Maine Irish Author Talk: Betsy Cornwell
2026-02-03 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
In conversation with Patrisha McLean
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026
6:30pm
Doors open at 6:00pm

Join 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!

About the Author:
Betsy 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.
Learn more here: https://www.betsycornwell.com/about

About the Book:
“Extraordinarily moving, exquisitely written and socially revolutionary”—The Irish Times
“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
For 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.
At 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.
Five 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.
After 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?
When 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.
Ring 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.

About Patrisha McLean:
Patrisha 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.
Betsy 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

About Finding Our Voices:
Finding 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

Maine Irish Writes: February
2026-02-05 17:00 - 19:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
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!
Led 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.
Check out the rest of the series dates HERE!

Brian Conway & Brendan Dolan Live in Concert
2026-02-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Friday, February 6th
7:30pm
Doors open 7:00pm
Join 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!
About the Artists:
Brian Conway:
New 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.
In 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.
In 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.
Brian 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.
Learn more at www.brianconway.com
“Certainly one of the finest Irish-American musician fiddlers…”
– Dirty Linen Magazine
Irish Echo’s Top Trad Artist for 2008
Brendan Dolan:
Brendan 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.
Throughout 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.
During 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.
In 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.
After 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.
He is currently Music Director at Avenues: The World School in Manhattan, while continuing to play and teach Irish music.
Over 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.
Brendan 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.

Maine Irish Reads 'These Days' by Lucy Caldwell
2026-02-12 19:30 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Maine Irish Reads, our monthly book club, meets every second Thursday here at the Center!

From 7:30 – 9 PM in the MIHC Library. Bring a friend. The more, the merrier.
About this month’s book:
Two sisters, four nights, one city.
April, 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.
Many won’t make it through, and no one who does will remain unchanged.
Following 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.
These Days won both the 2023 Walter Scott Prize For Historical Fiction and the 2022 E. M. Forster Award

POSTPONED: The Irish Famine Immigrant Experience on Staten Island
2026-02-20 18:30 - 20:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
This event has been postponed due to inclement weather! Stay tuned for a new date!
The Irish Famine Immigrant Experience on Staten Island:
A Lecture with Loretto Leary
Friday, February 20th
6:30pm
Doors open at 6:00pm
In 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.
At 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.
Join 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.
About the Speaker:
Loretto 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.
As a freelance journalist, her writing has appeared in publications such as The Irish Echo, Irish Central, Irish Examiner USA, and Australia’s Irish Scene.
Currently, 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.
Loretto 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.

Irish Day at the Maine Celtics
2026-03-01 12:00 - 17:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Maine Celtics vs. Windy City Bulls

March 1st, 2026 at 12:00 PM

Portland Exposition Building, 239 Park Ave, Portland, ME 04102

Purchase Deadline: Feb 15, 2026 11:59 PM EST

The Maine Celtics are excited to host the Maine Irish Heritage Center on March 1 at 12 PM as we take on the Windy City Bulls at the Portland Expo! All tickets purchased through this special ticket offer will include a FREE Maine Celtics Hat!
*$5 from every ticket purchased will be donated back to the Maine Irish Heritage Center!
You will receive an order confirmation email from letsgo@fevo.com immediately after your purchase. All tickets are mobile. All sales are final.
You will receive an email before the game with instructions on how to pick up your free hats at the game.
Get your tickets here: https://www.gofevo.com/event/MIHC25

Maine Irish Writes: March
2026-03-05 17:00 - 19:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States

Paul Byrom LIVE in Concert
2026-03-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Friday, March 6th
7:30pm
Doors open at 7:00pm
***Meet & Greet after the Show!***
Following the huge success of his 40 city tour with Celtic Thunder, original member, Paul Byrom returns to America this March with his own solo tour “Songs From Home”. Performing many fan favourites from his 8 solo albums and telling endless amounts of stories in between. This is a concert like no other. So whether it’s songs such as Danny Boy, You Raise Me Up, Irelands Call or Isle Of Hope, this is a show that will take you on a journey to the isle across the sea. General Admission tickets are only $40, or score yourself early access to a meet and greet with Paul for only $55!
Get your tickets now: CLICK HERE!

About Paul

Paul Byrom is considered by many to be one of Ireland’s finest crossover tenors. Starting in the business at a very young age, the Dublin-born singer has been in the music industry for over 30 years. Paul has performed in a wide range of productions, from operas and oratorio to recitals and in particular, musical theatre.
After releasing his first album at age 14 (The Golden Voice of Paul Byrom), Paul got a taste for recording studios and soon became a recording artist. Subsequently, he recorded his first major album as a tenor (VELVET), in 2005 and swiftly followed this with his first Christmas album (I’ll Be Home for Christmas) in 2008.
This has led to many appearances on Irish television and national radio stations.
Paul is also very fond of acting and made his onscreen debut in Ireland’s longest-running soap, “FAIR CITY” where he appeared regularly as Maurice the chef for a short stint.
His talent as a singer has taken him far and wide, and some of his many career highlights include performing for dignitaries such as Emperor Akihito of Japan, former Irish Presidents Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson, and more recently, United States President Barack Obama.
In 2007, Paul was approached to become one of the original soloists in the hit show Celtic Thunder. He toured America, Canada and Australia with the group and had six No. 1 World Billboard Chart albums with the group. This allowed Paul to perform on many international TV shows including “The Today Show.”
After leaving the production in 2010 to continue his solo career, his subsequent album (This is the Moment) debuted at No. 1 on the World Billboard charts and was shortlisted for a Grammy nomination.
This has led to a successful solo touring career and he now performs his shows regularly throughout Ireland, North America and Canada. In 2013, Paul filmed his first solo TV special for Public Television, called “This is the Moment Live”, with his orchestra. It has aired throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and indeed at home here in Ireland. Paul followed this up with his 6th studio album, (Thinking of Home) which reached the top of the iTunes, Amazon and World Billboard charts and features two of his own, original songs. He has been named IRISH TENOR OF THE YEAR by the Irish Music Association on two separate occasions.
Paul is an avid sports fan and has been invited regularly over the past 15 years to perform the anthem for the Boston Celtics and again recently he did this on his past tour. He has also performed at six All-Ireland Finals, and at many international rugby games including a recent performance for the Ireland v England game in Dublin. He was hugely honoured to be the official voice on “Ireland’s Call” for the Rugby World Cup in 2011 which has now been streamed over 3 million times.
Despite 2020 being a catastrophic year for many in the music and entertainment business, Paul released his biggest album to date with a full 65 piece orchestra (What I Did for Love). The album showcases Paul in his best light. What I Did For Love is his most crossover album to date and debuted in the top ten IMRO charts and no.1 on iTunes.
Paul’s latest album BY CONTRAST is as the title suggests, completely different to the previous, in that it is an acoustic album with some of his favourite Irish and crossover songs on it.
2025 has picked up where he left off with a recent tour of North America and will be returning to Celtic Thunder this Autumn after 15 years to tour with them for two months across America.
Learn more at https://paulbyrom.ie/

Shalom and Shamrocks: an Irish-Jewish Corned Beef Feast (SOLD OUT)
2026-03-08 17:00 - 19:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
This event is SOLD OUT!
Sunday, March 8, 2026
5:00 PM
At the Maine Irish Heritage Center
Irish corned beef dinner or Jewish corned beef sandwich on rye? Why choose one when you can have both?
Join the Maine Jewish Museum and the Maine Irish Heritage Center for our second annual Shalom & Shamrocks, a festive, flavor-forward evening celebrating shared foodways, music, and immigrant histories — bringing together the luck of the Irish and the chutzpah of the Jews for a joyful night in Portland.
What’s on the menu (literally):
Corned beef, cabbage, and colcannon alongside a Jewish deli buffet — plus red ale and Dr. Brown’s.
And for dessert? Guinness brownies and black-and-white cookies, because Irish-Jewish harmony is sweet.
The story behind the feast:
Did you know the iconic Irish corned beef dinner has Jewish roots?
In the early 20th century, Irish and Jewish immigrants often lived side by side in American cities. Irish immigrants noticed that the corned beef enjoyed by their Jewish neighbors was similar to bacon — but cheaper and more accessible. Kosher butchers, in fact, counted nearly as many Irish customers as Jewish ones.
In that spirit, Shalom & Shamrocks brings together people of all backgrounds to celebrate shared immigrant experiences through food, music, and memory, right here in Portland.
Live music & special guests

Klezmer musicians
Will Woodson (flute, uilleann pipes) & Cait Finley (fiddle), performing dynamic Irish music rooted in early-20th-century Irish-American traditions
Special appearance by Hasia R. Diner, author of Hungering for America, exploring Italian, Irish, and Jewish foodways in the age of migration

Expect sparky tunes, deep roots, and a room full of joy.
Tickets

$60 — General admission
$100 — Supporter ticket (helps fund future programs like this)

️ Space is limited — and we sold out last year — so don’t wait!
Tickets go on sale at 10:00am on Monday, January 26th!
About the Artists:
Hasia R. Diner
Hasia R. Diner is Professor Emerita at the Departments of History and the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University, and Director of the Goldstein-Goren Center for American Jewish History. She is the former series editor for our Goldstein-Goren series in American Jewish History. Among her many books are Hungering for America: Italian, Irish and Jewish Foodways in the Age of Migration, The Jews of the United States, 1654 to 2000, We Remember With Reverence and Love: American Jews and the Myth of Silence after the Holocaust, 1945–1962, and Immigration: An American History, with Carl Bon Tempo.
Will Woodson & Cait Finley
Will 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.
Klezmer Musicians
The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine has hosted a monthly Klezmer Open Jam Session since May 2023. Sponsored by the JCA and led by members of the Maine’s very own klezmer band, the Casco Bay Tummlers, it has proven to be popular with local musicians – of all levels – interested in the music of eastern European Jewry. We have an average attendance of 15-25, so there’s room for you, too! All instruments and singers are welcome. Or just come to listen and enjoy the heimish vibe! (Check out www.mainejewish.org/jcaevents for more info).
The Casco Bay Tummlers have been moving audiences – in their hearts and on their feet – for well over 30 years in southern Maine and beyond. We are very happy that we are still performing and playing for all sorts of celebrations and delighted to have the opportunity to share our love of this music through the JCA’s jam sessions. For more information on the band, visit cascobaytummlers.com. All four of our albums are available at cascobaytummlers.bandcamp.com and on most of your favorite streaming platforms.

This event is generously sponsored by The Holiday Inn by the Bay!

Maine Irish Reads 'Say Nothing' by Patrick Radden Keefe
2026-03-12 19:30 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Maine Irish Reads, our monthly book club, meets every second Thursday here at the Center!

From 7:30 – 9 PM in the MIHC Library. Bring a friend. The more, the merrier.
About this month’s book:
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“A masterful history of the Troubles. . . Extraordinary. . .As in the most ingenious crime stories, Keefe unveils a revelation — lying, so to speak, in plain sight.”—Maureen Corrigan, NPR
From award-winning New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe, a stunning, intricate narrative about a notorious killing in Northern Ireland and its devastating repercussions
In December 1972, Jean McConville, a thirty-eight-year-old mother of ten, was dragged from her Belfast home by masked intruders, her children clinging to her legs. They never saw her again. Her abduction was one of the most notorious episodes of the vicious conflict known as The Troubles. Everyone in the neighborhood knew the I.R.A. was responsible. But in a climate of fear and paranoia, no one would speak of it. In 2003, five years after an accord brought an uneasy peace to Northern Ireland, a set of human bones was discovered on a beach. McConville’s children knew it was their mother when they were told a blue safety pin was attached to the dress–with so many kids, she had always kept it handy for diapers or ripped clothes.
Patrick Radden Keefe’s mesmerizing book on the bitter conflict in Northern Ireland and its aftermath uses the McConville case as a starting point for the tale of a society wracked by a violent guerrilla war, a war whose consequences have never been reckoned with. The brutal violence seared not only people like the McConville children, but also I.R.A. members embittered by a peace that fell far short of the goal of a united Ireland, and left them wondering whether the killings they committed were not justified acts of war, but simple murders. From radical and impetuous I.R.A. terrorists such as Dolours Price, who, when she was barely out of her teens, was already planting bombs in London and targeting informers for execution, to the ferocious I.R.A. mastermind known as The Dark, to the spy games and dirty schemes of the British Army, to Gerry Adams, who negotiated the peace but betrayed his hardcore comrades by denying his I.R.A. past–Say Nothing conjures a world of passion, betrayal, vengeance, and anguish.

Irish Heritage Night at the Maine Mariners
2026-03-13 19:15 - 22:00 | Cross Insurance Arena, 1 Civic Center Square, Portland, 04101, United States
Maine Mariners vs Norfolk Admirals

March 13th, 2026 7:15 PM

Cross Insurance Arena
1 Civic Center Square, Portland, ME 04101

Purchase Deadline: Mar 13, 2026 6:59 PM

You are invited to join the Maine Irish Heritage Center at the Maine Mariners game on Friday, March 13th @7:15pm as we celebrate Irish Heritage Night, please stop by the community spotlight table in the concourse to say hi and make a donation!
*PORTION OF EVERY TICKET SOLD WILL BE DONATED BACK TO THE MAINE IRISH HERITAGE CENTER*
TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
1.) Head to https://www.gofevo.com/event/MaineIrishHeritageCenterMarch13th
2.) Click GET TICKETS
3.) Choose your section, row, and seat locations
4.) Hit REVIEW ORDER & CONTINUE TO PAYMENT
5.) Enter information and check out
TICKET DELIVERY:
You will receive an email from FEVO (noreply@fevo-enterprise.com) to access to your tickets through Account Manager

Irish Flag Raising: Portland Observatory
2026-03-14 10:30 - 11:00 | Portland Observatory, 138 Congress St, Portland, ME
March 14th
10:30 am
at the Portland Observatory
138 Congress St, Portland, ME
Join us as we raise the Irish Flag to the sound of bagpipes at the Portland Observatory!
RSVP below!
Want to join for our other flag-raising? Click HERE to learn more!

Irish Flag Raising: Charles J. Loring Memorial
2026-03-14 11:30 - 12:00 | Charles Loring Memorial
March 14th
11:30 am
at the Charles J. Loring Memorial
Corner of Eastern Promenade and North Street
Join us as we raise the Irish Flag to the sound of bagpipes at the Charles J. Loring Memorial!
RSVP below!
Want to join for our other flag-raising? Click HERE to learn more!

St. Patrick's Day Parade
2026-03-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Commercial Street, Commercial Street, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Saint Patrick’s Parade
Portland, Maine – March 15, 2026. The Saint Patrick’s Parade by the Irish American Club of Maine will be held this year on Commercial Street in Portland.
The parade starts at Noon on Sunday, March 15th, beginning at the Portland Fish Pier parking lot on the corner of Center Street and Commercial Street. The parade proceeds east along Commercial Street, ending at the reviewing stand at Bell Buoy Park between RiRa Irish Restaurant and the Casco Bay Parking Garage by Franklin Street.
The parade features the Claddagh Mhor Pipe Band, the Dunlap Highland Band, and the Stillson School of Irish Dance (who will be doing a short performance in front of RiRa at the end of the parade). Other participants include the Maine Irish Heritage Center and Portland Gaelic Athletic Association. They will be joined by, among others, mascots from local teams and companies, superheroes, local dignitaries, public safety representatives, and the Irish American Club Parade of Flags.
Special guest marchers will be the Grand Marshal—Portland Fire Chief Chad Johnston, Maine Maritime Academy from Castine, Maine, along with Saint Patrick himself.
The Irish American Club of Maine was founded in 1973 and has preserved and promoted Irish-American culture, history, and community in Maine for over 50 years. In addition to the parade, the Club offers céilís with live music, Irish language lessons, and opportunities for cultural travel.
For more information on the organization, please visit irishofmaine.org or email club2@irishofmaine.org
Want to march with the MIHC?
We’d love to have you! Meet us at our float at the Portland Fish Pier at 11am on Sunday March 15th! For more information, please email volunteer@maineirish.com!

St. Patrick's Day Celebration at the Maine Irish Heritage Center
2026-03-15 13:00 - 16:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Sunday, March 15th
1pm-4pm

Join us after the IAC St. Patrick’s Day Parade over at the Maine Irish Heritage Center for a sham-rocking good time!
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with music, dance, food, and family-friendly fun at the Maine Irish Heritage Center! This annual community celebration brings together traditional Irish culture, local performers, and festive activities for all ages inside our historic building.
Event Schedule
1:00–3:00 PM – Live music with Jim Sharkey
2:00–2:30 PM – Photo opportunities with Saint Patrick
3:00–3:45 PM – Performance by Stillson School of Irish Dance
3:45–4:00 PM – Raffle winners announced
(times subject to change)
Available Throughout the Event

Traditional Irish Bake Sale – Enjoy a selection of homemade Irish and Irish-inspired treats prepared by community volunteers, including breads, sweets, and seasonal favorites. Items will be available for purchase while supplies last.
Bar Serving Irish Classics – The bar will feature a curated menu of Irish beer, cider, and Irish Coffee, along with non-alcoholic options.
Book and Rummage Sale in the Library – Browse a wide assortment of gently used books, Irish literature, music, and unique finds. Proceeds support ongoing programs, archives, and preservation efforts.
Kids’ Crafts and Activities With Jennifer Comeau – Family-friendly craft stations and hands-on activities designed to introduce children to Irish culture through creativity and play.
Guided Sanctuary Tours – Step inside the historic sanctuary for informal tours highlighting the building’s architecture, history, and its role in Portland’s Irish community.

Check out our Food Trucks!
Noble BBQ
Serving slow-smoked meats and classic barbecue sides, Noble BBQ brings bold flavors and hearty comfort food perfect for a winter celebration. Learn more: noblepizzaandbbq.com
Cheese the Day
Offering gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches with creative combinations, plus vegetarian-friendly options and warm comfort-food favorites. Learn more: www.cheesethedayme.com
Fred’s Fried Dough
Freshly made fried dough served hot with a variety of sweet toppings, delivering a classic festival treat for all ages. Learn more: www.facebook.com/fredsfrieddough/
Plot Twist Pretzels
Handcrafted soft pretzels with both savory and sweet flavor twists, paired with house-made dips and sauces. Learn more: www.facebook.com/plottwistpretzels/

More about our Kids Corner with Jen Comeau!
Author, Songwriter, and Storyteller Jennifer Comeau is excited to read and lead a call-and-response song from her children’s book, “The Inside of ME,” which features nine special outdoor places in Maine. She also has a crafty game she wants to share: Create Me a Story, where families or groups draw 3 characters, 2 places, and 3 objects. Using these prompts, together, they create a story! Expect laughter, props, mischief, broken rules, and always a “happily ever after” ending!

About Jennifer:

Of Irish descent, anything connected with creativity, storytelling, singing, and laughter is Jennifer Comeau’s jam. She inspires humans big and small to remember their connection with the rest of the natural world. A certified Forest Therapy Guide, singer-songwriter, and author-speaker, Jen is published in four anthologies. Her children’s book, “The Inside of ME” won a Nautilus Gold for Books that Change the World and received a 5-star rating from Reader Views. Her debut novel, A Moon in All Things—a heroine’s journey to reclaim the old nature ways—[2025 12Willows Press]—was a finalist in the Independent Author Network’s Best Book of the Year contest and received 5 stars from IndieReader Reviewhouse. Jen has produced two albums of original music.
Website: www.jennifercomeau.com Email: jen@jennifercomeau.com

Join us for an afternoon of music, tradition, and community as we celebrate Irish heritage together. This event is family-friendly and open to all.

For more information on the parade, click HERE!

St. Patrick's Day West End Walk
2026-03-17 08:30 - 10:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Join us for a celebratory walk through the West End, and an Irish flag raising in Harborview park! We will gather in the Function Room before ringing our historic bell to kick off our walk. Followed by tea and Irish bread at the Center to warm up and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!
This event is free for all to attend!

World Storytelling Day: The Light in the Dark
2026-03-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Coffee By Design, 1 Diamond St, Portland, ME, 04101
World Storytelling Day: Light in the Dark
With the Maine Irish Heritage Center
Friday, March 20th, 6:30pm
Coffee by Design
1 Diamond St., Portland ME
$10 suggested donation
This celebration of the power of the spoken word has been spreading throughout the world since 2003. Join story lovers from over 70 countries who are gathering on this day to share stories that reflect the theme for 2026. Bring a story, a poem, or a song for the open mic and help us fill the night with light.
Join the Maine Irish Heritage Center at Coffee By Design where we will take part in a worldwide day of storytelling. This global celebration of oral storytelling has been held on March 20 since 2003 with an annual theme chosen by participating storytellers themselves. Light in Darkness was the theme chosen for 2026. The event will be open to storytellers from across Maine’s vibrant communities, offering a rich diversity of voices and perspectives. The program will begin with two featured storytellers sharing their tales. After a brief break, we will have an open mic, inviting attendees to sign up and share a 5-10 minute story.
“Storytelling creates community, breaks down barriers, shares wisdom and tradition, with vivid and intimate experiences, powerful and deep. More and more people each year discover what they’ve been missing!”
Join us for our World Storytelling Day event, and become part of an global community that can inspire us all, and help build bridges between fellow Mainers!
Featured Storytellers:
Tae Chong
Tae Chong is a dedicated advocate for Maine’s underserved communities and a pioneer in local leadership. In 2019, he became the first Asian American elected to both the Portland City Council and the Portland School Committee.
Currently the Executive Director of Furniture Friends, Tae leverages over 30 years of experience in economic development and workforce diversity. An MBA graduate from the University of Southern Maine, he has consulted for major organizations like Allagash Brewing and Hannaford. Beyond his professional impact, Tae is an acclaimed storyteller, frequently sharing his journey from South Korea to Maine on stages like WGBH.

Cathy Furness
Although three generations removed from the family farm in County Laois, Cathy felt drawn to Ireland from a very young age. She followed that gravitational pull to Dublin, where she earned a graduate degree in Irish literature and folklore. She also studied traditional music while she was there by attending sessions at O’Donohue’s on Merrion Row nearly every night.

Cathy retired early from her professional life in New York to take a deep dive into storytelling. Since then, she has told stories on two continents to audiences of all ages. She likes to share the layered wisdom of folktales of many cultures, but is especially drawn to the heroes, heroines and stories of her Irish ancestors. Now living in the woods outside Brunswick, Maine, she shares her home with Redmond, Conor, Molly and Desmond, four very spoiled cats.

How World Storytelling Day Happens
World Story Day has been celebrated around the world with great success since 2003.
Throughout that one day, oral storytellers around the world are busy inspiring audiences, and creating community, by telling classical tales, local stories, glorious, horrendous, happy, challenging, spooky, romantic and dramatic epic stories. Some wrapped in music, some staged and others intimate – but every story is told in a unique and compelling way, by a storyteller whose heart is full of great tales to bridge our divides and remind us what it is to be human
Oral storytelling is tens of thousands of years old, and has strongly regained popularity because of its deeply satisfying power to unite and entertain. Here’s what storytellers have in store for you on this special day…

Professional and amateur storytellers all over the world choose a theme together, then find relevant oral stories to inspire adults or children
Storytellers schedule live local events, and virtual online events, on or around 20th March each year, to celebrate, entertain, and inspire with these themed oral tales. You’re welcome to join in!
Audiences gather in person or online, for big group concerts or single stories, for adults or children, for money or free
Storytelling creates community, breaks down barriers, shares wisdom and tradition, with vivid and intimate experiences, powerful and deep. More and more people each year discover what they’ve been missing!

Learn more at https://momentofimpact.co.uk/wsd
Hosted by Coffee By Design!
Coffee By Design is a woman-owned, Maine-made, farmer-focused coffee roaster, retail, and wholesale business. Since 1994, Coffee By Design has always been about doing things the right way, not the easy way. From day one, we made choices rooted in values, not shortcuts. We believe every bean has a story. Every farm deserves respect. And every cup should be as thoughtful as it is delicious. Every coffee we roast reflects our commitment to quality, integrity, and impact. This isn’t coffee made for trends. It’s coffee for people who care. You’ll taste layered, complex flavors — because we roast to reveal the bean’s origin, not hide it. And you’ll know every cup supports real farmers, real communities, and real change.
Learn more at https://coffeebydesign.com/

Maine Irish Writes: April
2026-04-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States

Paddy Cullivan's 'The Murder of Michael Collins'
2026-04-03 19:30 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Friday April 3rd, 7:30pm
Doors open at 7:00pm

Paddy Cullivan returns to the Maine Irish Heritage Center! Join us for an incredible evening of history, entertainment, and good craic.
General admission tickets are $25 in advance, or snag priority seating for $35! Don’t wait to get your tickets: general admission goes up at the door, and priority seating is only available in advance!

ABOUT THE SHOW: THE MURDER OF MICHAEL COLLINS
Historical Entertainer Paddy Cullivan brings you the incredible story of the death of Ireland’s first Commander-in-Chief. An audio-visual spectacular featuring hundreds of images, shocking new research and incredible songs, Paddy dares to unravel the secrets and lies around what happened that fateful day in Béal na mBlath, 22nd August 1922.
Did Michael Collins have a secret son in London? Was he really going to keep to the Anglo-Irish Treaty or was he planning to resume the war? If the anti-treaty side shot him, why did the Free State instigate a massive cover-up? How can one of the most important men in Irish history have no autopsy report, no investigation, inquest or even a death cert? And who really shot Michael Collins? Why is there such reticence from certain quarters – to this day – to find out the truth?
No less complex or mysterious than the death of JFK and with as many twists and turns, ‘The Murder of Michael Collins’ is a fascinating rollercoaster ride that will change your perceptions of Irish history forever…

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Paddy Cullivan is an acclaimed Irish entertainer renowned for his versatility in music, comedy and historical storytelling. As frontman of The Camembert Quartet he captivated audiences for 20 years with the band’s unique blend of humor and musical talent. This led to their becoming House Band on the world’s longest running chat show, the (Irish) ‘Late Late Show’ for over a decade, along with presenter Ryan Tubridy.
Cullivan’s passion for history is evident in his solo ‘historical entertainment’ shows which he devised and performed since 2016, including “The Murder of Wolfe Tone” and “The Murder of Michael Collins”. These shows combined storytelling, music and visuals to explore pivotal events in Irish history. His latest project, “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Ireland,” offers an optimistic vision of a future United Ireland, combining humor and hope to inspire audiences. Paddy Cullivan continues to be a dynamic force in Irish culture, engaging and educating through his diverse creative endeavours.
For more info, visit https://www.paddycullivan.com/

REVIEWS
A huge hit online, Paddy has brought this mind-blowing solo show to the stage – here are just some of the reviews…
★★★★★
‘Mesmerising stuff – a complicated story, brilliantly told.’ – Ronan McGreevy (Irish Times)
★★★★★
‘Agatha Christie meets Monty Python – a century-year-old mystery with the best form of comedy; tinged with unpalatable truth’ – Oliver Callan
★★★★★
‘Begging for the live stage – superb job’ – Erskine Childers
★★★★★
‘This is worth watching for the tune about mediocre Irish political leaders through the ages alone! ‘Safe Pair of Hands’ – instant classic.’ – Tadhg Hickey (online political comedy genius)
★★★★★
‘In awe of the research you have done, the way you have put the story together and presented it.’ – Mags Amond (Trinity College School of Education)
★★★★★
‘Great show Paddy, scholarly and entertaining’ – Mick O’Dea (Former RHA President)
★★★★★
‘A must watch for anyone interested in Irish history and politics’ – Dr. Wayne O’Brien (Northumbia University)
★★★★★
‘Amazing work – hard history told with a light touch. Comhghairdeas’ – Mary Lou McDonald (President of Sinn Fein)
★★★★★
‘Greatest show on the Emerald Isle!…essential viewing for the price of Dublin pint!’ – Sean Napier (The 1798 Belfast walking tour)
Support for Paddy Cullivan’s tour comes in part from Culture Ireland

Maine Irish Reads 'The Spinning Heart' by Donal Ryan
2026-04-09 19:30 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Maine Irish Reads, our monthly book club, meets every second Thursday here at the Center!

From 7:30 – 9 PM in the MIHC Library. Bring a friend. The more, the merrier.
About this month’s book:
Winner of the Irish Book Award
Finalist for the Booker Prize
This “affecting” debut is “reminiscent of William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying” as it paints a vivid portrait of a working-class community in contemporary rural Ireland (New York Times Book Review).
“One of my favorite Irish books . . . Moving, atmospheric and beautiful.” —Tana French
In the aftermath of Ireland’s financial collapse, dangerous tensions surface in an Irish town. As violence flares, the characters face a battle between public persona and inner desires. Through a chorus of unique voices, each struggling to tell their own kind of truth, a single authentic tale unfolds.
The Spinning Heart speaks for contemporary Ireland like no other novel. Wry, vulnerable, all-too human, it captures the language and spirit of rural Ireland and with uncanny perception articulates the words and thoughts of a generation. Technically daring and evocative of Patrick McCabe and J.M. Synge, this novel of small-town life is witty, dark, and sweetly poignant. Donal Ryan’s brilliantly realized debut announces a stunning new voice in fiction.

Maine Irish Poetry Night
2026-04-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Maine Irish Poetry Night
In Celebration of National Poetry Month & Seamus Heaney’s Birthday

Saturday, April 11th

7:00pm
Doors open at 6:30pm
Join us for an evening of poetry in celebration of National Poetry Month and Seamus Heaney’s birthday! We will have readings from three incredible poets, followed by a Q&A with the audience.
Doors open at 6:30 PM, and readings begin at 7:00 PM. Admission is free, and books will be available for purchase at the event
Stay tuned for more details soon!

A Fragile Peace: Documentary Screening and Talkback
2026-04-19 18:00 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Sunday, April 19th
6:00pm
Doors open at 5:30pm
A FRAGILE PEACE
BREXIT AND NORTHERN IRELAND
THE INTERNATIONALLY AWARD WINNING FILM
Will Brexit destroy the peace and bring back violence to war torn Northern Ireland?
Join us on Sunday, April 19th, for a screening of this incredible documentary, immediately followed by a talkback with Director Rory Duffy! General admission tickets are just $20, or snag priority seating for just $30! Don’t wait to buy your tickets – prices go up at the door, and priority seating is only available in advance!
SYNOPSIS
A Fragile Peace: Brexit and Northern Ireland is a film about the intersection of history and the present, about a peace agreement that many assumed was solid but now faces new and unexpected challenges due to Brexit.
The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998, created a delicate balance of identities, political parties, and loyalties within Northern Ireland. However, Brexit has reopened a wound that many thought was healed, casting uncertainty on the future of this hard-won peace.

DIRECTED BY RORY DUFFY
Rory Duffy is an award winning documentary filmmaker, and adjunct professor of United States history at City College of New York. As an actor, Rory has had recurring roles on Blue Bloods, Law and Order SVU, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. His masters thesis on the John F. Kennedy Administration won the Judith Stein Prize in Political Economy.
On stage and screen, he has worked with director Hal Hartley, Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, and Amy Sherman-Palladino.
His production company Maci Duffy Productions, which he co-runs with his wife Hyun Joo Lee, produces films with a concentration on history, politics, and art.

THE SUBJECTS:
DAMIAN MCGENITY
Political Activist and Farmer
Damian McGenity is a political activist and farmer who faces financial ruin due to Brexit. A supporter of peace in Northern Ireland, Damian joined Border Communities Against Brexit to maintain the peace and save his family farm.

MARTINA ANDERSON
Politician and former combatant
Martina Anderson is an Irish politician from Northern Ireland. She became involved in the Irish Republican movement in the late 1970s and is a former IRA volunteer.
In June 1986, she was convicted of conspiring to cause explosions and sentenced to life in prison. Today, she is working towards uniting Ireland through politics.

ARON HUGHES
Political Activist
Aron Hughes was too young to vote in the Brexit referendum and has taken to the streets to advocate for a second Brexit vote. He now runs an organization that brings the youth of Belfast together in a safe welcoming space.

CREW CREDITS
HYUN JOO DUFFY
Producer

RONAN KILLEEN
Cameraman

PRESS
“Responsible history as it occurs, frankly portrayed.”
— Hal Hartley, director Henry Fool, Ned Rifle
“The acclaimed documentary keeps picking up prestigious new awards.”
— Cahir O’Doherty
“A Fragile Peace reminds us that we should always be careful whenever we believe history has reached an endpoint.”
— Patricia Harty, Editor in Chief, Irish America

AWARDS
Best Picture
London Movie Awards
Best Documentary Feature – Winner
New York Monthly Film Festival
New York Movie Awards
Crown Points International Film Festival
Queens (Unisphere) Film Festival
Cork Indie Film Award
Massachusetts International Film Festival
Best Film Essay
Area 51 Film Festival
Best International Documentary Feature Film
Austin International Art Film Festival
Best Feature Documentary – Nominee
Copenhagen Doc Only
Big Apple Film Festival
Liverpool Indie Awards
Finalist
Out of the Can International Film Festival
Darkland Film Festival
Hawaii International Film Awards
Prazske Filmove Ceny
Indiemania

GET IN TOUCH
Email
AFRAGILEPEACEFILM@GMAIL.COM
Instagram
@AFRAGILEPEACEMOVIE

Celtic Woman: A New Era at the State Theatre
2026-04-24 19:30 - 22:00 | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Fri, April 24, 2026
State Theatre
Doors: 6:30pm – Show: 7:30pm – all ages
$75-$45 reserved seating
Meet & Greet Package – $100 upgrade
• Private backstage photo opportunity with Celtic Woman pre-show
• Brief chat with the cast
• Early entry
Tickets available through the State Theatre HERE!

GRAMMY ® nominated global music sensation Celtic Woman returns to North America and Canada in Spring 2026 with their all-new show A New Era.
Celebrating their rich musical and cultural heritage with a fresh and contemporary spirit, A New Era marks the beginning of a new chapter for the world-renowned ensemble.
This tour marks a new, exciting chapter in the group’s celebrated 21-year journey, blending the ensemble’s signature sound with fresh arrangements and dynamic stage production.
A New Era showcases the timeless traditions of Irish music and culture while reflecting on Celtic Woman’s continued evolution. Audiences can expect a captivating performance featuring new orchestrations, exquisite harmonies and world-class musicianship brought to life by sopranos Mairéad Carlin, Muirgen O’Mahony, Sean-Nós singer Caitríona Sherlock, and fiddle player Ciara Ní Mhurchú, together with the Celtic Woman band and dancers.
Since their debut in 2004, Celtic Woman has captivated millions of fans worldwide with their powerful performances and storytelling. The group has achieved over 3 billion streams, 12.5 million global equivalent album sales, and performed to millions of fans across 23 countries. With A New Era, the group invites audiences to experience the next chapter in their extraordinary story, one that honours the past while embracing the future.

Maine Irish Writes: May
2026-05-07 17:00 - 19:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States

Maine Irish Reads 'Conversations with Friends' by Sally Rooney
2026-05-14 19:30 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Maine Irish Reads, our monthly book club, meets every second Thursday here at the Center!

From 7:30 – 9 PM in the MIHC Library. Bring a friend. The more, the merrier.
About this month’s book:
Frances is a coolheaded and darkly observant young woman, vaguely pursuing a career in writing while studying in Dublin. Her best friend is the beautiful and endlessly self-possessed Bobbi. At a local poetry performance one night, they meet a well-known photographer, and as the girls are then gradually drawn into her world, Frances is reluctantly impressed by the older woman’s sophisticated home and handsome husband, Nick. But however amusing Frances and Nick’s flirtation seems at first, it begins to give way to a strange—and then painful—intimacy.
Written with gemlike precision and marked by a sly sense of humor, Conversations with Friends is wonderfully alive to the pleasures and dangers of youth, and the messy edges of female friendship.

NOW A HULU ORIGINAL SERIES • From the New York Times bestselling author of Normal People . . . “[A] cult-hit . . . [a] sharply realistic comedy of adultery and friendship.”—Entertainment Weekly
SALLY ROONEY NAMED TO THE TIME 100 NEXT LIST • WINNER OF THE SUNDAY TIMES (UK) YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD • ONE OF BUZZFEED’S BEST BOOKS OF THE DECADE • ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Vogue, Slate • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Elle
SHORTLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD
“Sharp, funny, thought-provoking . . . a really great portrait of two young women as they’re figuring out how to be adults.”—Celeste Ng, Late Night with Seth Meyers Podcast
“The dialogue is superb, as are the insights about communicating in the age of electronic devices. Rooney has a magical ability to write scenes of such verisimilitude that even when little happens they’re suspenseful.”—Curtis Sittenfeld, The Week

It's An Irish Thing - Neil Byrne in Concert
2026-05-24 19:30 - 21:30 | ME
Sunday, May 24th
7:30pm
Doors open at 7:00pm
Celebrated and award winning Artist Neil Byrne brings Soulful Storytelling and Ancient Tradition to The Maine Irish heritage Center on Sunday, May 24th, bringing the haunting beauty of Celtic tradition and the intimacy of modern folk songwriting to audiences from Chicago to Portland Maine. PLUS, we’re offering the opportunity to meet the artist before the show: from 6:30pm-7:00pm, before the house opens, we’ll have a Meet & Greet with Neil! M&G Ticket holders only, don’t miss out on great conversation, good craic, and the chance to ask all your burning questions!
General Admission tickets are $45 and you can snag an exclusive Meet & Greet ticket (complete with priority seating) for just $70! Don’t wait to buy your tickets, prices will increase at the door!
With a voice described as “both timeless and contemporary” and performances that weave together myth, memory, and melody, Neil has captivated audiences across America, Canada, Australia, Ireland and beyond drawing on the deep well of Celtic heritage, while blending in personal storytelling, creating a sound that is rooted in tradition and alive with fresh emotion.
The East Coast tour will include stops at iconic venues offering listeners a rare opportunity to experience the raw power and delicate grace of Neil Byrne’s music in an intimate live setting.
Neil’s music is known for its lyrical depth and evocative soundscapes, earning recognition from awards for short films to documentaries.
“Touring the East Coast is always an exciting opportunity,” says Neil. “The connection between Celtic folk music and the American folk tradition runs deep. It always excites me to share stories and songs with audiences who feel that same spirit of home and journey.”
Learn more about Neil at https://www.neilbyrnemusic.com/

Maine Irish Writes: June
2026-06-04 17:00 - 19:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States

Onóir: Live in Concert
2026-06-09 19:00 - 21:30 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Tuesday, June 9
7:30 PM
Doors open at 7:00pm
Meet & Greet from 6:30-7:00pm!
Experience the electrifying sound of Onóir live in concert at the Maine Irish Heritage Center. Hailing from Ireland’s West Coast, Onóir brings a fresh, contemporary edge to traditional Irish music, blending rich vocal harmonies with modern arrangements and deep roots in the Irish tradition.
Known for their dynamic performances and innovative sound, Onóir creates music that is both grounded in heritage and unmistakably of the moment. This concert offers an intimate opportunity to hear one of Ireland’s most exciting young groups in a historic setting that celebrates Irish culture, past and present.
Whether you’re a longtime lover of Irish music or new to the tradition, this promises to be an exceptionally memorable evening of live performance.
General admission tickets are $40 in advance, and Meet and Greet tickets are $55 in advance. Don’t wait to get your tickets, prices will go up at the door!
About the Band:
Contemporary Irish folk group Onóir formed in 2020, when Donegal musicians; Tom McHugh, Declan Gaughan, Deane Connaghan, and Diarmaid McGee, joined forces to create a contemporary version of the famous Irish folk ballad; “The Auld Triangle”, the video went on to be seen by over 3 million people worldwide. These talented musicians with distinctive vocal styles are setting new standards with incredible musical arrangements and harmonies that mark them out as unique.
Onóir are selling out venues in record time as their impassioned audiences are taken on a musical odyssey. From their new take on traditional Irish ballads all the way through to up-tempo modern Irish classics. From tears to laughter, enjoy the onstage chemistry, excitement, and banter in a show not to be missed.
Learn more about the artists at: https://onoirmusic.com/home

Maine Irish Reads 'Our London Lives' by Christine Dwyer Hickey
2026-06-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102, United States
Maine Irish Reads, our monthly book club, meets every second Thursday here at the Center!

From 7:30 – 9 PM in the MIHC Library. Bring a friend. The more, the merrier.
About this month’s book:
‘Huge of heart and soaring of soul’ CLAIRE KILROY
‘A profound love story…Like Barbara Kingsolver, Hickey captures the pulse of the living moment’ COLUM McCANN
1979. In the vast and often unforgiving city of London, two Irish outsiders seeking refuge find one Milly, a teenage runaway, and Pip, a young boxer full of anger and potential who is beginning to drink it all away.
Over the decades their lives follow different paths, interweaving from time to time, often in one another’s sight, always on one another’s mind, yet rarely together.
Forty years on, Milly is clinging onto the only home she’s ever really known while Pip, haunted by T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, traipses the streets of London and wrestles with the life of the recovering alcoholic. And between them, perhaps uncrossable, lies the unspoken span of their lives.
Dark and brave, this epic novel offers a rich and moving portrait of an ever-changing city, and a profound inquiry into character, loneliness and the nature of love.
