Road Trip on the Border

Enniskillen Castle

Tyrone and Fermanagh in the province of Ulster, and Sligo and Mayo in the province of Connacht are places knitted together by geography, landscape and enduring traditions. The drive from Dungannon in Tyrone to Westport in Mayo offers a thrilling glimpse of Ireland’s small villages and towns, of the daily rhythms of the people who…

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Merrimack Valley: Crossroads of America

Lowell Festival of Lights Fireworks

Just a half-hour drive from Boston lies the Merrimack Valley, a distinctive region in Massachusetts known for its natural beauty, ethnic cuisine and storied culture. And it may be best known for its prominent ties to American history, from the American Revolution to the Industrial Revolution to the High Tech Revolution. Today, there is no…

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Dine Out Boston

Couple dining out

Dine Out Boston offers visitors and locals the perfect opportunity to discover why Boston is one of the culinary capitals of the world!  Taking place on February 23 to March 15, 2025, Dine Out Boston features dozens of participating restaurants offering prix fixe menus at multiple price points for lunch and dinner. From seafood and…

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Patriot Place Irish Festival Expands to Three Days, March 15-17, 2025

Girls Irish dancing

The 14th Annual Irish Festival at Patriot Place, one of the region’s most popular events each March, is expanding in 2025 as it goes from a one to three-day celebration of Irish culture in greater Boston on March 15-17.  The events at Patriot Place North Marketplace is free and open to the public and takes…

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Ten Ways To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day In Massachusetts

Woman playing bagpipes

Massachusetts is rolling out the emerald carpet for St. Patrick’s Day this March, as one of America’s most Irish-American states celebrates its distinct culture and ethnic heritage. The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) has issued its annual recommendations for enjoying the region’s St. Patrick’s Day season in a fun and meaningful way. “Today, nearly 20%…

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The Ship of War and Angel Of Mercy (USS Jamestown)

USS Jamestown

On March 28, 1847, an American naval ship – the USS Jamestown – left the Charlestown Navy Yard on a humanitarian voyage that captured the world’s imagination. It was the height of the five year famine in Ireland (1845-49), and scores of Irish people were dying in the streets.  The magnitude of the despair, disease and the…

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All In The Family – Bridget’s: An Irish Tradition

Quality products at Bridget's

Thirty-five years ago, in 1987, Bridget Daly and her daughter Lorraine Ryan opened their first Irish gift shop in Plymouth, MA, aptly named Bridget’s – An Irish Tradition. Originally from Tullamore in County Offaly, the Irish mom and daughter had a good instinct that the shop would be a success and were well aware of the…

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Boston’s Fenway Park –An Irish-American Landmark

Fenway Park – home of the Boston Red Sox – is the nation’s enduring symbol of baseball, America’s favorite pastime.  Officially opened on April 20, 1912, the park has outlasted all other major league baseball parks, becoming a shrine for baseball lovers everywhere. Writing in the New Yorker Magazine in 1960, John Updike described Fenway Park as…

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Boston Celtics – the Green Team

Boston Celtics logo

Many people wonder why the Celtics wear shamrocks on their green uniforms and have a giant leprechaun smoking a cigar as their team logo.  And why the team mascot is a guy named Lucky who looks like he stepped out of a box of Lucky Charms? According to the Boston Celtic’s official web site, the…

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Holyoke Parade with Bridget Moynahan

Bridget Moynihan

Since 1952, the people of western Massachusetts have been celebrating Irish heritage and culture, as well as community pride, at the annual Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade. Now in its 72nd year, the 2.65 mile parade kicks off on Sunday, March 23rd at 11 a.m. from Kmart Plaza on Rt. 5 – Northampton Street and ends…

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Being Irish in Southie

South Boston’s distinction as the nation’s most Irish-American community goes back to the 19th century, when Irish immigrants first settled here. They formed a cohesive Irish-American neighborhood centered on family, faith and public service, a spirit that has endured for more than two centuries. Read about two South Boston traditions, the St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast…

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Visit the Christa McAuliffe Statue at the New Hampshire State House

On September 2, 2024, The Christa McAuliffe State House Memorial Commission unveiled a Christa McAuliffe statue at the New Hampshire State House in Concord. The dedication took place on what would have been Christa’s 76th birthday, with support from the Governor’s Office and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. Photo Courtesy of McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center Renowned artist, Benjamin Victor, was selected by…

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Actress Bridget Moynahan is Recipient of John F. Kennedy National Award from the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Committee

Actress Bridget Moynihan

Acclaimed actress, author, and model Bridget Moynahan is the 2025 recipient of the John F. Kennedy National Award, issued annually by the St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke, MA. The prestigious award is bestowed each year to Americans of Irish descent who have distinguished themselves in their chosen career and who demonstrates the values of family, faith and community…

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Ireland in Springtime: 2025

Apple blossom flowers at Long Meadow Cider in Co Armagh

Of course we love summer in Ireland, and autumn leading into the Christmas holidays and winter. But increasingly, springtime in Ireland is the sweet spot for more and more Americans, who have discovered the milder weather, the abundance of nature, smaller crowds and in general a chill vibe between March and June which fits their…

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Discover the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail

Scituate Lighthouse

An exciting new attraction celebrating local Irish history, heritage, and pride, while welcoming visitors to the area, has taken shape just south of Boston. The South Shore Irish Heritage Trail, unveiled in June 2021, offers a novel new way to enjoy one of Massachusetts’ most beautiful scenic drives while also learning about its rich ethnic heritage….

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The Irish Discover Quincy 

Quincy, Massachusetts has become the go-to place for thousands of Irish expats who have settled in the Boston area over the past 25 years.   With beautiful outdoor amenities plus plenty of history, culture, and ethnic cuisine, this coastal city of 100,000 residents offers a less expensive, more expansive lifestyle for Irish and like-minded immigrant groups…

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Ten Bostonians Selected for Annual Business 100 Awards by Irish America Magazine in New York

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 Irish and Irish-American Business 100, selected annually by Irish America Magazine, a national publication based in New York City. An event honoring the recipients was held on Monday, December 16, 2024 at the Metropolitan Club near Central Park. The magazine’s co-publishers, Niall O’Dowd and Patricia Harty, served as masters of…

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On December 9, 1884, Boston Elected Corkman Hugh O’Brien as its First Irish-Born Mayor

Hugh O'Brien First Irish-Born Mayor

A new era in city government took hold on Monday, January 5, 1885, when Hugh O’Brien became Boston’s first Irish-born mayor.  O’Brien’s victory at the polls in December finally broke the hegemony of old-line Yankees who had run local government since Boston was incorporated as a city in 1822. O’Brien defeated incumbent mayor Augustus Pearl Martin by 3, 124…

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Flynn Cruiseport Is Making Waves in Boston with Record Numbers of Passengers and Cruise Ships in 2024 Season

Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) officials, elected officials from South Boston and tourism, environmental and transportation advocates gathered in Boston’s Seaport District  on Friday, November 22 to celebrate the success of the 2024 Cruising season at the Raymond L. Flynn Cruiseport and to learn about new plans for upgrading the facility. Former U.S. Ambassador and Boston Mayor…

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Brack Tours: Ireland Your Way in 2025

People overlooking cliffs

As a special offer to BITA readers, Brack Tours is offering a $100 discount per person for any Exclusive Tour in 2024.  To take advantage of the offer, contact info@ bracktours.com and use the discount code BRACKBITA2024 in your correspondence. You’re ready to plan that dream trip to Ireland in 2024, to explore its majesty and magic, to discover places…

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