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Seven Historic Irish Women of Massachusetts: Writers, Sculptors, Educators and Activists

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Each March we celebrate Irish Heritage Month and Women’s History Month, and mark International Women's Day on March 8 and St. Patrick's Day on March 17.  As part of these celebrations, Boston Irish Tourism Association pays homage to these seven Irish-American women whose accomplishments in their respective fields have pervasively influenced society and continue to inspire people around the world. Margaret Foley (1827-1877) Born in Dorset, VT, Margaret Foley worked in the textile mills in Lowell while pursuing her interest in poetry and art, specializing in carving cameos. In Boston she created cameos of opera star Jenny Lind, poet Henry Longfellow, Senator Charles Sumner and abolitionist Julia Ward Howe. In 1861 Foley moved to Rome, Italy and mastered the intricate art of medallions. Her work, including an acclaimed portrait of Cleopatra, were featured at the Philadelphia Centennial Expo in 1876. Her work is on display at the Smithsonian and Harvard art museums. Mary Kenney O...
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Explore Boston's new Revolutionary Irish Trail

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  The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) has just released a new  Revolutionary Irish Trail , chronicling the role of the region’s Irish and Scots-Irish in the American Revolution through public landmarks, including monuments, statues and historic cemeteries as well as libraries, museums and genealogy centers. The free map with descriptions is available in the spring issue of BITA’s   Travel & Culture  magazine and also online, where it can be downloaded for self-guided walks.  “The Irish and Scots-Irish in New England made an outsized contribution to the American Revolution, from generals Henry Knox and John Sullivan to naval heroes Jeremiah O’Brien and John Barry,” says Michael Quinlin, creator of the Rev Irish Trail.  “As our nation celebrates America 250 in 2026, it is fitting to cast a spotlight on these heroes who helped shape American history.” The Rev Irish Trail includes 16 sites in downtown Boston and its neighborhoods,...
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State Senator Nick Collins and Rep Dan Ryan Forward Legislation to Protect Massachusetts Firefighters

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Courtesy of Boston Fire Department  On March 26, 2014, Firefighter Michael R. Kennedy of Ladder 15 and Lieutenant Edward J. Walsh of Engine 33 lost their lives battling a nine-alarm fire at 298 Beacon Street in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood.  The fire was started by accidental sparks from welding, according to news reports. Twelve years later, on March 26, 2026, there is a concerted effort in the Massachusetts State Legislature to pass  An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Kennedy-Walsh Commission,   which would require the Department of Professional Licensure to ensure that "all certifications and training programs for cutting, welding, and hot works processes shall be performed using the existing National Fire Protection Association program....This would require a thorough and accessible electronic database and a public notification system for  violations of the state’s fire codes, or Chapter 148 of the General Laws." Courtesy of Professional ...
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43rd Annual Irish Cultural Week in Lowell, March 8-15, 2026

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  The 43rd Annual Lowell Irish Week kicks off on Sunday, March 8 and runs through March 15, with a full schedule of events and activities that celebrate Lowell's distinctive Irish heritage as the city itself marks the 200th anniversary of its founding. A central mission of the annual event is to preserve and protect Saint Patrick Church of Lowell, a significant National Historic Resource in the history of Irish immigration in America, according to organizers.  Sunday, March 8th 9: 30 a.m. - Pre-Mass Irish Concert, St. Patrick Church, Lowell, MA 10 a.m. - Opening Mass, St. Patrick Church, Lowell, MA 11: 15 a.m. - Parade & Wreath Laying Brunch after Mass and Parade in the Church Hall Tuesday, March 10th 7:00 p.m. - Lowell Irish Trivia Night, Owen & Ollie's, Dracut, MA Thursday, March 12th 7:00 p.m. - Acre Forum & Anam Cara Awards, Mt. Pleasant Country Club, Lowell, MA Famine Memorial Plaque at St. Patrick's Church Saturday, March 14th 10:00 a.m. - Acre Neigh...
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2026 Irish Flag Raising Ceremonies in Massachusetts this St. Patrick's Day Season

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Image courtesy of Boston Harbor Hotel Every March, Massachusetts celebrates Irish-American Heritage Month and St. Patrick's Day in honor of the Irish Diaspora and also Ireland's patron saint.  In addition to St. Patrick's Day parades  and Irish cultural events, Boston Irish Tourism Association has compiled this schedule of annual Irish flag raising ceremonies taking place throughout the Bay State.  Sunday, March 1 HOLYOKE 2:30 p.m. JFK Memorial Plaza507 Appleton Street The Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee raises the Irish flag as a lead up to its parade on March 22. Lawrence Mayor Brian De Peña in 2025 Monday, March 2 LAWRENCE 11 a.m. Lawrence City Hall on Common Street Sponsored by AOH Division 8, men's and women's chapters, and local Irish organizations Monday, March 2 SALEM Noon Riley Plaza, Washington and Margin Streets In celebration of Irish-American Heritage Month. Monday, March 2 HOLYOKE 10 a.m. Holyoke City Hall Sponsored by AOH Division 1 Men...
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The Irish Role in the Famous Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770

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Henry Pelham's original illustration, courtesy of American Antiquarium Two hundred and fifty-two years ago, on a wintry Monday night on March 5, 1770,  a deadly confrontation between occupying British soldiers and local residents resulted in five Bostonians being shot and killed.  The sudden confrontation between the soldiers and citizens, after an escalating week of smaller skirmishes and fist fights between the two groups, became a transformative event in American history that launched the road to revolution among the colonists against the British Crown.  Five men - Samuel Gray Samuel Maverick, James Caldwell, Crispus Attucks and Patrick Carr - died from their wounds and were laid to rest at the Old Granary Burying Ground on Tremont Street.  The Boston Gazette summed up the mood of the colonies when it wrote on March 12, “The town of Boston affords a recent and melancholy demonstration of the destructive consequences of quartering troops among citizens in a time of...
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Boston Honors Three Immigrants from Ireland, Poland and France as Heroes in the American Revolution

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Three Catholic immigrants whose military and naval valor helped win the Revolutionary War between 1775 and 1783 have been honored with public memorials by the City of Boston.  The three memorials pay homage to Ireland's John Barry, Poland's Tadeusz Kościuszko and France's Marquis de Lafayette, and are located close to each other in two iconic downtown parks, the Boston Common and adjoining Boston Public Garden.  All three were unveiled in the 20th century.    John Barry, Ireland Born on March 25, 1745 in Tacumshane, County Wexford, Ireland, Barry emigrated to Philadelphia at age 15 and became a successful maritime merchant.  When the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, Barry immediately contacted George Washington and volunteered to serve on the colonial side. In March, 1776, Barry was commissioned to command the ship USS Brig Lexington and a month later, in April, 1776, the Lexington captured the British ship Edward, marking the first American naval...
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Jacqueline Kennedy's 1962 classic documentary "A Tour of the White House" is airing at JFK Hyannis Museum in February

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The  JFK Hyannis Museum  on Cape Cod is pleased to feature the 1962 documentary, "A Tour of the White  House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy ," during the month of February, 2026. The film chronicles the First Lady's extensive restoration project, which sought to restore the building’s historical integrity using period-appropriate furnishings and artifacts.  Originally broadcast on February 14, 1962, the program provided unprecedented public access to the residence and remains one of the most-watched specials in television  history. Mrs. Kennedy’s dedication to preservation not only professionalized the management of White House collections but also earned her a prestigious Trustees Award . Located at 97 Main Street in Hyannis on Cape Cod,  t he JFK Museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout February. PM  
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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...
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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...
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