Irish Massachusetts

Photo Courtesy of Massport The next time you are exploring South Boston, visit the Thomas J. Bulter Park, located along 917-975 East First Street off of Farragut Road, not far from Castle Island.  The park is being added to Boston's Irish Heritage Trail, along with these other  landmarks in South Boston.     The Thomas J. Butler Park is part of  Massport’s parks and open spaces  that offer year-round green spaces to local residents and visitors.  The park opened in 2017 in memory of Massport’s longtime director of external affairs and lifelong South Boston resident, Tommy Butler, acclaimed as a longtime government official and beloved as a visionary community leader. Read about the opening ceremony . Photo Courtesy of Massport The 4.4-acre multi-use park contains a path for runners and walkers that is lined with trees and flowers, along with seating and lighting and bike rakes. The Thomas J. Butler Park is open from dawn to dusk and there are park...

 

  The Father John Murphy Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Cohasset, Massachusetts is holding its annual commemoration for victims of the Brig St. John on Sunday, October 5 from 2-4 p.m.. The event begins with a memorial mass at St. Anthony's Catholic Church on Summer Street in Cohasset, followed by a program featuring Amy Elisabeth Day , writer and composer of the acclaimed Irish folk musical In the Midst of Plenty, a production rooted in the history of the Great Hunger.  Illustrations from Across the Sea from Galway by Leonard Everett Fisher,  published by Four Winds Press The annual event is a homage to passengers aboard the Brig St. John, which sank off the coast of Cohasset on the morning of Sunday, October 7, 1849, wrecked by a severe nor’easter that rocked the boat for hours before it sank. On board the ship were 127 passengers from Ireland, along with sixteen sailors. The majority of passengers were poor Irish immigrants fleeing the famine. On May 30,...

Boston Logan 9/11 Memorial, Photo Courtesy of Massport The next time you are at Boston Logan International Airport , visit the  Boston Logan 9/11 Memorial ,  a powerful homage to the passengers and crews of American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, the two planes that departed Boston Logan for Los Angeles, but were hijacked by terrorists who flew them into the World Trade Towers in New York. Massport describes the memorial as "a place  contemplation, reflection, and remembrance for a world impacted by the events of September 11, 2001." The memorial is located between Terminal A and the Hilton Boston Logan Airport Hotel and can be accessed through the parking garage.  Massport writes, "Landscaped paths lead to a large glass cube that presents two glass panels etched with the names of every person aboard each flight. From inside, visitors look up at a sky transformed by a prism of reflective panels by day; the cube glows with a soft light by nigh...

   The 71st Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival returns September 26-28, 2025 with a vibrant new citywide format.  This year, the festival brings Galway’s world-famous oyster celebrations together with Galway Docklands Festival – a dedicated maritime zone showcasing the city’s seafaring traditions, family fun, and waterfront experiences. From the Latin Quarter to the Docklands, Galway will come alive with oyster opening competitions, Galway Hooker displays, live music, fresh local food, and free family activities. Tickets are not required for this year’s events (except pre-booked tours), making the festival more accessible than ever. It’s a weekend-long celebration from shore to street. Find updated information and more details at  Galway International Oyster + Seafood Festival . To learn more about visiting Ireland any time of year, go to  Ireland.com . Galway oyster festival ,  Irish seafood ,  Tourism Ireland ,  Visit Ireland

  Photo courtesy of patriots.com Congratulations to legendary quarterback Tom Brady, whose larger-than-life bronze statue was unveiled on August 8, 2025 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA , where Brady led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles and 17 division championships in his 20 years here. Brady attended the unveiling ceremony with his parents, Tom Brady, Sr. and Galynn , sisters and three children, and they were joined by team owner Robert K. Kraft , former teammates, and thousands of enthusiastic fans who came out to honor their football hero. Sculptor Jeff Buccacio working on the Tom Brady statue Sculptor Jeff Buccacio and his team of artisans and technicians spent more than 20,000 hours on the  Tom Brady project  as they sought to create “a timeless and iconic representation of a legendary player.”  Buccacio said the Patriots provided him with “a selection of photographs to use as design inspiration. One image in particular stood out. It w...

  The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is celebrating First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s 96th birthday on July 15, 2025 from 5:30 to 8 p.m, as part of its  Community Nights  series.  Well-known as a style icon, Mrs. Kennedy was an integral player in the Kennedy Administration and revolutionized the role of the First Lady. Learn more about her time in the White House and enjoy live musical performances by HarpBeat throughout the evening. Last admission is 7:15 p.m. Additional Community Night are on  August 6  and  August 20 around the theme of the new exhibition,  Presidential Pets , with curator-led tours and rarely seen family film footage of the Kennedys and their furry friends. Read more about the Kennedy family at irishboston.org . 

The New England states played a central role in the American Revolution, especially in the early years of the war. This summer, as America 250 prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding in 2026, Machias, Maine and Charlestown, Massachusetts commemorate their distinctive roles in the Revolutionary War. BATTLE OF MACHIAS On June 12, 1775, the Battle of Machias off the coast of Maine became the first naval battle of the American Revolution when Jeremiah O’Brien, his five brothers and townsfolk created the “first act of Colonial piracy” in the war. When the British ‘sloop of war’ sailed into Machias and threatened to tear down the town’s Liberty Pole, O’Brien’s men captured the Margaretta, taking its munitions as bounty. This summer, Machias celebrates the 250th anniversary of this historical battle with a series of events. On June 20-21, Revolutionary War Re-enactors of Downeast Maine recreate the battle overlooking Machias Bay, with performances by Piscataqua Ra...

  The  New York-based group,   Irish American Writers and Artists , has organized an academic panel at this year's American Literature Association Conference at Westin Copley Place in Boston's Back Bay. The panel takes place on Friday, May 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The discussion on "New York's Irish Immigrant Impact: Stories of heroes, villains and rockers ," is chaired by Independent Scholar Lori Cassels.  The four papers include: 1. “Payne-ful” Business from NYC to Charleston, my Irish family’s involvement in the slave trades,” Margaret Seidler, Independent Scholar. 2. “Irish Famine Immigrants who worked the Staten Island Marine Hospital and Quarantine Station,” Loretto Leary, Secretary, Ireland’s Hunger Museum of Fairfield. 3.“Catholic Boy: Locating Jim Carroll in Inwood,” Ben Nadler, Widener University. 4."From Wexford to Paradise Square on NYC''s Broadway: Larry Kirwan's Emigrant Literary Journey," Bill Nevins, Independent Scholar....