What if she could use her writing to buy a home\, one that no one could take away from her and her baby? One that might become a haven\, not just for her family\, but other single parent artists and writers\, too? \nWhen she discovers a historic knitting factory and former cinema on Ireland’s rugged Connemara coastline\, left empty and crumbling for years\, that precarious dream becomes her lifeline. Over the next two years she works to crowdfund the old knitting factory’s purchase by sharing its story and her own\, in candid posts that range from the unexpectedly steep learning curves she encounters with home renovations and internet dating\, to her heartbreaking fight to keep custody of her son\, with her growing online community. But as the deadline to buy nears\, she realizes she will have to reckon with everything she believes about family\, survival\, and what happily-ever-after truly means for her dream to have any chance of coming true. \nRing of Salt combines a powerful and relatable narrative of survivorship and healing with lush writing about the windswept landscapes and rich mythology of rural Ireland to craft a real-world fairy tale about the ordinary\, but no less life-changing\, forms of magic we can all access: vulnerability\, community\, and the power of telling your own story. \n\nAbout Patrisha McLean:\nPatrisha McLean is the Founder+CEO of the grassroots nonprofit Finding Our Voices which is breaking the silence of domestic abuse across Maine.. She is also the host of the Let’s Talk About It podcast that is conversations with survivors of domestic abuse\, and an online book club featuring authors talking about the domestic abuse in their books\, lives\, countries. \nBetsy Cornwell is the guest of the online Finding Our Voices Book Club on March 24 at 1 p.m. Info and sign-up is here: https://findingourvoices.net/book-club \n  \nAbout Finding Our Voices:\nFinding Our Voices is the grassroots nonprofit breaking the silence of domestic abuse across Maine as well as providing resources and peer-support to women survivors. Its programs include preventive and educational outreach to students; access to donated dental care; financial assistance; and online support groups and Healing Together retreats. For more information visit https://findingourvoices.net \n  URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/maine-irish-author-talk-betsy-cornwell/ LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States CATEGORIES:book-talk ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Betsy-Cornwell-Banner-1-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260205T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260205T190000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 CREATED:20250806T215429Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250806T215429Z UID:10000595-1770310800-1770318000@maineirish.glacialsites.com SUMMARY:Maine Irish Writes: February 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-february-26/ 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-FEB-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260206T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260206T213000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 CREATED:20251230T230228Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183739Z UID:10000618-1770406200-1770413400@maineirish.glacialsites.com SUMMARY:Brian Conway & Brendan Dolan Live in Concert DESCRIPTION:Friday\, February 6th\n7:30pm\nDoors open 7:00pm\nJoin us for an evening of incredible music from two legendary artists: Brian Conway and Brendan Dolan! Don’t miss your chance to immerse yourself in some traditional Irish tunes. General Admission tickets are $25\, or you can snag priority seating for just $35! Don’t wait – General Admission prices go up at the door\, and priority seating is only available in advance! \nAbout the Artists:\nBrian Conway:\nNew York born fiddler Brian Conway is a leading exponent of the tastefully ornamented Sligo fiddling style made famous by the late Michael Coleman. The winner of two All- Ireland junior titles in 1973 and 1974 and the All-Ireland senior championship of 1986\, Brian’s early studies were with his father Jim of Plumbridge\, County Tyrone and with Limerick born fiddler/teacher Martin Mulvihill. However\, it was the legendary fiddler and composer Martin Wynne who taught him the real secrets of the County Sligo style. Later\, Brian met and befriended the great Andy McGann of New York\, a direct student of Michael Coleman\, who further shaped his precision and skill on the instrument. \nIn 1979\, Brian recorded a duet album\, The Apple In Winter (Green Linnet) with fellow New York fiddler Tony Demarco. He released his debut solo CD\, First Through the Gate\, on the Smithsonian-Folkways label in July 2002. This CD was voted the Album of the Year by the Irish Echo. Brian is also featured on the CD\, My Love is in America\, recorded at the Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival\, and on the documentary “Shore to Shore” which highlights traditional Irish music in New York. He is considered one of the musical rocks of the New York area. \nIn 2007\, Brian released a CD titled A Tribute to Andy McGann on the prestigious Irish Label Cló Iar-Chonnachta. This CD pairs up Irish Music legends Joe Burke and Felix Dolan along with Brian in a CD which has received glowing accolades since its release in the summer of 2007. Brian followed this CD with a much-anticipated Solo CD titled “Consider the Source” in deference to the rich environment from which Brian learned his music. This CD was released in 2008 on the Cló Iar-Chonnachta Label. This CD features guest appearances by music greats Niamh Parsons\, Dan Milner\, Billy McComiskey\, Joannie Madden\, Felix Dolan\, and Brendan Dolan. Earle Hitchner of the Irish Echo described this CD as “Easily one of the best releases this year.” Brian followed up that recording with the highly acclaimed Pride of New York\, and last year\, in 2017\, recorded with the group Gailfean\, featuring John Whelan\, Mairtin DeCogain and Don Penzien. \nBrian remains faithful to the rich tradition handed down to him. The distinctness of his tone\, the lift of his playing\, and the deft ornamentation he brings to the tunes have placed him among the finest Irish fiddlers of any style\, Sligo or otherwise. He has performed all over North America from San Francisco to New York and places in between\, such as Chicago\, Milwaukee and Colorado. His talents have also been enthusiastically received throughout Ireland and the rest of Europe. He is also considered one of the premier instructors of traditional Irish music who has mentored many fine fiddle players\, including several who have gone on to win All-Ireland championships. \nLearn more at www.brianconway.com \n“Certainly one of the finest Irish-American musician fiddlers…”\n– Dirty Linen Magazine  \nIrish Echo’s Top Trad Artist for 2008 \nBrendan Dolan:\nBrendan is the son of legendary pianist\, Felix Dolan\, and set dancer\, Joan Dolan. Brendan learned his music from his parents while growing up in Golden’s Bridge\, NY. playing frequently at events with their neighbors\, Eugene and Celia Clancy and their children at Irish events around Westchester County.  While at college at Brown University\, Brendan connected with local musicians in Providence\, Rhode Island and became passionate about the music.  With New York transplant\, Jimmy Devine and his student Tina Lech\, Brendan began playing ceilis and occasional sessions with the Providence Ceili Club.  After graduation\, Brendan starting playing regular ceilis with accordionist Kevin Killeen at St. Mary’s in Woodside where he was encouraged by accordion great\, Gerry Lynch. \nThroughout the 1990s\, Brendan worked in advertising and played ceilis\, sessions and concerts on the weekends\, most often with accordionist\, Patty Furlong and Mayo native fiddler\, Fiona Doherty.  At the same time\, Brendan regularly played for dance competitions along with his father throughout the year. \nDuring this time\, Brendan learned the whistle and the flute from his father and from the great flute players\, Joanie Madden and Catherine McEvoy.  He got to know and play with many of the great New York musicians such as Eamon O’Leary\, Patrick Ourceau and Dana Lyn playing sessions at places like Mona’s and The Scratcher. \nIn the late 90s\, Brendan went back to school to study music at SUNY New Paltz and music education at Queens College.  After teaching at St. John’s Preparatory School in Astoria and at Franklin Central School in Franklin\, NY\, Brendan began teaching Irish music at the Mineola Irish Center and the New York Irish Center in Long Island City. He also started teaching and coaching groups in the Pearl River assisting the great musicians and teachers\, Rose Flanagan\, Margie Mulvihill and Patty Furlong. \nAfter earning a Master’s degree in Irish Studies at NYU\, Brendan spent the next three years as the main archivist on the Mick Moloney Irish-American Music and Popular Culture Collection. \nHe is currently Music Director at Avenues: The World School in Manhattan\, while continuing to play and teach Irish music. \nOver the years\, Brendan has recorded with Patrick Ourceau\, Patty Furlong\, Kathy Ludlow and Mary Coogan\, Billy McComiskey\, Brian Conway\, Mick Moloney and The Green Fields of America and the Pride of New York\, of which he is a member. \nBrendan also taught at the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins West Virginia\, and continues to teach at the Irish Arts Week in East Durham\, New York. \n  URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/brian-conway-and-brendan-dolan/ LOCATION:Maine Irish Heritage Center\, 34 Gray St\, Portland\, ME\, 04102\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/wp-content/uploads/Brian-Conway-Brendan-Dolan-banner-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T210000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 CREATED:20250708T214235Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250708T214235Z UID:10000579-1770924600-1770930000@maineirish.glacialsites.com SUMMARY:Maine Irish Reads 'These Days' by Lucy Caldwell 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:\nTwo sisters\, four nights\, one city. \nApril\, 1941. Belfast has escaped the worst of the war – so far. Over the next two months\, it’s going to be destroyed from above\, so that people will say\, in horror\, My God\, Belfast is finished. \nMany won’t make it through\, and no one who does will remain unchanged. \nFollowing the lives of sisters Emma and Audrey – one engaged to be married\, the other in a secret relationship with another woman – as they try to survive the horrors of the four nights of bombing which were the Belfast Blitz\, These Days is a timeless and heart-breaking novel about living under duress\, about family\, and about how we try to stay true to ourselves. \nThese Days won both the 2023 Walter Scott Prize For Historical Fiction and the 2022 E. M. Forster Award URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/maine-irish-reads-february-2026/ 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-Feb-26-banner-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260220T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260220T200000 DTSTAMP:20260403T134859 CREATED:20251126T234543Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251126T234543Z UID:10000614-1771612200-1771617600@maineirish.glacialsites.com SUMMARY:POSTPONED: The Irish Famine Immigrant Experience on Staten Island DESCRIPTION:This event has been postponed due to inclement weather! Stay tuned for a new date!\nThe Irish Famine Immigrant Experience on Staten Island:\nA Lecture with Loretto Leary\nFriday\, February 20th\n6:30pm\nDoors open at 6:00pm\nIn the wake of the Great Irish Famine\, thousands of men\, women\, and children crossed the Atlantic in search of survival and opportunity. For many\, the Port of New York represented the promise of a new beginning. Yet for countless others\, it marked the tragic end of their journey. \nAt the Staten Island Marine Hospital and Quarantine Station—now the site of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal—thousands of famine immigrants perished shortly after arrival. Their suffering and resilience are commemorated in two nearby burial grounds that remain vital to understanding this chapter of Irish and American history. \nJoin Loretto Leary on Friday\, February 20th at the Maine Irish Heritage Center at 6:30 PM for an illuminating exploration of Staten Island’s profound connection to the Irish Famine immigrant story and the enduring legacy of those who never reached the lives they dreamed of. \nAbout the Speaker:\nLoretto Horrigan Leary\, originally from Portumna\, County Galway\, has made her home in Connecticut for over three decades. A seasoned educator\, she has taught Language Arts at the elementary and middle school levels in Darien\, New Canaan\, Norwalk\, and Stamford. \nAs a freelance journalist\, her writing has appeared in publications such as The Irish Echo\, Irish Central\, Irish Examiner USA\, and Australia’s Irish Scene. \nCurrently\, Loretto serves as Educational and Cultural Director of Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum of Fairfield and is also Co-Chair of the Connecticut–Ireland Trade Commission. \nLoretto is pursuing her PhD at Trinity College Dublin\, where her research focuses on Irish American Famine memory and the memorial landscapes of New York\, with particular attention to Staten Island’s role in this transatlantic story of loss\, survival\, and remembrance. URL:https://maineirish.glacialsites.com/event/the-irish-famine-immigrant-experience-on-staten-island/ 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-Famine-Lecture-banner-postponed-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Maine Irish Heritage Center":MAILTO:maineirish@maineirish.com END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR