Irish Massachusetts

  Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums (Photo courtesy of Massachusetts 9/11 Fund) The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund is organizing the 23rd Anniversary Commemoration of 9/11 on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 in Boston. See today's  full schedule . Events takng place at the Massachusetts State House this morning include a moment of silence, a reading of the names of the 9/11 victims, and music by Josh Groban. The ‘Star Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key is being performed by Boston Fire Department Acapella Group.  State Representative and Speaker Pro Tempore  Kate Hogan of the 3rd Middlesex District gives welcoming and closing remarks in the State House Chamber of the House of Representatives. In the afternoon, there is a wreath laying ceremony in Boston's Public Garden at the Garden of Remembrance  at 1:30 p.m. The Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums plays in the Public Garden, followed by Boston Police Officer Steve McNulty singing 'God Bless America

Kathleen O'Toole Kathleen O’Toole, the first female commissioner of the Boston Police Department and an internationally recognized leader in law enforcement, is being honored by  The Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston  (ICC) with the 2nd Annual Brian J. Donnelly Award for Leadership in Public Service.   The award ceremony takes place September 19 at the Omni Parker House in Boston. Purchase tickets here .  Born in Pittsfield, MA, O'Toole has had an illustrious career working in law enforcement. In addition to her ground-breaking role in 2004 as the first female Commissioner of the Boston Police Department, O'Toole also served as Lieutenant Colonel of Massachusetts State Police and as the Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety. In addition, O’Toole was a member of the Independent Commission on Policing during the Peace Process in Northern Ireland.   From 2006-12, she served as Chief Inspector of An Garda Síochána Inspectorate, an oversight body advising the Minister o

  The St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke has announced James M. Lavelle as its 72nd Grand Marshal for the 2025 Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 23, 2025.   Lavelle will be honored at the Grand Marshal's Reception on Friday, January 17, 2025, at the Log Cabin in Holyoke.  The Grand Marshal is the highest local honor given to a person who has distinguished themselves as a loyal person to their career, their family, and to their Irish ancestry, according to parade officials. “I am excited that we are honoring Holyoke native, James Lavelle, as Grand Marshal,” said Parade President John Beaulieu. “His dedication to his family, his career and his community are well known and I’m grateful to the Grand Marshal’s Selection Committee for choosing him with this most esteemed honor. I look forward to having James Lavelle and his family lead the 72nd Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade on March 23, 2025.” Lavelle's family has deep and abiding connections to the parade. His father, B

  Blackstone River Theatre , considered one of the finest acoustic music halls in New England, has announced its 24th Fall Season of concerts with artists from around the world, plus its schedule of music and dance instruction classes.  The theatre is located in Cumberland, RI.  Russell Gusetti, executive director of Blackstone River Theatre says,” We are really looking forward to our fall season which is an especially strong one. Following our most successful Winter/Spring season we have continued with 4 summer concerts and lots of interior renovations and improvements to make the experience better for everyone.” He adds, “ I am already mostly booked through next May and will be greatly looking forward to our 25th anniversary season which starts September 2025 … what a long, strange trip it has been!"   The 2024 season kicks off this Saturday, September 7, with the Gothard Sisters performing live at 8 p.m. Specializing in Celtic, Folk, World, Classical and New Age music, t he thr

  The Aer Lingus European Sale is now on through September 17, 2024, for travel from Boston and other American cities to Ireland and Europe between October 7, 2024 and March 31, 2025.   Click here for sale details .  From epic adventures on the Wild Atlantic Way to exciting city breaks brimming with culture, cuisine and nightlife, feel the joy of a European escape with amazing flight deals.  As Ireland’s national airline, Aer Lingus knows how to get you there offering comfort and world class service – all with an Irish welcome onboard.  

Photo courtesy of Choctaw Nation ' A new sculpture memorializing the historic connections between the Choctaw Nation and Ireland was unveiled on August 30, 2024 at Choctaw Capitol Grounds in Tvshka Homma, Oklahoma. Entitled Eternal Heart, the eight foot high sculpture created by artist Samuel Still of Choctow Nation combines a symbol of Irish trinity with a heart, facing toward Ireland.  It was a joint commission funded by the Government of Ireland and the Chahta Foundation . The sculpture honors an extraordinary act of kindness that happened in 1847, when the Choctaw people raised more than $170 ($5000 today) to send to the people of Midleton, County Cork, during the height of the Irish Famine, a five-year potato crop failure that devastated the island. The Choctaws themselves had just endured the arduous journey known as the “Trail of Tears," where they were forcibly relocated from their homes in the eastern part of the continent to what was called Indian Territory west o