Irish Massachusetts

Each March we celebrate Irish Heritage Month and Women’s History Month, and mark International Women's Day on March 8 and St. Patrick's Day on March 17.  As part of these celebrations, Boston Irish Tourism Association pays homage to these seven Irish-American women whose accomplishments in their respective fields have pervasively influenced society and continue to inspire people around the world. Margaret Foley (1827-1877) Born in Dorset, VT, Margaret Foley worked in the textile mills in Lowell while pursuing her interest in poetry and art, specializing in carving cameos. In Boston she created cameos of opera star Jenny Lind, poet Henry Longfellow, Senator Charles Sumner and abolitionist Julia Ward Howe. In 1861 Foley moved to Rome, Italy and mastered the intricate art of medallions. Her work, including an acclaimed portrait of Cleopatra, were featured at the Philadelphia Centennial Expo in 1876. Her work is on display at the Smithsonian and Harvard art museums. Mary Kenney O...

  The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) has just released a new  Revolutionary Irish Trail , chronicling the role of the region’s Irish and Scots-Irish in the American Revolution through public landmarks, including monuments, statues and historic cemeteries as well as libraries, museums and genealogy centers. The free map with descriptions is available in the spring issue of BITA’s   Travel & Culture  magazine and also online, where it can be downloaded for self-guided walks.  “The Irish and Scots-Irish in New England made an outsized contribution to the American Revolution, from generals Henry Knox and John Sullivan to naval heroes Jeremiah O’Brien and John Barry,” says Michael Quinlin, creator of the Rev Irish Trail.  “As our nation celebrates America 250 in 2026, it is fitting to cast a spotlight on these heroes who helped shape American history.” The Rev Irish Trail includes 16 sites in downtown Boston and its neighborhoods,...

Courtesy of Boston Fire Department  On March 26, 2014, Firefighter Michael R. Kennedy of Ladder 15 and Lieutenant Edward J. Walsh of Engine 33 lost their lives battling a nine-alarm fire at 298 Beacon Street in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood.  The fire was started by accidental sparks from welding, according to news reports. Twelve years later, on March 26, 2026, there is a concerted effort in the Massachusetts State Legislature to pass  An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Kennedy-Walsh Commission,   which would require the Department of Professional Licensure to ensure that "all certifications and training programs for cutting, welding, and hot works processes shall be performed using the existing National Fire Protection Association program....This would require a thorough and accessible electronic database and a public notification system for  violations of the state’s fire codes, or Chapter 148 of the General Laws." Courtesy of Professional ...

  The 43rd Annual Lowell Irish Week kicks off on Sunday, March 8 and runs through March 15, with a full schedule of events and activities that celebrate Lowell's distinctive Irish heritage as the city itself marks the 200th anniversary of its founding. A central mission of the annual event is to preserve and protect Saint Patrick Church of Lowell, a significant National Historic Resource in the history of Irish immigration in America, according to organizers.  Sunday, March 8th 9: 30 a.m. - Pre-Mass Irish Concert, St. Patrick Church, Lowell, MA 10 a.m. - Opening Mass, St. Patrick Church, Lowell, MA 11: 15 a.m. - Parade & Wreath Laying Brunch after Mass and Parade in the Church Hall Tuesday, March 10th 7:00 p.m. - Lowell Irish Trivia Night, Owen & Ollie's, Dracut, MA Thursday, March 12th 7:00 p.m. - Acre Forum & Anam Cara Awards, Mt. Pleasant Country Club, Lowell, MA Famine Memorial Plaque at St. Patrick's Church Saturday, March 14th 10:00 a.m. - Acre Neigh...