Irish Massachusetts

(October 29, 2024) U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo gave an upbeat assessment on the State Department 's ongoing efforts to strengthen its ability to issue visas to Americans and foreign visitors, in anticipation of a "mega decade" for sports tourism in the United States. As a result of these efforts, "more people are traveling to the United States than ever before; more Americans are traveling the world than ever before," Blinken said, stating that in FY24, "we issued 11.5 million visas, and that’s a world record for us, breaking all previous records."  In addition, Blinken said, wait times to get a visa have gone down 60% "since the acute phase of the pandemic...Today, the median wait time is under 60 days for a first-time-visitor visa interview." These efforts will prepare the United States to accommodate major sporting events in the coming months and years, Blinken said.  "We’ve got ...

The popular and delicious Newport Restaurant Week takes place this year from November 1-10, 2024. The annual fall event features the flavors of nine coastal communities, all rolled up into 10 savory days. The moveable feast offers a variety of options for diners at dozens of restaurants, hotels, cafes and pubs, including prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner. Indoor and outdoor dining, seafood, gluten free and other options are available. Here is a list of all participating restaurants . November is a perfect time to explore one of New England's favorite coastal areas. Known as The Classic Coast, this area consists of nine vibrant and historic towns along the New England coastline. Check out places to stay and things to do in this fall. DiscoverNewport, you won't regret it.

Photo Courtesy of Pure Cork Cork City in Ireland was named one of the 25 best places in the world to travel to in 2025 by National Geographic. The much anticipated announcement comes out annually each year and is often a boom for destinations who make the competitive list. The list is handpicked by National Geographic’s explorers, photographers, and editors. There are a number of exotic destinations on the National Geographic list, such as Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago, Cenobitic monasteries in Italy, the medieval city of Brasov in Romania, and Tunisia. Writing about Cork City,  National Geographic tells readers to“Immerse yourself in an emerging urban renaissance," then describes the city’s new development plan, part of a $128 billion Project Ireland initiative.  Set to be completed in 2028, the plan “will redevelop the port and docklands, refurbish the Crawford Art Gallery , and enhance the Cork Event Centre so it can host new concerts, festivals, and exhibit...

The  Charitable Irish Society  of Boston is bestowing its  Silver Key Award  on two women from leading Irish-American organizations on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. The awards reception takes place at the UMass Boston Club at 6 p.m. Tickets are $175 and  reservations are required . Funds from the event are used to aid immigrants in need. This year’s award winners are Immigration Coordinator Maryann Casavant of the  Irish Pastoral Centre  of Boston, who has been helping people with immigration advice and applications since 2017, and Executive Director Mary Sugrue of the  Irish American Partnership , who has raised needed funds for educational and community programs in Ireland since 1989. The  Charitable Irish Society  was formed on March 17, 1737 by "Gentlemen, Merchants and Others of the Irish Nation." Its role has always remained the same: to help alleviate the suffering of Irish immigrants settling in Boston, and to create a spirit of f...

A new exhibit at the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum entitled, “ From Here to There ,” featuring 19 works from legendary Cape Cod Artists. The exhibit is presented in collaboration with the Cape Cod Museum of Art (CCMOA), where docents selected artworks from the permanent collection of more than 2000 pieces of art on a unifying theme of travel and adventure. Corresponding wall text for each artwork was researched and authored by the docents. The exhibit, at the Scudder Family Center for Civic Engagement at the JFK Museum, runs through January 2025. According to JFK Museum officials, "President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy worked to make the arts part of their life in the White House and at home. Both dabbled in painting during their days in Hyannis Port. Both loved books, music, and architecture. And as President, JFK created the position of Special Consultant on the Arts, to include artistic dimension in areas where public policy could benefit from it, such...

Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival  October 19 - 20 Discover Newport Presents: Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival 13 Bowen's Wharf, Newport, RI 02840 discovernewport.org Historic Bowen’s Wharf in downtown Newport, RI  hosts the 33rd annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival. Named one of the “10 Fabulous Fall Festivals on the Coast,” by Coastal Living Magazine, this event is an open invitation for all to come back to the waterfront after the rush of the summer season! Honoring the harvest of the sea, this Festival offers fresh local seafood, continuous live music and family fun.  Admission is free, and attendees can purchase food and beverages at the vendor booths.  Rain or shine under the festival tents! I CC's Boston Irish Beer Fest October 19 Irish Cultural Centre Presents  5th Annual Boston Irish Beer Fest Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston   200 New Boston Drive, Canton  FThe all-day event on the spacious Centre grounds features live music and singing, c...

The 4th Annual Boston Irish Beer Festival is coming to the  Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston  in Canton, MA on Saturday, October 19, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m..  Tickets to the event are available  online  or at the event. Children under 12 go free. Parking is also free. The all-day event on the spacious Centre grounds features live music and singing, children's activities,  beer tastings, and family fun that highlight Irish culture and heritage.  The main attraction of the day is the variety of vendors offering tastings of their finest brews, whiskeys and cider.   Beers include authentic Irish ales and stouts and local craft brews with unique flavors such as pumpkin and ginger brews. A full menu of food is available too, including Guinness Stew, Kerry Gold Cheese Burgers, Irish Seafood Chowder and Fish & Chips. The festival's two stages of live music provide continuous music throughout the day. Top local bands include Strawberry Hill...

Riverdance 30 th  Anniversary celebration is coming to the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston Celebrating 30 phenomenal years as one of the world's most beloved cultural productions, Riverdance - The New Generation is returning to the Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston for eight performances on April 8 – 13, 2025.   Tickets are now on sale and can be  purchased online . Group Sale information here . Since Riverdance first emerged onto the world stage, its fusion of Irish and international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. The Grammy Award-winning music, plus the infectious energy of its mesmerizing choreography and breathtaking performances has left audiences in awe and established Riverdance as a global cultural sensation. To celebrate this 30-year milestone, Riverdance's special anniversary tour brings its magic to audiences around the world. This production rejuvenates the much-loved original show with new innovative choreography and cost...

The  Groton Hill Music Center  in Groton, Massachusetts is welcoming world renowned Celtic duo Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas to perform live at its Concert Hall this Saturday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m. The Boston Irish Tourism Association has a free pair of tickets to the concert. See  details for entering the contest , or  purchase your tickets here . Fraser is considered one of Scotland's premier fiddlers, with a distinguished career spanning 30 years.  He has received numerous awards, radio and television credits, and performances on top movie soundtracks such as Last of the Mohicans and Titanic. Hass is one of the most sought after cellists in traditional music today. Hass is a Juilliard School of Music graduate and has performed and recorded with the world's top acoustic musicians, including Mark O'Connor, Natalie MacMaster, Liz Carroll, Solas and Altan. The duo's extraordinary live performances are matched only by their achievements as educators, with Ala...

Photo Courtesy of Massport The next time you are exploring the Boston Irish Heritage Trail and numerous Irish-American landmarks in Boston neighborhoods, check out the Thomas J. Butler Memorial Park in South Boston. It part of Massport’s parks and open spaces that offer year-round green spaces to local residents and visitors.  The park opened in 2017 in memory of Massport’s longtime director of external affairs and lifelong South Boston resident, Tommy Butler, acclaimed as a longtime government official and beloved as a visionary community leader. Read about the opening ceremony . Photo Courtesy of Massport Located along 917-975 East First Street off of Farragut Road and minutes away from Castle Island, the 4.4-acre multi-use park contains a path for runners and walkers that is lined with trees and flowers, along with seating and lighting and bike rakes. The Thomas J. Butler Park is open from dawn to dusk and there are parking spaces nearby, and a bus stop. Photo Courtesy o...

U.S Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs Joe Kennedy III is speaking in Boston on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at the Young Partners Speakers Series hosted by the Irish American Partnership .  The event takes place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Mintz Law Office at One Financial Center in downtown Boston. Reserve your seat here . Joe Kennedy III speaking at an Irish American Partnership event President Joe Biden appointed Kennedy as U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland in December 2022. The appointment fulfills a promise to Irish-Americans Biden made during the presidential campaign in 2020, wherein candidate Biden promised to "support active U.S. diplomatic engagement to advance the Northern Ireland peace process." Formed in 1986, the Irish American Partnership (IAP) is dedicated to connecting Irish America and friends of Ireland to their heritage through targeted giving.  Read about IAP's history . "We invest in education, community development, and pe...

Martina Curtin  Congratulations to Boston Irish cultural leader and businesswoman Martina Curtin, who received the 2024 Community Champion Award from the Irish Echo Newspaper , a national weekly based in New York City. The award is being presented to Curtin and eight other recipients at a ceremony at Rosie O'Grady's Restaurant in New York on Friday, October 11. Born and raised in County Clare, Curtin is currently Board President of the  Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston , the first woman to hold the position.  The Centre was founded in 1989 to celebrate Irish culture and heritage in the Greater Boston Area, and today is the largest Irish organization in New England. She is also co-founder of  Mná Mheiriceá , a women's networking group founded in 2023 by women for women.  On the business front, Martina founded  CHC Home Care , a boutique home care agency enabling clients to receive nursing care in the comfort of their own homes.   Irish Echo ...

  (October 10, 2024) - This weekend and throughout October, literary and popular culture fans and scholars from across the United States and around the world are heading to Lowell, Massachusetts for the annual Lowell Celebrates Kerouac 2024 Fall Festival , taking place on October 10-14 in the city Kerouac famously memorialized in his writings. The event is organized by Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! Inc. (LCK!), a non-profit group whose mission is to promote a better understanding and appreciation of Jack Kerouac’s life and literature.  David Amram The Jack Kerouac Fall Festival features dozens of events, including live jazz, films, poetry readings and open mic events, literary discussions, book signings and tours of Kerouac's childhood haunts, including the French Canadian cemetery where many of Kerouac’s family members were buried.  Legendary jazz artist David Amram, who collaborated with Kerouac, is performing Saturday night at the Back Page Cafe + Bar in Kearney Square....

Poet Eavan Boland, Photo Credit Arts + Health (October 9, 2024) Ireland's acclaimed poet, essayist and educator Eavan Boland (1944-2020) has broken the glass ceiling once again, becoming the first woman to have a building named after her at Trinity College Dublin in its 432 year history. More details here . The distinguished poet, who earned her BA with First Class Honors in English Literature and Language at Trinity in 1966, helped change the patriarchal, parochial Ireland of her youth by creating a voice for Irish women and children that had barely existed in Irish poetry. "I know now that I began writing in a country where the world woman and the word poet were almost magnetically opposed," Boland wrote in 1995, in her award-winning book, Object Lessons: The Life of the Woman and the Poet in our Times. "In the old situation which existed in the Dublin I first knew, it was possible to be a poet, permissible to be a woman, and difficult to be both." During h...

St. Patrick's Church in Lowell, Massachusett s The next time you are exploring Irish heritage sites in Massachusetts, visit these landmarks in the City of Lowell, a mill city built in the 19th century in large part by Irish immigrants. The idea to create an experimental new town of mills and factories came from Yankee industrialists and bankers, but they quickly realized they needed the newly-arrived Irish to construct the buildings, the roadways and canals to ship materials, and boardinghouses to accommodate the labor force.  A key Irish labor leader in this endeavor was Hugh Cummiskey, an immigrant from County Tyrone who emigrated to Charlestown in 1817.  He and 30 Irish laborers walked the 27 miles from Charlestown to Lowell, and began work building the town in 1822, according to historian David McKeen in his book, Lowell Irish . By 1830 there were more than 500 Irish workers, along with their families. Lowell Canal along Suffolk Street McKean said that many of Lowell’s fir...

  Award Winners (l-r): Billy Higgins, Caroleann Gallagher and David McCourt  Photo Credit: Clive Wasson, Donegal County Council Congratulations to Billy Higgins of South Boston, who was one of three recipients honored with the Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award in Buncrana, County Donegal in September. Named for US Speaker of the House and US Congressman from Cambridge, Thomas P. ‘Tip’ O’Neill, whose ancestral roots are in Donegal, the annual award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to society, arts and culture, business and healthcare. Along with Higgins, Caroleann Gallagher, attorney for the U.S. Supreme Court and David McCourt, Chairman of Granahan McCourt Capital and the Chairman of National Broadband Ireland, were also honored in 2024.   Tommy O'Neill Congratulates Billy Higgins. Photo Credit: Clive Wasson, Donegal County Council Tom O’Neill, former Lt. Governor of Massachusetts and the son of Tip O’Neill, attended the ceremonies with his wife Sh...

Halloween in Galway  If you're like countless people around the globe who celebrate Halloween each October, why not make your way to Ireland this year, where the hallowed holiday began!   Fused in Celtic mythology and folklore, Ireland honors its ancient traditions each year with Halloween hijinks and Samhain night processions that evoke spirits, mythical creatures, and ethereal beings.  It is a ton of fun, highly entertaining and a great excuse to visit Ireland during its beautiful autumn season.   Scary in Derry   Started with the City of Derry , voted 'Best Halloween Destination' by readers of USA Today. Each year, scary-Derry comes alive with ancient spirits welcoming you to join its Awakening. Recognized as Europe's largest Halloween Festival, Derry Halloween takes place October 28-31, 2024 and promises to scare the bejesus out of you.  Halloween in Waterford Waterford Ireland’s oldest city was founded by the Vikings more than 1,100 years ago and is b...