See Plymouth This Summer

By Irish Boston Tourism Newsroom

If you’re looking for a place steeped in American history, nothing beats Plymouth, Massachusetts, a beautiful coastal town hugging the Atlantic Ocean between Boston, Quincy and Cape Cod.

With iconic landmarks such as the statue of Massasoit overlooking Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II Ship, Plimoth Patuxet Museum and Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth is where visitors immerse themselves in the story of Pilgrims who arrived in 1620 and the Wampanoag People who lived here for centuries before.

An additional bonus this summer is a series of America 250 celebrations taking place throughout Plymouth County, with compelling exhibits, musicals, reenactments, lectures and walking tours that place Plymouth in the context of the American Revolution.

Another compelling story is Plymouth’s vibrant Irish community. According to Boston.com, Plymouth County has the second-highest percentage of Irish descendants in the United States, with 30.1% of residents claiming Irish ancestry.

To celebrate, local historians and community leaders have created the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail, a fascinating trek through Irish heritage of nine scenic towns: Weymouth, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Scituate, Marshfield, Kingston, Duxbury and Plymouth.

The Trail includes dozens of landmarks, museums, public parks and cultural venues where the illustrious story of the Irish is told. A recent landmark is the Dublin Heritage Marker unveiled in December 2025 on Water Street, where an Irish immigrant neighborhood once flourished.

In 2026, the 20 foot Celtic Cross in Cohasset is being added to Ireland’s prestigious Global Famine Way, an international pathway chronicling Irish Diaspora migration across the US, Canada and Australia.

Other Irish spots in Plymouth County include the Aisling Art Gallery on Rt. 3A in Hingham, run by Maureen Connolly of Co. Kerry and her husband John from Boston. And the recently-opened Galway Girl Irish Specialty Shop in Duxbury carries authentic Irish clothing, foods and crafts. In nearby Norton, the mother-daughter shop Bridget’s – An Irish Tradition, has a full inventory of imported Irish clothing, jewelry, gift items and some of the best Irish soda bread in New England.

Ireland’s beloved singing group, Celtic Thunder, performs at Plymouth Memorial Hall on September 18, and The Young Dubliners play at the Shire Center for Performing Arts on September 26.

For regular traditional Irish music, visit The Snug in Hingham on Monday nights, the Indie Ferm Brewery in Plymouth on Sundays, The Tinker’s Son in Norwell, and the Voyage Irish Pub in Marshfield on weekends.

Festivals this summer include the South Shore Arts Festival on June 21, Independence Day Parade and Fireworks on July 4, Plymouth Arts & Crafts Festival on August 8-9 and Plymouth Waterfront Festival on August 29.

The great outdoors in Plymouth County beckons visitors to Myles Standish State Forest in Carver, Wompatuck State Park and World’s End in Hingham, Brewster Gardens and Ellisville Harbor State Park in Plymouth and Fort Revere Park and Nantasket Beach Reservation in Hull.

Plymouth Harbor offers whale watching tours, cruises and fishing excursions, and the beaches are beautiful in Hull, Duxbury, Marshfield and Plymouth.

You’ll find amazing shopping in Plymouth, from family-run retail stores on Main Street to the Shoppes at Village Landing, and plenty of souvenirs to take home.

And finally, visitors savor Plymouth’s culinary offerings, from family restaurants and taverns to cafes and bakeries. And check out Plymouth’s wineries and breweries, which offer special tastings of their locally made beverages.

Find full details on everything Plymouth has to offer by visiting seeplymouth.com.