In 2025, Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) celebrates its 25th anniversary as a distinctive cultural tourism organization that promotes culture…
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A cool way to experience Ireland is to ‘settle yourself,’ a common Irish phrase that means to get your bearings…
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The Boston Public Library (BPL), founded in 1848 and acclaimed as the People’s Palace, has an incredible collection of books, videos, music, genealogy resources and educational materials available to the public. The BPL also has a celebrated collection of art and sculpture throughout the library that inspires library staff, visitors and residents every day. The McKim Building itself is…
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Kip Tiernan, Photo courtesy of Rosie’s Place The next time you are exploring Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail, stop by the memorial to Kip Tiernan (1926-2011), social activist, writer, teacher, visionary and provocateur. The Kip Tiernan Memorial is located in Boston’s Back Bay on Dartmouth Street between Newbury and Boylston streets, next to Old South Church, and…
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Regional tourism industry leader Michelle Cruz was confirmed on October 31, 2024 as the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development (DTTD) new State Tourism Director. Michelle begins work on December 2, replacing longtime tourism chief Lori Harnois, who left earlier this year for a new job in Vermont, after serving as New Hampshire’s tourism director…
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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…
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Irish rebel John Boyle O’Reilly arrived in Boston in January 1870, and almost immediately he became a powerful voice for the oppressed, including his own people of Ireland who were trying to break free of Britain, but also in the United States, Blacks, Chinese immigrants and Native Americans. O’Reilly saw the British conquest of the…
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by David Green Boston-based writer, teacher and world traveler David Green has written a tour de force novel set in the Celtic region of Galicia during the latter half of the 20th century. Described as a coming-of-age novel, Porto Lúa introduces a country and people “living in a time before the disenchantment of the world,…
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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…
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Irish-born Launt Thompson (1833-1894) was a consequential American sculptor of the 19th century whose monuments of the Civil War and classical themes were hailed during his lifetime. Born in Abbeyleix, County Laois, Ireland in 1833, he emigrated in 1847 with his widowed mother and settled near Albany, New York. Like the other Irish sculptors such…
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Padraig O’Malley As a major voice on the topic of divided societies, from Northern Ireland to South Africa and the Middle East over the past half century, Padraig O’Malley’s latest book is a welcome addition to the literature, especially now, when the prospect of a united Ireland seems closer than it has been in the…
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Formed in 2013 in Lowell, MA, Spectacle Live has become one of New England’s premier concert promoters in less than a decade. Founder Pete Lally’s original philosophy – to match the right artist with the right venue at the right date – has proven to be a winner, and today, the company offers creative solutions…
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The next time you’re exploring the Irish Heritage Trail or Boston’s Freedom Trail, be sure to stop by the USS Constitution ship and the Irish Heritage Trail in the Charlestown Navy Yard.The USS Constitution is America’s oldest commissioned ship, first launched on October 21, 1797. It is berthed in the Charlestown Navy Yard, and operated by the US Navy, in partnership with the National Historic Parks of…
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Margaret F. Foley (1827-1877) was a highly-praised 19th century cameo artist and sculptor, who lived in Vermont, Lowell and Boston, Massachusetts before moving to Rome, Italy where she spent the final 17 years of her life. She was widely known for her exquisite and intricate cameos of leading personages from singer Jenny Lind and poet Henry…
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Dublin-born sculptor Stephen J. O’Kelly (1850-98) was a successful artist in late 19th century United States, creating several important memorials that still stand today. Born in Dublin, he studied art in Paris and opened a studio in London before immigrating to Boston, where he lived for much of his adult life. He had Roscommon roots, and his brother,…
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Located along the Seaport District on Fan Pier and situated along Boston Harborwalk, the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse is a tribute to South Boston native Joe Moakley, who represented his neighborhood and district as a state representative, state senator, Boston City Councilor and U.S. Congressman for 48 years. The Moakley Courthouse is part of Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail, an…
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American naval hero of the Revolutionary War, Commodore John Barry died on September 13, 1803. He is buried at Old Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Philadelphia, PA. Considered one of the true military heroes of the American Revolution, Barry was born in Tacumshane, County Wexford on March 25, 1745. At age 15, he emigrated to Philadelphia in 1760, and…
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by Kevin Kenny Professor Kenny has a distinguished academic career as a teacher, researcher and writer, with a specialty on migration, especially pertaining to Irish, Jews, Africans and Asians. His latest book offers an original interpretation of “how slavery shaped immigration policy as it moved from the local to the national level in the period…
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The New England Free Jacks, based in Quincy, MA, made history on Sunday, August 4 by winning its second consecutive Major League Rugby (MLR) Championship with a hard-fought, 20-11, victory over the Seattle Seawolves in the MLR title game at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. Read full press release. With the win, the Free Jacks join Seattle…
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One of the most gifted 19th century Irish-American sculptors, according to art historians, was John Talbott Donoghue (1853-1903) , a Chicago native who lived in Boston in the 1880s and whose life and career ended tragically when he took his own life. Donoghue was discovered as a struggling artist by Oscar Wilde during the famous…
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This month, the City of Quincy dedicated the beautiful and inspiring new Quincy Navy Park along the waterfront in Marina Bay. The park honors Navy veterans while highlighting Quincy’s historical contributions to shipbuilding and the national defense. The ceremony took place on August 9, 2024. At the dedication, Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch praised “Quincy’s steadfast commitment to answering…
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Henry Lee, Boston’s beloved civic leader, parks advocate, teacher and historian, died on Monday, August 12, 2024, from cardiac arrest. He was 99. Lee is best admired and renowned in Boston for spearheading a grass roots movement in the 1970s to prevent the development of high rise buildings encroaching on the perimeter of the Public…
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Samuel K. Fisher The tension between the British Empire and American colonies that led to the American Revolution is getting a fresh look by historians as a lead-up to the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Catholic University history professor Samuel K. Fisher’s new book examines the roles of Indigenous natives, Irish…
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The town of Lexington, Massachusetts is gearing up for the semiquincentennial celebration of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. A new organization named Lex250 has been set up to promote and spearhead activities, projects and celebrations for the Town of Lexington. In a statement issued on its website, Lex250 writes: “The legacy of April 19, 1775, endures as…
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WASHINGTON, April 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, today announced that, as part of a planned succession process, its Board of Directors has appointed Fred Dixon as the company’s new President & Chief Executive Officer, effective July 15, 2024. Dixon will succeed Christopher L. Thompson, who announced his retirement in July 2023 and held the role of Brand USA’s President…
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Boston’s vibrant neighborhood of Charlestown has a rich Irish history that goes back to the American Revolution and continues today. There are several landmarks in Charlestown that visitors can explore along the Boston Irish Heritage Trail. Here are a few or our favorites. A Boston National Historic Park overseen by the National Park Service, the Bunker Hill Monument is…
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