Irish Massachusetts

Readers Garden, Museum of Literature Ireland, Dublin One of Britain’s most prestigious literary awards - the Booker Prize - contains a recording-breaking number of authors from Ireland this year.  Of the 13 books long listed for the prize, four of them are written by writers from Ireland: Sebastian Barry, Elaine Feeney, Paul Lynch, and Paul Murray.  On 21 September, the Booker Prize committee will shortlist the list of 13 books to six finalists, and the winner of the £50,000 prize will be announced at an event in London on November 26, 2023.  Here are the Irish contestants in this year's roundup: Old God’s Time, by Sebastian Barry  How to Build a Boat, by Elaine Feeney  Prophet Song, by Paul Lynch, and  The Bee Sting, by Paul Murray  Ireland’s reputation as a wellspring of literary genius goes back to ancient times, when traveling bards and musicians celebrated mythical heroes such as Cú Chulainn and Oisin. Early Irish literature is said to be the o...

The National Parks of Boston is undertaking a  $1.4 million preservation and restoration of the historic Bunker Hill Monument as a lead up to the  250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 2025.   That famous battle represented the point where "British tyranny ended and American liberty began," in the words of Reverend Edward M. Taylor at the 1889 commemoration.    In addition to marking the 250th anniversary of the battle in 2025, the Bunker Hill Monument is also part of a larger initiative, known as America 250 , now underway to celebrate multiple historical events leading up to the  250th  anniversary of the founding of the nation on July 4, 2026.   Park officials are holding an informational meeting about the restoration of the monument on Wednesday, August 30 at 6 p.m., at the Bunker Hill Museum, where  Historical Architect Lance Kasparian will discuss the restoration, followed by a Q&A with park staff. The...

Ballymaloe Cookery School Over the past two decades, the island of Ireland has steadily emerged as a world-class culinary destination for travelers seeking delicious and distinctive cuisine using products sourced from local farms and fisheries, while  combing  age-old traditions with contemporary flair. With a range of  award-winning restaurants and gastro-pubs, fabulous food markets and tours, and farm-to-table artisan producers, epicures everywhere will enjoy the range of culinary delights that await you.    Here are some suggestions from Tourism Ireland  to whet your appetite,  including f ood tours and food festivals that offer a perfect way to experience Ireland's culinary offerings.  North Northern Ireland’s food scene is regularly hailed by culinary experts for its vibrant and tasty offerings. Lonely Planet’s Gourmet Trails Europe recently recognized Northern Ireland as one of the best in Europe, with shout-outs to St. George’s Market ...

  Sounds from a Safe Harbor , a biennial festival of music, dance, art, theatre and conversation, takes place on September 7-10     in Cork City, Ireland.       The festival was co-founded by Irish movie actor Cillian Murphy, who recently portrayed the “father of the atomic bomb” in the hit film Oppenheimer.  In addition to his acting talents, Murphy is also a talented and passionate musician. Cillian Murphy, courtesy of SFSH FB   Sounds from a Safe Harbor focuses on new works, collaborations and shared experiences, and this year’s lineup includes Chicago band Wilco, the Bonny Light Horsemen performing with the RTÉ orchestra and Crash Ensemble, Ireland’s leading new music ensemble for ground-breaking, contemporary music.   See full schedule .   The festival is part of a full palette of things to do in  County Cork , one of Ireland’s distinctive visitor destinations, filled with  stunning scenery, picturesque...

Photo courtesy of Cape Cod National Seashore On August 7, 1961, President John F. Kennedy used 22 pens to sign into law the Cape Cod National Seashore . The new park, covering forty miles of beaches, ponds, marshes and uplands, created a permanent place for people to enjoy one of the nation’s great natural resources, while preventing the commercial development of the land that would have been inevitable.   The ceremonial pens were given to the 22 people attending the ceremony at the White House, including nine Massachusetts congressmen such as Tip O’Neill and Edward Boland. Senator Benjamin Smith (D-MA) also attended, while Senator Leverett A. Saltonstall (R-MA), who co-sponsored an initial version of the bipartisan bill with then-Senator Kennedy, was in Maine with his family and unable to attend.  Photo courtesy of JFK Library & Museum An appropriation of $16 million was authorized for land acquisitions within six towns in Barnstable County - Chatham, Orleans, E...

Hugh O'Brien of County Cork, the first Irish-born person to be elected as mayor of the city of Boston, died on August 1, 1895 in Somerville, after His funeral was held at Holy Cross Cathedral , and "thousands of people thronged the cathedral to pay their last tribute of love and respect" to O'Brien, a local newspaper wrote. The Charitable Irish Society sent a five-foot high Irish harp, made of roses, orchards and lilys. "The largest and most conspicuous delegation was that from the St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum, 200 little children dressed alike, who sat immediately behind the family," Republic Newspaper reported. Born in Ireland on July 13, 1827, O'Brien emigrated with his family to Boston in 1832 when he was five years old. He attended a public school in Boston’s Fort Hill neighborhood, and at age 12 joined the Boston Courier newspaper as an apprentice. By the age of 15, he had become foreman of a printing office, before starting his own publicat...