Irish Massachusetts

The Irish American Partnership's annual  Women’s Leadership Celebrations, Nollaig na mBan, kicks off in Boston on Friday, January 5 by honoring Irish actress, playwright and producer Geraldine Hughes.  Hughes is being  joined by CNN Correspondent Donie O'Sullivan.  The event takes place at the Boston Harbor Hotel, starting at 8 a.m. Details here .  Other events in this year's Women's Leadership Celebrations are taking place on  January 9  in Washington DC, featuring US Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin , who is joined by BBC News Correspondent Caitriona Perry. Then on January 11 in Chicago, the IAP celebrates Ireland's President Mary Robinson , the first woman president of Ireland.  She is joined by Glamour Magazine Editor-in-Chief Samantha Barry.  For nearly four decades, the  Irish American Partnership  (IAP) has been connecting Irish-Americans to the people of Ireland in the most meaningful, imaginative and fruitful ways. Formed in 1986, with  endorsements fr

This winter, Ireland is celebrating the extraordinary life of St Brigid, Ireland matron saint and beloved figure who bridged the Celtic and Christian traditions of the island.   Brigid 1500 is an 11-day festival of music, cuisine, art and spirituality taking place January 27 to February 6, 2024, in County Kildare,  birth place of Brigid, who died 1,500 years ago on February 1, 524 AD. Read about St. Brigid here . The festival brings together some of Ireland's leading artists, performers, enthusiasts, communities and visitors to celebrate St Brigid in a contemporary way with a culturally rich program of events that align with the values St Brigid championed during her life, such as faith and spirituality, peace and hospitality and arts and education.  See the full calendar of events .  Highlights of Brigid 1500 include: Mother Earth: A Day of Food and Music , featuring renowned female chefs including Darina Allen, Majken Bech-Bailey and Chantelle Nicholson, takes place on January 27

Logan Airport, Terminal E, Rooftop Boston’s Logan International Airport  hit a major milestone, thanks to significant improvements and the modernization of Terminal E, the airport’s international gateway, with an iconic red roof. This fall, Massport leaders and public officials gathered to celebrate the  completion of these upgrades , which began in 2019, making a more efficient, secure, comfortable and enjoyable experience for international travelers.  Logan Airport, Terminal E - Exterior  The biggest enhancement is the addition of four new gates, giving Terminal E a total of 16 gates to serve international destinations across 30 countries on four continents. Other upgrades include a new, state-of-the-art TSA 7-lane security checkpoint, an expanded ticketing area and enhanced baggage claim capacity. Once through the new checkpoint, passengers enter a beautiful open space with high ceilings drenched in natural light, where they can enjoy a variety of retail and food concessions, state-

  Looking for authentic Irish products this Christmas season?  Check out these Irish gift shops in the Boston area, all owned by Irish immigrant families and offering the most authentic and high quality Irish products you'll find on this side of the Atlantic, plus some great gift ideas in honor of President John F. Kennedy at the JFK Library in Boston and the JFK Museum in Hyannis.  Stop by these locations, or you can order online. Happy Christmas everyone! Museum Shop at the JFK Presidential Library & Museum Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125 This holiday season, the Museum Store at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston is introducing a brand new Irish Collection of gifts and merchandise that celebrate JFK’s historic visit and his special connection to his Irish heritage. The Museum Store has a wide range of exclusive merchandise including vintage sweatshirts, holiday ornaments, products related to JFK's PT109, a replica of JFK's Air Force One bomber jacke

Galley Head Lighthouse, Rosscarbery, Co Cork Ireland is beautiful in the winter season, especially along the stunning Wild Atlantic Way.  Here is a selection of travel ideas for visitors to Ireland in the winter months, from December to March 2024.  Starry Nights and Northern Lights Lonely Planet named the Wild Atlantic Way as one of the top five places in the world to star gaze. With little light pollution, on a clear winter’s night thousands of stars are visible to the naked eye. Go north to Donegal for a chance to see the northern lights or drop into Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve or Mayo International Dark Sky Park and enjoy a guided tour of the night sky. Fishing Lessons, Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Co Galway Country Pursuits A stay in a country house combines elegance and comfort with the chance to try your hand at a few new outdoor pursuits. At Rockhill House , County Donegal, winter experiences include deer stalking, rut walks and wild game shooting. And at stunning Ba

America250 , the national organization that oversees efforts to  commemorate  t he 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence,  has unveiled a new logo for to represent the efforts leading up to  July 4, 2026.  "Historic milestones demand an iconic brand identity," said America 250 Chair Rosie Rios. " The design’s ribbons are intended to evoke a sense of commemoration, celebration, and purpose while the flowing red, white, and blue ribbons form the number 250 as a single continuous path, representing the unity, cooperation, and harmony we strive for as a country." The new logo was created in partnership with  Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv , the firm behind the 1976 Bicentennial logo.  "This design will be at the heart of our efforts over the next three years and one that I hope will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come as well," Rios said. 

  Note: As a special offer to BITA readers, Brack Tours is offering a $100 discount per person for any Exclusive Tour in 202 4 .  To take advantage of the offer, contact info@ bracktours.com and use the discount code BRACKBITA2024 in your correspondence. You’re ready to plan that dream trip to Ireland in 2024, to explore its majesty and magic, to discover places you’ve longed to see or to see again. In your dream journey, you could be driving up the stunning coast or dancing at a music festival. You could be taking a robust city excursion or a tasty culinary adventure. But whatever you do, you want to do it your way! In fact, ‘Ireland Your Way’ is a guiding principle of Brack Tours , one of our favorite partners when it comes to offering Irish trips of a lifetime. ‘Ireland Your Way’ exemplifies Brack’s top shelf services, friendly and knowledgeable tour guides, distinctive itineraries, value for money and tons of fun memories to savor for years to come. Brack Tours was started in 2010

  Nestled between Christmas season and St. Patrick’s Day, the winter months in Ireland are full of magic, comfort and delight for intrepid travelers. Irish winters are rarely extreme, with an average temperature between 40 and 46 degrees, and don’t be surprised to wake up to clear blue skies and sunshine. When Ireland is occasionally blanketed with the purest of snow, it only makes the landscape more evocative and alluring. In winter, you’ll have plenty of room to roam, and time to explore the same charms that Ireland offers year round, from cozy pubs and lively music sessions to tasty cuisine and miles of breathless landscapes and seascapes. Here are suggestions to get you going. Let’s start with the winter beauty of Ireland. Shorter days and longer evenings mean incredible sunsets up and down the coast. Try these spots for a memorable Irish sunset or discover your own! Along the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland, check out Murlough Beach in Co. Down, and in nearby Co. Antrim, Dunluc

  " It is that quality of the Irish--that remarkable combination of hope, confidence and imagination--that is needed more than ever today. The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics, whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were, and ask why not.” - President John F. Kennedy’s speech before the Irish Parliament, June 1963 President Kennedy’s powerful words before the Irish Parliament during his historic visit to Ireland in 1963 echo through time and remind us of the president’s deep and abiding love for Ireland and his affection for the Irish people. This holiday season, the Museum Store at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston is introducing a brand new Irish Collection of gifts and merchandise that celebrate JFK’s historic visit and his special connection to his Irish heritage. In addition to the Irish Collection, the Museum Store, now under new management, has a wi

(November 29, 2023) -- Today the Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) released its 2023-2024 winter issue of Travel & Culture , a compendium of holiday concerts, cultural events and literary activities taking place in Massachusetts and New England, as well as travel ideas for visiting Ireland this winter. Read the online digital magazine here . This issue details Christmas holiday activities throughout New England in  December , from Rockport, MA to Newport, RI, plus special events at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton and the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI.  Ideas for Christmas shopping, including the new Irish collection at the Museum Store at the JFK Library in Boston, are also included. Throughout the winter, upcoming concerts and special events are featured and leading up to Irish Heritage Month next March , including the New England parade schedule and a profile of the famous Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day parade. A story on Boston Logan Airport’s newly renovated

  (November 17, 2023).  The Boston Irish Tourism Association  (BITA) has issued its annual schedule of St. Patrick's Day parades throughout New England.  The 2024 parade calendar runs from March 9 through March 24 in 11 cites across the region, as part of the nation's celebration of Irish Heritage Month each year.   BITA will continue to update the schedule as more cities and towns finalize their dates.  According to 2020 data recently released by the US Census Bureau , New England is the most Irish region in the nation, based on the percentage of residents who claim Irish ancestry.  For example, 28.2% of all  Massachusetts residents , or 1.521, 205 million people, claim some level of Irish ancestry, according to the latest report.  New England's Irish community has been celebrating St. Patrick's Day for centuries, starting as early as 1737, when the newly formed Charitable Irish Society held a procession on Tremont Street in Boston.  The parades quickly became a way t

Bridget's -An Irish Tradition gift shop in Norton, Massachusetts, presents a dazzling pre-holiday showcase of Irish made jewelry from Solvar Jewellers of Dublin, Ireland from Noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 11, 2023.  For holiday shoppers,  it is a perfect chance to meet the expert, view rare pieces and place timely special orders.   Bridget's is also holding a free raffle for the chance to win a stunning sterling silver pendant. In addition, Bridget's is offering light refreshments, complimentary gift wrapping, special weekend discounts, free gifts with purchase and more. Formed in 1987 by Bridget Daly and her daughter Lorraine Ryan, Bridget - An Irish Tradition carries a full inventory of high-quality, hand-made clothing from Ireland and a variety of other Irish products including jewelry, gift items and food. The gift shop has been an integral part of the Irish-American community in Massachusetts for nearly four decades.  Read more about Lorraine and Bridget . Bri

  The Dublin Book Festival takes place on November 8-12, 2024 in bookstores, libraries, cultural institutions and schools throughout Ireland's capital city. Founded in June 2006, the annual festival highlights Irish publishing by featuring books published in Ireland, their authors, editors and contributors. More than 80 events are taking place over the five day festival. Here is complete schedule of events . According to the organizers, The Printworks at Dublin Castle is the primary hub of the festival, where authors, publishers and audiences mingle over the weekend. The Winter Garden is a space where audiences gather to relax and read, browse the bookshop, enjoy the café and meet authors at book signings. Dublin is the fourth city in the world recognized by UNESCO as a City of Literature. Read details . Dublin Book Festival is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and various other government entities, tourism and cultural groups. See sponsors here. If you haven't been

National Geographic Traveler in the UK has chosen two iconic places on the island of Ireland - the city of Belfast and the Wild Atlantic Way - as among the 30 coolest destinations of 2024. Writers Rory Goulding and Connor McGovern note, "Ahead of the new year, we’ve crossed the world to find the 30 most exciting destinations for 2024. With landmark hotels opening, ambitious rewilding projects under way and new train routes making travel easier than ever, there’s a lot to choose from for your next trip." Read the entire story here , and the article's description of Belfast and Wild Atlantic Way below.  Belfast City Hall, Photo Courtesy of Discover Northern Ireland   Belfast, Northern Ireland A long-promised year of culture comes to the home of the Titanic If city pride in Belfast is like a flower that’s managed to grow in difficult soil, then 2024 should see a super-bloom thanks to the Northern Irish capital’s year of culture. It’s been years in the making — the 2010s saw

This year's  Newport Restaurant Week  in Newport, Rhode Island takes place from November 3-12, 2024, with incredible opportunities to enjoy culinary delights at affordable prices.  More than 60 restaurants in Newport and nearby Middletown, Jamestown, Portsmouth, Bristol and Tiverton are participating in this year's Restaurant Week, offering prix-mixe menus, gift cards promotions and BOGO deals.   First debuted in 2006, Newport Restaurant Week has become one New England's most popular annual events for visitors who love good food, ambiance and pricing.   In addition to the extraordinary cuisine, visitors come to Newport for its coastal beauty, historical destinations and cultural amenities. Read more about Newport here .   For year-round information on visiting Newport, go to DiscoverNewport.org   

  On Sunday, October 29 at 2 p.m. renowned scholar, research and writer  Padraig O'Malley discusses his new book, Perils and Prospects of a United Ireland at the Scituate Public Library, 85 Branch Street, Scituate, MA 02066.  The event is  sponsored by the Eire Society of Boston . Based at the McCormack Graduate School of Public Policy at University of Massachusetts in Boston, where he holds the Joe Moakley Chair of Peace and Reconciliation, O'Malley is a leading expert on reconciliation between feuding factions, in Northern Ireland, South Africa, the Middle East, Central America and elsewhere around the world.    In his new book, O'Malley interviewed 97 political leaders, academics and political influencers, focusing on the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Good Friday Agreement, Brexit, Unionism and Nationalism, as well as the economics of reunification or continued partition, and the wide range of Northern Irish identities. Read the book review from the Boston Irish Touri

(Source: JetBlue Press Release) JetBlue today announced a "Celtic Combo" for American travelers, featuring two highly popular transatlantic destinations, Dublin, Ireland and Edinburgh, Scotland, beginning March 2024.  Read full press release .  Daily seasonal service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Dublin Airport (DUB) begins March 13, 2024, and continues through September 30, 2024.   Additionally, JetBlue is running the daily service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Dublin Airport, running March 13 through September 30, and to Edinburgh Airport (EDI), running from May 22, 2024 through September 30, 2024.  These new destinations mark JetBlue’s fourth and fifth transatlantic markets. The award-winning carrier currently offers daily nonstop service to London, Paris and Amsterdam from New York and London and Amsterdam from Boston. “The success of our transatlantic service proves customers don’t have to choose between great service