Passim has established a new grant fund named the Brian O’Donovan Legacy Fund to honor the many contributions Brian has made to Passim and to our Boston Celtic Music community. The fund will provide opportunities for Celtic musicians to develop their music and careers. Similar to Passim’s Iguana Music Fund, the Brian O’Donovan Fund will give out grants annually to qualified artists via a detailed submission process. The entries will be judged and grants given out based on available funding and need.
The first applications will be accepted in July ’24. Details of the application process to follow.
donate to the fund
Brian O’Donovan was born and raised in Clonakilty West Cork in a family of 9. He received his degree from University College Cork in 1978 before heading to England. He then journeyed to Boston and grad school at Emerson College. In Boston, at a music jam-session, he was introduced to Lindsay Henes. They married in August of 1981. Although Brian is widely known today for his work in public broadcasting, music production, and as a curator for live events, his earlier professional career was in a very different world. He held management and executive positions at then Foxboro Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots. As General Manager, he was responsible for overseeing all stadium sporting and music events. On the acquisition of the New England Patriots by the Kraft Family in 1994, O’Donovan became VP in charge of facilities management. In the world of international soccer, he helped secure and then manage The Word Cup in 1994 and was instrumental in the creation of Major League Soccer. When that league launched, he took the role of General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the New England Revolution.
