Irish Massachusetts

  Bacchante and Infant Faun at BPL by sculptor Frederick MacMonnies Bacchante and Infant Faun Boston Public Library Courtyard This controversial masterpiece was created in 1893 by American-born sculptor Frederick MacMonnies (1863-1937), the son of William and Julinana Eudora (West) MacMonnies. His father William emigrated to New York from the Isle of Whithorn in Dumfries, Scotland and became a successful grain merchant. Frederick gave the original casting of Bacchante to his friend, architect Charles Follen McKim , whose own masterpiece, the Boston Public Library, was being built. When the statue was unveiled at Boston Public Library, an outcry ensued from puritanical opponents who objected to the nudity of Bacchante, the Goddess of Wine.  McKim withdrew the gift, giving it instead to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where the original piece still resides. The controversy over the censorship of the artwork gained MacMonnies a certain notoriety, and he mad...

The coastal towns along Boston's South Shore constitutes one of the most Irish-American regions in the United States a place where Irish immigrants and Irish-Americans have settled for generations. To celebrate, local historians, community leaders and See Plymouth, a regional tourism agency that promotes Plymouth County,  have created the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail , a fascinating trek through Irish heritage of nine scenic towns: Weymouth, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Scituate, Marshfield, Kingston, Duxbury and Plymouth. According to Boston.com, Plymouth County has the second-highest percentage of Irish descendants in the United States, with 30.1% of residents claiming Irish ancestry. The Trail includes dozens of landmarks, museums, public parks and cultural venues where the illustrious story of the Irish is told. A recent landmark is the Dublin Heritage Marker unveiled in December 2025 on Water Street, where an Irish immigrant neighborhood once flourished. In 2026, Ireland’s pr...

  May 27, 2026 – The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) today released its 2026 summer issue of  Travel & Culture  magazine, highlighting hundreds of Irish cultural activities in greater Boston and New England, as well as travel tips for visiting the island of Ireland this summer and fall. Read the   digital version .          “There’s an undeniable Celtic spirit in New England that is vibrant and welcoming, with dozens of outdoor festivals and indoor concerts, Gaelic athletic games, cultural and community events plus history and heritage trails in Boston and the South Shore,” says Michael Quinlin of the Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA).  “For tourists traveling abroad, the island of Ireland has an exciting new campaign called  Ireland Unrushed , which urges visitors to take it slow and to enjoy the magic around every corner.”  Some New England highlights include the Glasgow Lands Scottish Festi...

  Image Courtesy of Boston Police Department  Boston Firefighter Robert 'Bobby' Kilduff, Jr., of Rescue Company 2 was killed yesterday while battling a fire in #Dorchester .  The West Roxbury native was a third generation Boston firefighter who followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. We extend our sincere condolences to the Kilduff family, neighbors, friends & fellow firefighters during this difficult time.  

  2026 FIFA World Cup Soccer has arrived, and it’s now time for ‘The Beautiful Game’ to commence, along with all the pageantry and excitement that comes with the world’s largest sporting spectacle! Hundreds of thousands of football fans are journeying to the New England from around the world to watch the seven FIFA World Cup matches taking place from June 13 to July 9 at Boston (Gillette) Stadium in Foxborough. Five group stage matches take place on June 13, 16, 19, 23 and 26, plus a Round of 32 matches on June 29 and then a Quarter Final match on July 9.    Here is the Boston Stadium schedule . In Boston, Logan International Airport has made upgrades, with expanded gates, TSA checkpoints, ticketing areas and baggage claim capacity. Its customer service team is eager and ready to greet international visitors in any language! MBTA has upped its public transit plan with trains and buses to bring thousands of fans to and from Boston (Gillette) Stadium for each of the seve...

On May 6, 2026, the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum unveiled a brand new, updated Kennedy Family Tree Wall that provides a refreshed, clearly presented overview of the Kennedy family lineage. Designed to enhance the visitor experience, the new graphic art provides historical context and deeper insight into one of America’s most well‑known families. Multiple generations of the Kennedy family are depicted in the genealogical rendering, beginning with Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, parents of President John F. Kennedy. “The Kennedy story is often experienced through individual moments and public milestones,” said Wendy Northcross, executive director. “The updated Family Tree Wall allows visitors to better understand the family connections behind those moments and the shared history that shaped them.” The refreshed wall features updated research, improved readability, and a design that complements the Museum’s fixed and rotating exhibitions. It serves as both a...

Boston Irish Tourism Association has compiled this signature schedule of cool festivals in summer and fall 2026, from live music and dance to culture and cuisine, history and heritage.   Find more signature festivals at  https://irishboston.org/festivals/   June 12 FIFA Fan Festival City Hall Plaza, Boston  meetboston.com    June 13 Flag Day Festival  Pageant Field, Quincy discoverquincy.com    June 20-21 Milton Music Festival Governor Hutchinson’s Field Adams St., Milton wearemilton.org   June 20 KidsFest Hancock Adams Common Quincy discoverquincy.com   June 21 South Shore Arts Festival Cohasset Seeplymouth.com   July 2 Quincy Patriot Celebration Quincy discoverquincy.com    July 3-5 Boston Harborfest 2026 Rose Kennedy Greenway Boston meetboston.com    July 4 Fourth of July Parade, Concert & Fireworks Town of Plymouth Seeplymouth.com   July 11-15 Sail Boston Festival Downtown Boston sailboston.com...

The Comhaltas Boston Irish Music School is holding workshop masterclasses with three world-class Irish traditional musicians on June 11, 2026 at the Irish Pastoral Centre in Adams Village, Dorchester. Classes for youth/beginners take place from 5-6:30 p.m. and intermediate/advanced classes from 7-9 p.m.  The featured instructors include: Cathal Hayden – internationally acclaimed fiddle and banjo master from Co. Tyrone, celebrated for his extraordinary musicianship and decades of performance worldwide. Dónal Murphy – one of Ireland’s finest button accordion players hailing from Abbeyfeale, Co.Limerick, and founding member of Four Men and a Dog, known for his driving rhythm, polkas, slides and dynamic teaching style. Alan G. Murray – Glasgow-born guitarist, bouzouki player and vocalist, now based in New York. A highly respected accompanist and member of Solas, Alan is renowned for his tasteful accompaniment and expert instruction. Space is limited, so please   register online ...

Today, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte proclaimed April 13, 2026 as General John Stark Day in the State of New Hampshire, encouraging citizens to "remember the legacy of General Stark and reflect on the values of freedom, bravery and patriotism that continue to guide our state and nation."  The annual event to honor native son John Stark includes a ceremony at 1:30 on April 13 at the New Hampshire Capital Building in Concord, organized each year by the Sons of the American Revolution. The ceremony features remarks from members of the New Hampshire legislature and a reading of the proclamation issued by Governor Ayotte.   The ceremony includes the placement of a commemorative wreath at the base of the John State statue and concludes with a traditional three-volley musket salute by the Color Guard. Stark may be best known today for coining the phrase 'Live Free or Die.'  In her proclamation, Governor Ayotte notes, "In a letter written in 1808, General Stark fam...