The Irish Cultural Center of Western New England cultivates a connection with Ireland and generations of local Irish diaspora – many of whose ancestors left the Blasket Islands -- by providing access to Irish-oriented lectures, concerts, exhibitions of art, artifacts and memorabilia, political discussions, international relations, GAA sports, Irish language classes, student international exchange, and genealogical research. It also serves as a bridge between the Irish government and the Western New England region.
Brian de Staic Jewellery, has created distinctive jewelry for over 40 years. One of Ireland’s leading goldsmiths, Brian and his wife Máiread began their business in 1981, and celebrities including Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Saoirse Ronan, and Laura Dern own Brian de Staic creations.
Celtic Gift House, returns to The Big E for its 20th year, offering a large range of Celtic clothing, including jackets, hoodies, tee shirts, caps, and Celtic Gift House’s exclusive “Craic House Chopper “products featuring the mascot ELFIS.
Dingle Crystal is a family-run company founded by Sean Daly, who apprenticed in Waterford Crystal and studied for 15 years to become a master cutter. When Waterford Crystal moved production out of Ireland, Sean established Dingle Crystal, which designed and created the St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Bowl that was presented to President Joe Biden in The White House earlier this year.
Dingle Distillery celebrating its 10th anniversary, opening as Ireland’s first independent, family-owned, purpose-built artisan spirits distillery in over 100 years. It has emerged as an award-winning distillery, built in a former sawmill located on the fringes of the coastal town of Dingle, County Kerry. The distillery was makes all of its own spirits, including small batch Dingle Distillery Whiskey Single Malt and Pot Still Whiskey, Dingle Original Gin (chosen as the World’s Best Gin and the World’s Best London Dry Gin 2019), and Dingle Distillery Vodka. Its spirits are available in the United States through Hotaling & Co. importers.
Dingle Linens designs men’s, women’s, and children’s knitwear from natural fibers, including apparel made from Donegal tweed, gents’ caps, ladies’ caps and hats, gents’ waistcoats, capes, wraps, and throws, as well as accessories such as Irish tweed and leather bags.
Dingle Skellig Hotel and Dingle Benners Hotel provide accommodations that include modern and Old World charm. The four-star Dingle Skellig Hotel rests on Dingle Bay and has 32 new deluxe guest rooms - - five of which are rooftop balcony suites, a leisure center, and fitness center, a crèche for minding children, a kids club, and a spa. Dingle Benner’s Hotel, steeped in history dating to the early 1800s, sits in the heart of Dingle town. It has welcomed many of Dingle’s legendary visitors.
Louis Mulcahy Pottery has crafted pottery in the heart of the Kerry Gaeltacht since 1975 with his wife Lisbeth. His team of more than 30 people, including his son Lasse, create designs from dainty posy jars to dinner sets, elegant lamp bases, ovenware, and towering urns, all hand-made at their workshop located west of Dingle town.
Lisbeth Mulcahy the weaver’s shop opened Siopa na bhFhíodóirí in Dingle in 1986 to showcase her personally designed tapestries, wall hangings, scarves, stoles, and throws that are woven by her and a small team of weavers, including her daughter Sally. Lisbeth Mulcahy’s designs are sold exclusively from Siopa na bhFíodóirí and from the Louis Mulcahy Pottery shop.
Sacred Heart University offers study-abroad programs at its Dingle campus – SHU in Dingle - through two-week sessions in January, May, and June, as well as full Fall and Spring semesters with courses in history, literature, music, language, religion, the sciences, and ecology, health and nursing, social sciences, communications, media, the performing arts, marketing, economics, and tourism. SHU in Dingle actively collaborates with the Munster Technological University in Tralee, University College Cork, Queen’s University Belfast, University Hospital Kerry and Bon Secours Hospital in Tralee, and the Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium/Mara Beo Teo.
Western Mass Tourism / Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, an affiliate of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass and a private non-profit destination marketing organization, promotes Western Massachusetts for meetings and conventions, group tours, sports, and leisure travel. Irish immigration to New England peaked in the mid-19th century when countless families sought new opportunities and landed in Western Massachusetts, which still honors and celebrates Irish culture and heritage, from one of the largest and most-cherished St. Patrick’s Day parades held annually in Holyoke to The Dingle Peninsula Pavilion at The Big E.
Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance is a community tourism destination management co-operative, owned and managed by its family-run businesses and community development members across Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula. Their website offers visitors the most up-to-date information to plan and enjoy a visit to the peninsula. The Alliance offers a concierge desk to answer questions or help tailor a vacation just for you.