Community Leaders
Tip O’Neill Bust in Buncrana, photo courtesy of Visit Donegal Legendary politician Thomas P. ‘Tip’ O’Neill, one of the most impactful politicians of American politics in the 20th century, died on January 5, 1994 at his home in Harwichport, Cape Cod. He was 81. Born in North Cambridge on December 9, 1912, he was the son…
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…
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…
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…
James Michael Curley was born on November 20, 1874 on Northampton Street in Roxbury to Irish immigrant parents Michael Curley and Sarah Clancy from County Galway. A dominant figure in Boston and Massachusetts politics for half a century, Curley served four four-year terms as mayor of Boston, in 1914, 1922, 1930 and 1946. He was Governor of Massachusetts from…
In May, Congressman Stephen F. Lynch of the MA 8th Congressional District was honored by Massport Authority with the 2022 Maritime Champion award for his lifelong advocacy of maritime activities in the Port of Boston and Boston Harbor, and for his support for small businesses along the waterfront and the men and women who work…
On November 17, 1918, more than 30,000 people gathered in Lowell to honor a favorite native son, William Henry Cardinal O’Connell, who was at that time the Cardinal of the Boston Archdiocese. Officials unveiled and dedicated a fountain of granite and bust of O’Connell along a parkway in front of City Hall. The fountain and…
One of Boston’s most prominent Irish-Americans was Maurice Tobin (1901-53). Born in Roxbury’s Mission Hill, he was the son of immigrants from Clogheen, Tipperary. He had an illustrious political career, which culminated in his serving as US Secretary of Labor under President Harry Truman. Tobin became Massachusetts’ youngest state representative at age 25, and in 1937 made…
Clockwise from top left: Sculpture by Margaret Foley; Poet Louise Guiney; Teacher Annie Sullivan, Labor Leader Margaret Foley, Matriarch Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, Labor Leader Mary Kenny O’Sullivan; Special Olympics Founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver; and Teacher/Astronaut Christa Corrigan McAuliffe March is Irish Heritage Month and also Women’s History Month in Massachusetts. In honor of both, here…
David I. Walsh, the first Irish Catholic elected as Governor of Massachusetts, received the largest plurality ever for a Democratic candidate for the office, winning by over 53,000 votes, getting 180,000+ votes. He defeated three other candidates: Charles S. Bird, Augustus Gardner and Eugene Foss. Walsh had to plan a larger inaugural reception than originally…
Twin Curley statues at Union Park on Congress Street, Boston James Michael Curley, the larger-than-life political figure who dominated Boston and Massachusetts politics for half a century, died on November 12, 1958. Over 100,000 people passed by his coffin at the Hall of Flags in the Massachusetts State House, according to a story in The Boston Globe….
Dave Burke of Lawrence, Massachusetts had a certain way about him. He was big-hearted, generous to a fault. He had big ideas and could quickly put them into motion. He was big on loyalty, tradition and kindness. In short, he was bigger than life. Dave’s devotion to Ireland, Northern Ireland and Irish-American heritage was truly…
Massport recently joined local elected officials, and friends and family of Tom Butler to officially unveil the Thomas J. Butler Memorial Park in South Boston. The park is named to honor the South Boston resident, who was beloved for his many decades of community service and charitable deeds. As Director of External Relations for Massport,…
Massport recently joined local elected officials, friends and family of Tom Butler to officially unveil the Thomas J. Butler Memorial Park in South Boston. Joining Massport CEO Tom Glynn at the event were Governor Charlie Baker, Congressman Stephen Lynch, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, state Senator Linda Dorcena Forry, state Representative Nick Collins, City Councilors Michael Flaherty…
How to get around in South Boston: take the Ray Flynn Bridge to the Ray Flynn Marine Park, then head over to the Ray Flynn Cruiseport. Ray Flynn, one of Boston’s iconic figures over the last half century, continues to receive accolades from city and state officials for his distinguished career as a politician, diplomat…
Tom Butler has spent his entire life making Boston a better place to live – and to visit. As Director of Government and External Affairs at Massachusetts Port Authority, the agency that oversees Logan International Airport and other facilities, Butler is the agency’s go-to guy for making sure that the economic growth spawned by Massport…
Dan Rooney, U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, is marching in the 59th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Holyoke, western Massachusetts, on Sunday, March 21, 2009. Ambassador Rooney is receiving the John F. Kennedy National Award issued by the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee. The prestigious award is presented each March to an American of Irish…
One of Boston’s most beloved and influential mayors of the 20th century got his just due on November 1, 2006 as the City of Boston unveiled the Mayor Kevin Hagan White Statue along Congress Street at Faneuil Hall. The official unveiling of the statue took place on Wednesday, November 1st. It was a glorious fall…
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