Greetings

We love Christmas and all its trimmings, from twinkling lights and tree ornaments, sweet aromas of cakes and spices from the kitchen to the swells of conversation and laughter as family and friends gather.  Whether you are a lifelong resident or an intrepid traveler passing through, you’ll agree that Christmas in New England and in Ireland can truly be the most wonderful time of the year.

In New England, perhaps the greatest Christmas gift of all is the live music, song, dance and theater filling our concert halls, churches and cultural venues.  Spectacle Live has dozens of amazing shows throughout New England, and A Celtic Christmas has 16 live performances at the BAC in Boston. You’ll find the finest live music at the Irish Cultural Centre and Blackstone River Theatre too. And bravo to the Lyric Stage of Boston and Greater Boston Stage Company for their wonderful theatrical seasons.

If you’re looking for gifts, be sure to check out our book reviews and gift shop pages.  And if you love history and heritage as we do, read about the new Revolutionary Irish 250 Trail we’re preparing for America 250 celebrations, and new additions to our Irish Heritage Trail.

Here at Boston Irish Tourism Association, the end-of-year puts us in a reflective mood of gratitude and appreciation, for the people and groups we’ve worked with for the past 25 years.  So here’s a shout-out to our cherished partners and glad tidings for the New Year.

We’re awed by Tourism Ireland and its excellent ways of highlighting Ireland as a year-round visitor destination.  And similarly, the stellar work of Meet Boston, Discovery Quincy and the Revolutionary Valley in welcoming tourists to Massachusetts.

We’re inspired by the Irish Cultural Centre and Blackstone River Theatre for their dedication to culture and community, and the Irish American Partnership for shaping Ireland’s future.

We applaud JFK Library in Boston and JFK Museum in Hyannis for keeping alive the legacy of native son John F. Kennedy.

We sincerely thank our agency partners, Massport’s Logan International Airport, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and the MBTA for recognizing the importance of travel and tourism to the local economy.

In this issue of Travel & Culture, we introduce you to Marcel Vernon of Mass Convention Center and Phil Eng at MBTA and their important jobs overseeing agencies that propel our region in so many positive ways, including economic impacts on the visitor industry.  Our story on Logan International Airport provides an update on the exciting upgrades taking place at the airport in the months ahead.

Congratulations to two of our favorite hoteliers – Stephen Johnston of Boston Harbor Hotel and John Murtha of Omni Parker House – as they each move to new chapters in their illustrious careers.  Likewise, shout-out to Beth Sweeney, longtime Irish Music Archives librarian at BC’s Burns Library, Declan Crowley, program manager at the Irish Cultural Centre, and Brenda O’Connor, founder of the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail, for their stellar work along the way.

If you’re looking for fun and adventure this winter, Boston is rolling out an exciting Frostival campaign of winter fun; Quincy is celebrating Lunar New Year, Presidents Day and Winter Fest in style; and Revolutionary Valley CVB has opened a brand-new Visitor Center in Lowell showcasing the 21 cities and towns in Merrimack Valley.

For those visiting Ireland in 2026, we’ve put together 32 highlights from the four provinces you’ll want to know about, plus some cliff hangers and movies you can’t miss!

That said, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and thanks for being with us on the journey.

Colette & Michael Quinlin
Boston Irish Tourism Association