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Update from South Boston Citizens Association on Evacuation Day on March 17, 2026

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  Thomas E. McGrath, president of the South Boston Citizens’ Association , shares the following update on plans for the 250th anniversary of Evacuation Day on March 17, 2026 at Dorchester Heights in South Boston. "The day will begin with the Evacuation Day Mass at St. Augustine Chapel at 9:00 a.m..Following the Mass, wreaths will be laid in honor of the first Chief Marshal of the Evacuation Day/St. Patrick’s Day Parade, as well as Officer Barney McGinniskin, who was the first Irish-born officer on record to serve in the United States in 1851, the year he joined the Boston Police Department. "Immediately after the wreath-laying ceremonies, we will join the procession mustering at the Boys & Girls Club. The procession will proceed along Mercer Street, up Telegraph Street, and into Dorchester Heights for the 250th Anniversary Evacuation Day ceremony and the rededication of the Dorchester Heights Monument. "The plan includes a tented event at Dorchester Heights, along wi...

Lawrence Irish Heritage Month, March, 2026

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First organized on November 5, 1871, the   Rev. James T. O’Reilly OSA Division Eight of the Ancient Order of Hibernians has been promoting Irish culture and heritage in Essex County, MA ever since. Its annual Irish Heritage Month each March offers a spectrum of Irish music and dance, lectures, exhibits, and social gatherings.   Here is the 2026 schedule.   Sunday, March 1, 2026  “AN AFTERNOON OF IRISH MUSIC WITH BRIAN CORCORAN”   Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitors Center, 1 Jackson St, Lawrence, MA @ 2 pm.  Monday, March 2, 2026   IRISH FLAG RAISING Across from City Hall – Common St. @11 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2026  154th SAINT PATRICK’S DAY BANQUET AND DANCE  Lawrence Lodge of Elks, 652 Andover Street, Lawrence, MA. 6 pm – 11 pm  Sunday, March 8, 2025  OPENING of the EXHIBIT - "THE PEMBERTON MILL: THE WORST INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT IN MASSACHUSETTS HISTORY” Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitors Center, 1 Jackson St, Lawrence, M...

St. Brigid Church in South Boston, Honoring Ireland's Patroness Saint

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On February 1st each year, Ireland celebrates the extraordinary life of St Brigid, Ireland's matron saint and beloved figure who bridged the Celtic and Christian traditions of the island in the 5th century.    She shares a name with Brigit, a Celtic goddess from whom many legends and folk customs are associated. Born around 451 A.D. in Ireland, Brigid's life straddled the transition between pre-Christian Celtic beliefs and Christianity.  She is patroness of poetry, learning, healing, protection, blacksmithing, livestock and dairy production. The Book of Lismore, a 15th century Gaelic manuscript of religious material relating to Ireland's saints, writes this about St. Brigid:  "For this was Brigid's desire: to satisfy, the poor; to expel every hardship; to relieve every misery. Now never hath there been one more bashful, modest, gentle, humble, more sage, more harmonious than Brigid. She is the Prophetess of Christ; she is Queen of the South; she is the Mary of the ...

USS Constitution Museum's Leadership Forum Welcomes Former Governor Charlie Baker + Meet Boston's Martha Sheridan on February 5, 2026

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  On Thursday, February 5, 2026, the USS Constitution Museum's Leadership Forum welcomes former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Meet Boston President and CEO Martha J. Sheridan for a candid conversation about what it takes to lead through complexity, create community across wide networks and drive change inside organizations with strong, established cultures. Sheridan will moderate the Forum with an eye toward service, collaboration, and impact, drawing out the lessons that matter most to leaders trying to move a mission forward. The Forum takes place at the Intercontinental Boston at  510 Atlantic Avenue, starting at 5:30 p.m. with the one-hour speaking program beginning at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets are $60 per person and include a full bar and hors d’oeuvres. Order tickets online .  Baker leads the NCAA, a national organization spanning more than 1000 colleges and universities, hundreds of thousands of student-athletes, and a web of conferences, m...

Schedule of 2026 St. Patrick's Day Parades in New England

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Worcester Parade  January 22, 2026 — Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) today released its schedule of thirteen   2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parades   taking place in New England this March to celebrate Irish-American Heritage Month. The 2026 parade season kicks off on Saturday, March 7 with parades on Cape Cod, Hartford and Pawtucket and finishes up on Sunday, March 22 with the iconic parade in Holyoke. The pinnacle of parades takes place the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday, March 15, when parades are held simultaneously in Abington, Boston, New Haven, Portland, Scituate and Worcester. The popular parade in  Manchester, NH  has been cancelled in 2026 due to logistical issues. These parades honor Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint, while also showcasing the region’s vibrant Irish-American community. The  US Census reports that the New England region  has the highest percentile of residents claiming Irish ancestry in the United States. “T...

Dublin Heritage Marker Added to the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail in Plymouth, MA on December 8, 2025

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A new "Dublin Heritage Marker" was unveiled on Monday, December 8 at 25 Water Street in the historical town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, best known as the place settled by English Pilgrims in 1620.  The marker was created by the Father John Murphy Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, who helped fund the project along with the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme. Attending the ceremony were Ireland's Consul General Sighlé Fitzgerald,  South Shore Irish Heritage Trail President Greg Shanahan, AOH Plymouth President Mike Schilling, plus various local officials, AOH members and representatives of other Irish organizations. Congressman Bill Keating's District Director Michael Jackson also attended. "This marker commemorates the historic Irish Dublin neighborhood and the families who helped shape the fabric of our community, "wrote officials officials. The Dublin Heritage Marker is being added to the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail , a trail o...

Seven Matches of FIFA World Cup Soccer 2026 Schedule in Boston

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Today,  FIFA World Cup 2026™  revealed the schedule of which national teams are playing in which stadiums this June and July, when 48 national soccer teams take the field in 16 North American cities.  Boston is hosting a total of seven soccer matches, including five group stage matches, a Round of 32 match, and a Quarter-Final.  Among the teams set to play at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) in Foxborough, MA are Haiti, Scotland, Norway, Morocco, Ghana, England, France and one other team yet to be determined. These matches take place between June 13 and June 26.  The Round of 32 match takes place on June 29, and the Quarter Final Match on July 9, 2026.  The final match of World Cup Soccer takes place on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.  A record 48 teams from around the world are participating in the upcoming games. For the first time,  FIFA World Cup 2026™ is being divided among three countries - Canada, Mexico and the USA - with 16 citie...

The New John Quincy Adams Park in Quincy, MA Celebrates the City's Statesman & 6th U.S. President

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    The City of Quincy unveiled a new park on Saturday, November 15, 2025, paying homage to  American President and native son John Quincy Adams , a leading statesman of his time and part of a storied political family.  The bronze statue of Adams was created by sculptor Sergey Eylanbekov . Located at the corner of Chestnut & Maple Streets in downtown Quincy, the park has paved concrete walkways and landscaping around the edges.  Four bronze plaques in bas relief encircle the park, depicting Adams’ illustrious career as a  diplomat, Secretary of State, President and Congressman.    Officials at the unveiling included Quincy Mayor Tom Koch , Congressman Stephen F. Lynch, Adams Presidential Center President Dr. Kurt Graham, the sculptor, and Dr. Edward Fitzgerald, retired executive director of the Quincy Historical Society, who  was the keynote speaker. About 100 Quincy residents attended the unveiling.  In his welcoming...

Boston's John F. Kennedy Library Reopens after Federal Shutdown, Offers Free Admission to Visitors Through November 30, 2025

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  The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood has reopened to the public on Saturday, November 15, 2025, after the federal government shutdown.  The Museum Gift Shop is also opening. In celebration of its reopening, the Museum is offering free admission to all visitors through November 30. Advanced tickets are not required. The JFK Café reopens on Monday, November 17, and the Research Room opens on Tuesday, November 18 (by appointment only). Caroline Kennedy on her pony, Macaroni, at the White House Read about Boston's Inspiring JFK Library in the current issue of Travel & Culture magazine, and its current exhibit, Presidential Pets: From the White House to the Dog House .   Plan your trip to JFK Library here.

Veterans Memorials in Quincy + Boston Honor Local War Heroes

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  This Veterans Day, as we honor the military service of our neighbors, friends and family, here are four landmarks worth visiting, in Quincy, Charlestown and Boston.  On August 9, 2024, the City of Quincy dedicated the beautiful and inspiring new  Quincy Navy Park  along the waterfront in Marina Bay. The park honors Navy veterans while highlighting Quincy’s historical contributions to shipbuilding and the national defense. In addition to the Lone sailor statue, the Quincy Navy Park is encircled by a series of bas relief plaques honoring six Navy Admirals and five Quincy residents who served their community and the nation.  On July 27, 1993, the  Korean War Veterans Memorial  was unveiled at the Charlestown Navy Yard.  The 9-foot-high bronze soldier represents “The Forgotten War,” standing alone at night on sentry duty.  The memorial and statue were created by sculptor Robert Shure of Skylight Studios in Woburn.  The memorial is close to...