Irish Massachusetts

The 2023 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award® takes place on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and her children, Jack Schlossberg and Tatiana Schlossberg, members of the Profile in Courage Award Committee, will present the awards in a live-streamed ceremony.  Request a reminder to watch the live stream . This year's Award goes to five women Senators from South Carolina – Katrina Shealy, Margie Bright Matthews, Mia McLeod, Sandy Senn, and Penry Gustafson – who formed a bipartisan coalition to filibuster a near-total abortion ban in their state. Learn more about the award for the South Carolina State Senators . A special International Profile in Courage Award will honor South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for working to improve relations between their countries despite domestic opposition stemming from historical issues. Learn more about the award for the Lead...

Newgrange The island of Ireland looms large when it comes to UNESCO designated sites and cities. From ancient geological phenomena to vibrant cities steeped in culture, visit these amazing places on your next trip to Ireland.  The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site initiative "seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity." UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ireland Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway is an other-worldly landscape of hexagonal stone columns that formed as a result of violent volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Needless to say, the unique stone formations gave rise to many colourful myths, one of which – the story of the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill – gave the site its name. Discover the facts and the fiction in the state-of-the-art visitors centre. In County Meath, the Brú na Bó...

Photo courtesy of Discover Newport One of New England's most popular events, Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival , is taking place on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, 15, 2023, at Bowen’s Wharf in downtown Newport, RI.  The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days and is open to the public. Admission is free, and attendees can purchase food and beverages at vendor booths throughout the wharf.  Now in its 32nd year, the Festival offers fresh, local seafood, including fish tacos, lobster rolls, stuffies, chowder, fried calamari, clams and oysters.  Signature cocktails and cold beer are also available.  The festival features continuous live music - folk, surf rock, Caribbean and blues - plus plenty of room for dancing. Cafe-style seating is set up throughout the Wharf and proceeds from festival bars benefit  Oliver Hazard Perry , Rhode Island's 200-foot official sailing education vessel. The Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival has been named one of the “10 Fabulou...

Photo Courtesy of US Census Bureau This week the U.S. Census Bureau released detailed information about the 2020 US census, revealing that 38,597,428 Americans identified themselves as having full or partial Irish ancestry.   Read the press release here . Previously, the Census Bureau released 2020 Census data on the Hispanic or Latino population and major race groups such as White, Black or African American, Asian. But this new information delves deeper into ethnic and national affiliations, including counts and statistics for 300 detailed race and ethnic groups, as well as 1,187 detailed American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) tribes and villages. These data come from the 2020 Census Detailed Demographic and Housing Characteristics File A (Detailed DHC-A) .  The addition of a new write-in area for collecting detailed White responses was one of the improvements made to the 2020 Census race question design. As a result, data are now available from the decennial census for 1...

Joe Leary in front of Boston Harbor Hotel (photo courtesy of Irish American Partnership) Joseph F. Leary, a leader in Boston's Irish-American community since the 1980s, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on September 18, at age 90. Preceded in death by his wife, Eileen (Sullivan) Leary in 1981, Joe is survived by his two children, Joseph of South Boston and Eileen and her husband Thomas Johnson of Boston and Harwich Port.  Prior to attending Boston College, Joe served in the US Army as a Military Policeman out of Fort Jay in New York City, and worked for the Gillette Company in sales for nearly 30 years. In 1988, the newly formed Irish American Partnership selected Joe as its president and CEO.  The non-profit organization, which was endorsed early on by House Speaker Tip O'Neill and others, with a mission to create a 'strong, healthy Ireland through economic development, job creation and education." Leary served as president for 28 years until his...

A group of elected officials, historians, musicians and cultural advocates from Counties Cork and Kerry are in Boston and New England this week, celebrating the connections between the two places that goes back three centuries.  Boston City Council President Ed Flynn with Lord Mayors of Cork and Kerry   Among their stops during the visit: Boston City Hall, where they were welcomed by City Council President Ed Flynn and the City Council; Massachusetts State House, where they had a reception with Irish-American legislators; the John Sullivan Schoolhouse in Berwick, ME, where they heard from local historians about the Sullivan family who arrived in Maine in the 1730s;  and the USS Constitution Museum at the Charlestown Navy Yard, where they learned about the USS Sullivan war ship named in honor of another family of Sullivans.   The group are also visiting MJ O'Connor's Restaurant in Boston, the Irish Pastoral Centre in Dorchester, the Irish Social Club in West Rox...

Ireland’s famous, picturesque Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry is on full display at The Big E in West Springfield, MA, the largest agricultural fair on the eastern seaboard of the United States. The Dingle exhibit is located in the Young Building, and features Ireland's finest handcrafted products, cultural and educational offerings as well as tourism information. Also known as The Eastern States Exposition, The Big E is a 17-Day annual fall celebration of the agricultural, small business, cultural, historical and culinary riches of the six New England states, which include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The fair opened on September 15 and runs through October 1, 2023. The Irish portion of The Big E, sponsored by Aer Lingus, kicked off this week at the fair with a Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day celebration featuring the band Gaelic Storm, whose music was the soundtrack to the hit film, Titanic, the Celtic Angels, New Leaf and other ...

  The Irish Cultural Center of Greater Boston is presenting The Inaugural Brian J. Donnelly Award for Leadership in Public Service to Jim Brett, a longtime politician, business leader, and advocate for disability rights.  The event takes place at historic Omni Parker House at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 21, 2023. All proceeds from this event goes toward the mission of the Irish Cultural Centre: to preserve and promote Irish culture and heritage through music, dance, arts, history, language, sports, festivals and other cultural events and activities .   Purchase tickets here . A first-generation Irish American with parents from Tubbercurry, County Sligo, Jim and his wife, Patricia, reside in Dorchester. He had been honored by  Irish America Magazine in New York in its Top 100 Irish-Americans in 2005, and received the Gold Medal Award from the Eire Society of Boston .  He is a Trustee of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and a former recipient of the ...

The Savior The  Dublin Theatre Festival , acclaimed as one of Europe’s premier theater events, runs from September 28 to October 15, 2023, with 350+ performances across 20 venues. The 18-day festival features performances by artists and troupes from Brazil, France, UK, Belgium, Poland, Switzerland, New Zealand and The Netherlands, while Ireland-based productions include 12 world premieres and multiple award-winning dramas. Abbey Theatre, Dublin Among the venues at this year's Dublin Theatre Festival: the famous  Abbey Theatre , founded in 1903 by W B Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory, the  Gate Theatre , where Orson Welles, James Mason and Michael Gambon began their acting careers, and the modern  Samuel Beckett Theatre  in Trinity College. Here is the  full festival schedule . Distillation A highlight of the festival is Luke Casserly’s  Distillation , a multidisciplinary performance lecture featuring original text, perfume, video design and sculpture. Th...

Dorchester Heights, South Boston (Photo Courtesy of National Parks of Boston) The National Parks of Boston will begin a $30+ million restoration of Dorchester Heights Monument starting on September 15. Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), rehabilitation work will be complete prior to March 17, 2026, Evacuation Day, during the nation’s 250th birthday year. The Monument and its surrounding area will remain closed to the public during the restoration. "The GAOA funds allow the National Park Service to address deferred maintenance challenges that are needed to properly preserve Dorchester Heights Monument and improve visitor access and enjoyment of it," said National Parks of Boston Superintendent Michael Creasey. "The restoration of the landmark and its surrounding landscape to its former grandeur prior to the country’s 250th anniversary will allow generations of visitors to experience this historic place and understand its significance." The National Par...

  John Barry Statue at Independence Hall, Philadelphia.  Image courtesy of National Park Service The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston is lending one of its priceless artifacts - a cutlass belonging to Revolutionary Naval Hero Commodore John Barry - to the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. The sword goes on display on September 13, the anniversary of Barry’s death in 1803 through July 2024, part of the museum’s War at Sea exhibit.  Commodore Barry's Cutlass and Flag Image Courtesy of JFK Library President John F. Kennedy was a great admirer of Commodore Barry. In addition to sharing a love of the sea and sailing, both men traced their lineage to County Wexford. JFK displayed Barry’s sword and flag in his office at the White House, and nearby was a portrait of Commodore Barry, painted by Gilbert Stuart in Cross Hall.  See more  Barry artifacts at the JFK Librar y.  President Kennedy lays a wreath at the Barr...

Legendary quarterback Tom Brady returned to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough today, the scene of an illustrious career where he led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl Championships.  See video of the Halftime Retirement Ceremony , where Brady stood onstage with his three children and with the Kraft family, and thanked the New England fans, ownership, his coaches and teammates, many of whom traveled to Boston for the ceremony, for making this a highlight of his career. Here is the full text of Brady's comments: “Thank you, RKK (Robert Kraft), JK (Jonathan Kraft), the Kraft family, Coach Belichick all the staff, the coaches, my teammates, you fans. Nobody, 23 years ago, would imagine that this journey would bring us here today. We had six championships, a lot of countless memories in this stadium — celebrating wins against great teams in Foxborough weather like today, where we love, love seeing the opponents come in and be a little worried about what the conditions were gon...

  Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums (photo courtesy of Massachusetts 9/11 Fund) The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund is organizing the 22nd Anniversary Commemoration of 9/11 on Monday, September 11, 2023 in Boston.  Here is the  full schedule .  Events takng place at the Massachusetts State House in the morning include a moment of silence, a reading of the names of the 9/11 victims, and music by Josh Groban and the Boston Children's Chorus. In the afternoon, there is a wreath laying ceremony in Boston's Public Garden at 1:30 p.m.   The Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums will play in the Public Garden, followed by Boston Police Officer Steve McNulty singing God Bless America.  Numerous 9/11 commemorations are taking place throughout the Commonwealth on September 11, in Braintree, Cape Cod, Cambridge, Lawerence, Springfield and Watertown.

  The next time you visit Boston, take a self-guided walk along Boston's Irish Heritage Trail , a fascinating 3-mile journey through 300+ years of the city's illustrious Irish history. The trail introduces you to Irish poets, politicians and patriots along with Irish women, sculptors and scholars who have impacted Boston and beyond. The trail starts at the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Garden along Boston’s waterfront, proceeds through Government Center to Downtown Crossing, Boston Common and Back Bay, and ends at Fenway Park in the Fens. Of the 20 sites along the Trail, 17 are outdoor stops in public parks, city squares and other public spaces, along with Boston City Hall, the Massachusetts State House and the Boston Public Library.  You can pick up a free copy of the Irish Heritage Trail map at the Boston Common Visitor Information Center , run by Meet Boston , or  download a copy of the map here .  The map is included in the current issue of Travel & Culture magaz...

  The Irish Cultural Centre in Canton, Massachusetts is holding its 11th Annual ICC 5K Road Race and Fitness Walk on Sunday September 10th at 11:30 a.m.   This event is open to athletes of all abilities. Wheelchairs are welcome, and walkers are encouraged to participate. The course is flat, and begins and ends on the grounds of the beautiful Centre, located off Route 138 in Canton.  Race day registration is $40.00. Find details and sign-up information here. Photo Courtesy of Irish Cultural Centre Prior to the 5K race, the day begins with a free Children's Fun Run sponsored by MOCC construction at 10:30 a.m. for children ages U3, U5, U7 and U9.   In addition to the running events, the Centre is also celebrating "Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” with Irish dancers and live Irish music, with live music and dancing.  A post-race party features a delicious lunch of pasta and salad; Guinness and other brews will be on tap for adults 21 and over.   For more informa...

  Image Courtesy of JFK Library On September 12, 2023, St. Mary's Catholic Church in Newport, RI celebrates the 70th anniversary of the marriage between Jacqueline Bouvier and future US President John F. Kennedy, which occurred at the church on September 12, 1953. A multi-media musical remembrance takes place at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. The program features vintage film clips, a live performance of organ music with hymns from the wedding ceremony, and the "first dance" played at the reception at Hammersmith Farm, Jackie’s childhood summer home in Newport, according to Discover Newpor t. The St. Mary’s Choir will participate in the 6 p.m. presentation.  No tickets or reservations are required. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit the St. Mary’s Hot Lunch Program, serving local neighbors in need.  St. Mary’s Church is Rhode Island's first Roman Catholic Parish, established April 8, 1828. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places on March 6, 2008. F...

The 4th Annual Rockport Celtic Festival is taking place on September 14-17 2023 at the magnificent Shalin Liu Performance Center in downtown Rockport, Massachusetts. One of the most anticipated Celtic gatherings in New England, the festival is presented by Rockport Music , in partnership with Edinburgh-born harpist/composer MaeveGilchrist and WGBH’s Brian O’Donovan , and celebrates the music of the Celtic nations and French Diaspora in Eastern Canada. Musical themes this year include: Pub Sessions, Ceiildh and Songs, Quebec To Newfoundland, Salon Session, Global Strings, and Words & Music: The Celtic Spirit. Performers include Genticorum | Matthew Byrne | Kimberley Fraser & Troy MacGillivray Eilis Kennedy | Tatiana Hargreaves & Allison De Groot Yasmin Williams | Seamus Egan | Kyle Sanna | Lena Jonsson David Coffin | Rakish | Katie McNally | Kevin Henderson. Find ticket information here . Here is a full schedule of upcoming concerts and festivals from Rockport Music. ...