RUNA to perform at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse, November 15, 7:30 PM

RUNA November 15, 2025  7:30 PM $25 Doors open at 7:00 pm.  Celebrating 16 years together, Celtic-American roots "super group" RUNA pushes the boundaries of Irish folk music by blending the melodies of Ireland and Scotland with the harmonies and rhythms of jazz, bluegrass, flamenco, and blues. The result is a vibrant, contemporary take on traditional music that's earned them a reputation as one of the most innovative Irish folk groups of their generation. Drawing on the diverse backgrounds of its members, RUNA's sound reflects both tradition and modernity. The band features vocalist and step-dancer Shannon Lambert-Ryan (Philadelphia), GRAMMY-nominated guitarist Fionán de Barra (Dublin), percussionist Cheryl Prashker (Canada), fiddler Jake James (New York), and mandolinist/vocalist Tom Fitzgerald (Canada). Upcoming Shows Ellis Paul, Dec. 6th Kim Moberg & Jenna Nicholls, Jan. 10th Crys Matthews, Feb. 7th

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse · First Universalist Society · 262 Chestnut St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, December 15, 2024 ???

Sunday, December 15, 2024

• Fiber Art Installation (Franklin Public Library)
• Franklin Art Association, Art Show & Sale (Norfolk Public Library)

7:30am All You Can Eat Breakfast (Franklin Rod & Gun Club)

9:00am Christmas Around the World (self guide tour, Franklin Area Moms)

12:00pm Holiday Sip & Shop (La Cantina Winery)

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free) 

2:00pm Irish Step Dancers (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

7:30pm Once an Outlaw (live music) (THE BLACK BOX)

**   NO  Town Meetings today   **

What's happening today in Franklin? 

---------------

Why are there multiple calendars?

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/upcoming

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Franklin Cultural District: #artshappenhere with music, food trucks, performing arts, farmers market, and more ...

Wednesday, March 8

12:00pm - Historical Sites of Massachusetts Series - Longfellow House (virtual event) (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm - Senior Scribblers (writing group) (Franklin Senior Center)

7:00pm - St Mary's Women's Faith Formation Group (virtual event) (St Mary’s Parish)

7:00pm - Newcomers & Friends  (monthly meeting - game night) (Escape Into Fiction)

Thursday, March 9

10:00am - Writer's Quiet Space (just what it says) (Escape Into Fiction) 

Friday, March 10

4:30pm - Papalias Wood-Fired Pizza (food truck) (67 Degrees Brewery)

5:30pm - The McCrites (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

7:30pm - Something Rotten! (ticketed event) (FPAC at THE BLACK BOX)

Saturday, March 11

10:00am - Winter Farmers Market (Fairmount Fruit Farm)

10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

12:00pm - Battuto  (food truck) (67 Degrees Brewery)

3:00pm - Irish in America Concert (free concert)  (Franklin Public Library)

5:30pm - Anna Freitas Trio  (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

7:30pm - Something Rotten! (ticketed event) (FPAC at THE BLACK BOX)

Sunday, March 12 - Daylight Saving Time starts

1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:15pm - Second Sunday Speaker (Franklin Historical Museum)

2:00pm - Something Rotten! (ticketed event) (FPAC at THE BLACK BOX)

3:00pm - LiveARTS: Artistry! (ticketed event) (LiveARTS at FUSF)

Tuesday, March 14

7:00pm - FBRTC Meeting (monthly meeting) (67 Degrees Brewery)

7:00pm - Yankee Quilters (Emma’s Quilt & Cupboard)

7:00pm - An America Divided (virtual event) (Franklin Public Library)

-----------------

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open for viewing (and purchasing the art displayed) during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Franklin Art Association Art Gallery

Visit the Cultural District page ->  https://www.franklinculture.org/

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

Franklin Cultural District: Arts are happening here!

Franklin Library: Celebrating Ireland in Story & Song - March 5 - 3 PM

Celebrating Ireland in Story & Song, Saturday, March 5, 3:00 PM

Celtic music with 'Celebrating Ireland in Story & Song'. Come join us for an afternoon celebrating the music, hilarity and dance of Ireland. 

Phil Edmonds (originally from County Clare), is an (alleged) leprechaun who plays the tin whistle and button accordion with great warmth and spirit. 

Kevin Fallon (by way of county Roscommon and Mayo) is a soulful guitarist, fiddler and singer. 

Mary King (Up Donegal & Cavan) joins in with the fiddle, Celtic Harp and voice. She also teaches a beginning Irish step 1/2 hour before the program. Get your green on, warm up your voices and sit back and enjoy. 

This program is in-person, free, and open to the public. 

For more information about Celebrating Ireland, please visit  ->   https://marykingharpist.com/celebrating-ireland/

Franklin Library: Celebrating Ireland in Story & Song - March 5 - 3 PM

 

October events at the Franklin Historical Museum

The museum is happy to once again be participating in the annual Harvest Festival, Saturday, October 2. The museum will have a display of photographs depicting farms, farm life, animals, gardens and harvesting. The series of photographs from early 20th century Franklin, is from the private collection of Franklin photographer Nathan Wales’ images. The museum is also happy to be host vintage cars from the local car club, the Red Devils. We will serve apple cider and cookies on the porch. The Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum will have a table out front selling Christmas Ornaments from the gift shop. We look forward to you stopping by!

We’re very excited to have author Stephen Puleo return for our Second Sunday Speaker Series on October 10. Steve’s recently released book, Voyage of Mercy will be the topic of his presentation. Thousands of ships left Ireland during the potato famine in the late 1840s, transporting the starving and destitute away from their homeland. The first to sail in the other direction was the USS Jamestown, a converted warship stripped of its guns and committed to the peaceful delivery of food, clothing, and supplies.  The USS Jamestown, the Irish famine, and the remarkable story of America’s first humanitarian mission. Join us for this compelling presentation. Doors open at 1:00PM. Presentation to start by 1:15PM. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum.

The museum is open Thursday evenings 5 PM - 7 PM; Saturdays 10 AM - 1 PM and Sundays 1 PM - 4 PM. Visit our giftshop for fun and unique Franklin gift items. We are wheelchair accessible and admission is always free. Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street. 

October events at the Franklin Historical Museum

"Jug of Punch" to perform at Memory Cafe - Feb 24

One of the regular offerings within the Dementia Friendly Franklin program at the Senior Center, is the monthly Memory Cafe. This month's session features some Irish folks songs performed by the "Jug of Punch" duo.

Please call the Senior Center at 508-520-4945 to let them know you are coming. This ensure they have sufficient seating for the event.
 

Shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-senior-center/events/250633

Franklin Library: Celebrating Ireland in Story and Song - Mar 4 - 3:00 PM

Celebrating Ireland in Story and Song is an all Irish program which embraces Irish history and culture in story and song. Phil Edmonds, Kevin Fallon, and Mary King are scheduled to perform at the Franklin Library, Sunday, Mar 4 at 3:00 PM

Franklin Library: Celebrating Ireland in Story and Song - Mar 4 - 3:00 PM

For more about the group and to listen to samples of their music, visit
http://www.celticharpri.com/celebrating-ireland.htm

Fellswater to play in Wrentham - Feb 24

Who: Fellswater
When: 7:30 PM, Saturday, Feb. 24
Where: Original Congregational Church, 1 East St., Wrentham, MA 02093

Description: 

Boston’s Celtic music ensemble, playing a wide range of tunes and songs, drawing from the music of Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, Canada, and beyond.

For more information and tickets, go to https://www.musicatocc.org.

Fellswater to play in Wrentham - Feb 24

Reminder: Fashion and Harps today

You can combine the two events today:

Karen Antonowicz will discuss the influences of wartime on fashion. From the Civil War to World War II. What does rationing and limited resources do to influence fashion.  

A presentation, discussion, and fashion samples are all part of Karen's one hour talk. Join us for this compelling look back at fabric and fashion by this noted fashion expert. Sunday, December 10 at 1:15 PM.

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/12/franklin-historical-museum-spirits-of.html

New England Irish Harp Orchestra will share a wonderful medley of Holiday music that will put you in the perfect mood for the season! 

Sunday, December 10 - 7:00 pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church 

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/12/reminder-new-england-irish-harp.html

New England Irish Harp Orchestra - Dec 10

Fashions of The WW II Era

Reminder: New England Irish Harp Orchestra - Dec 10

New England Irish Harp Orchestra will share a wonderful medley of Holiday music that will put you in the perfect mood for the season!

Sunday, December 10 - 7:00 pm

St. John’s Episcopal Church 
237 Pleasant Street Franklin, MA 

Tickets $10 (payable at the door) 

FREE  With Dean College ID 

Transportation provided call (781) 708-1327 

New England Irish Harp Orchestra - Dec 10

New England Irish Harp Orchestra - Dec 10

New England Irish Harp Orchestra will share a wonderful medley of Holiday music that will put you in the perfect mood for the season!

Sunday, December 10 - 7:00 pm

St. John’s Episcopal Church 
237 Pleasant Street Franklin, MA 

Tickets $10 (payable at the door) 

FREE  With Dean College ID 

Transportation provided call (781) 708-1327 

New England Irish Harp Orchestra - Dec 10

New England Irish Harp Orchestra - Dec 10

New England Irish Harp Orchestra will share a wonderful medley of Holiday music that will put you in the perfect mood for the season!

Sunday, December 10 - 7:00 pm

St. John’s Episcopal Church 
237 Pleasant Street Franklin, MA 

Tickets $10 (payable at the door) 

FREE  With Dean College ID 

Transportation provided call (781) 708-1327 

New England Irish Harp Orchestra - Dec 10

New England Irish Harp Orchestra - Dec 10

New England Irish Harp Orchestra will share a wonderful medley of Holiday music that will put you in the perfect mood for the season!

Sunday, December 10 - 7:00 pm

St. John’s Episcopal Church 
237 Pleasant Street Franklin, MA 

Tickets $10 (payable at the door) 

FREE  With Dean College ID 

Transportation provided call (781) 708-1327 

New England Irish Harp Orchestra - Dec 10

Burning Bridget Cleary - Apr 8

Who: Celtic Concert, Burning Bridget Cleary

When: 7:30 pm, Sat., April 8

Where: Original Congregational Church, 1 East St., Wrentham, MA 02093

Description: Known for their captivating sound and engaging stage presence, Burning Bridget Cleary is currently one of the hottest young acts on the Celtic and folk music circuits. 

Over the years, they’ve garnered numerous well-earned accolades within the trad community including being nominated for “Top Traditional Group in a Pub, Festival, or Concert” by the Irish Music Association. 

They are regularly played on syndicated radio programs, are a fixture at major folk festivals, did a tour of Ireland in 2013, and perhaps most impressive of all, have put out five full-length albums since their inception. The unique name of the band is from the last woman burned for witchcraft in Ireland at the turn of the 20th century.

For more information and tickets, go to http://www.musicatocc.org.

Burning Bridget Cleary - Apr 8

In the News: superintendent search priority; Charles River meadowlands; where the Irish are

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The School Committee has canceled this week's meeting because of snow, but hopes to continue its superintendent search effort unabated. 

The committee had been set to receive a slate of candidates from its search consultant - Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) - at that Tuesday night session, and to interview those prospects during the day on Friday. 

Committee Chairman Kevin O'Malley said the district had taken steps to avoid any delay. 

"We're very concerned," he said. "We have a schedule that's very short."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170313/franklin-committee-keeps-superintendent-schedule

"A local group is hoping to have a say in plans for the future of the Charles River Meadowlands. 

The area consists of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers properties that abut the river. 

The group has submitted a response to the corps' master plan for the land, which includes parcels in Bellingham, Franklin and Medway and is intended to provide a buffer for river flooding. 

Alan Earls, a leader of the local effort, said the corps had solicited his group's feedback, and that it had responded with remarks that encourage the government to preserve the land and promote recreational opportunities there."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170313/franklin-group-considers-management-of-land

"While there's a saying that everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day, more than one in five people in Massachusetts can trace their roots back to the emerald isle all year round. 

Massachusetts and New Hampshire have a higher concentration of Irish-Americans than any other state in the country. According to 2015 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, 20.2 percent of Massachusetts residents and 20.6 percent of New Hampshire residents claim Irish ancestry. The difference between the two states' estimates is within the margin of error, making the figures statistically even. 

"People of Irish descent form the largest ethnic group in Massachusetts," said Seamus Mulligan, president of the Canton-based Irish Cultural Centre of New England. "The state changed dramatically in the 19th century following the arrival of Irish immigrants. The [Irish] famine of the 1840s caused an enormous change in the demographics. The Yankees during the period hired the Irish as workers and servants and they became more assimilated into society. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170313/where-are-most-irish-towns-in-massachusetts

screen grab of interactive map on Milford Daily News article

Mr Dooley made a brief appearance at the Historical Museum

Alan Earls presented on the the arrival of the Irish in Franklin and then shifted to introduce Mr Dooley to an attentive audience at the Franklin Historical Museum on Saturday, March 11.

Alan Earls and Mr Dooley

The presentation document he has allowed us to share here:

The Most Famous Irishman Who Never Was from Franklin Matters

Alan presented to an attentive audience with mostly Irish roots 9by show of hands)

RUNA March 4 - may sell out

RUNA returns! View this email in your browser Celtic Band RUNA March 4th 8PM $20 Celtic band RUNA has been selling out concerts all around the world. If you purchase your ticket now you will not be disappointed. The group has been honored internationally, winning Top Group and Top Traditional Group in the Irish Music Awards and four Independent Music Awards including Best Live Album, Best World/Traditional Song and Best Bluegrass Song.  http://www.runamusic.com/ The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society. Concerts are presented in a smoke free and alcohol free environment at the Society's handicapped accessible Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut St. in Franklin, and begin at 8:00 PM; doors open at 7:30 PM. Beverages and gourmet desserts will be available. Tickets for this shows are $20.  Please call (508)528-2541 or visit http://www.circlefolk.org/ to purchase tickets or for more information. Upcoming Shows Mar 18      The Boxcar Lilies Apr 1         Brother Sun Apr 22       Livingston Taylor May 6        Catie Curtis

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse · First Universalist Society · 262 Chestnut St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA