Twelve Boston Irish-American Mayors, from Hugh O'Brien to Marty Walsh

Since Irish-born businessman and publisher Hugh O'Brien became mayor of Boston in 1885, 12 mayors of Irish-American heritage have won the seat. Between 1930 and 1994, Irish-Americans were continuously voted in as mayor by the voters of Boston.

Here are the Mayors of Boston claiming Irish Heritage:

Hugh O’Brien 1885–88
Patrick Collins 1902–05
John F. Fitzgerald 1906–07, 1910–13
James M. Curley 1914–17, 1922–25, 1930–33, 1946–49
Frederick W. Mansfield 1934–37
Maurice Tobin 1938–41, 1941-44
John Kerrigan 1945
John B. Hynes 1950–59
John Collins 1960–68
Kevin H. White 1968–83
Raymond L. Flynn 1984–93
Martin J. Walsh 2014- 2021

Learn more about Boston's Irish history by visiting IrishHeritageTrail.com.