History & Heritage

Foley Fountain

Vermont Sculptor Margaret Foley Created Marble Children’s Fountain for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia

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…

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…

Myles Standish Monument in Duxbury, MA

Irish-Born Sculptor Stephen J.O’Kelly Created Myles Standish Memorial In Duxbury and Civil War Monuments in Nashua and Gettysburg

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…

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,…

Photo courtesy of PEI Cobb Freed and Partners

The Moakley Courthouse in Seaport District Honors a True South Boston Hero

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…

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…

Commodore John Barry, Naval Hero In the American Revolution, Dies on September 13, 1803

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…

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…

The Inspiring New Quincy Navy Park in Squantum Highlights Quincy’s Historic Role in National Defense While Honoring Local Navy Vets

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…

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…

New York Daily Herald Front Page, August 2, 1903

Irish-American Sculptor John Donoghue (1853-1903) Dies Tragically after his Masterpiece is Destroyed on Brooklyn Docks

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…

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…

Photo Courtesy of Friends of the Public Garden

In Memoriam: Henry Lee (1925-2024), Boston’s Civic Leader, Parks Advocate and Historian

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…

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…

Minuteman Statue Lexington MA

Lexington, MA Prepares to Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Famous 1775 Battle in 2025

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…

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…

Milmore's Civil War Monument in Winthrop Square, Charlestown

Landmarks in Boston’s Charlestown Neighborhood Celebrate the Irish Presence
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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…

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…

American Revolution War Hero Henry Knox, Born in Boston on July 25, 1750

Henry Knox, a  first-hand witness to American history and a hero in the American Revolution, was born in Boston on July 25, 1750, the seventh of ten children.  His parents,…

Henry Knox, a  first-hand witness to American history and a hero in the American Revolution, was born in Boston on July 25, 1750, the seventh of ten children.  His parents, William Knox and Mary (née Campbell), were Ulster Scots immigrants who came to Boston from Derry in 1729, part of a large exodus of Ulster-Irish Presbyterians who…

Top Row: Site of Copley Home,42 Beacon Street, Beacon Hill, and Copley Square, Back Bay. 

Boston Painter John S. Copley, Caught Between the Tories and the Rebels During the American Revolution

America’s first great portrait artist, John Singleton Copley (1737-1815) was born in Boston on July 3, 1738. He was the son of Irish immigrants who emigrated to Boston in the…

America’s first great portrait artist, John Singleton Copley (1737-1815) was born in Boston on July 3, 1738. He was the son of Irish immigrants who emigrated to Boston in the 1730s. John’s parents, Richard Copley and Mary Singleton from County Clare, were married in County Limerick before emigrating to Boston. Right after their son John…

The Revolutionary Irish Trail

The American Revolution is taking center stage across the United States this year, as preparations get underway to officially celebrate the 250 th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration…

The American Revolution is taking center stage across the United States this year, as preparations get underway to officially celebrate the 250 th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our nation in 2026. The effort is being led nationally by America 250, “a nonpartisan initiative working to engage…

John Boyle O'Reilly Landmarks

Visit these Public Memorials to John Boyle O’Reilly throughout Massachusetts

Born 180 years ago on June 28, 1844, John Boyle O’Reilly helped shape the history or Ireland and America in the late 19th century in powerful ways.  Today, O’Reilly’s stature…

Born 180 years ago on June 28, 1844, John Boyle O’Reilly helped shape the history or Ireland and America in the late 19th century in powerful ways.  Today, O’Reilly’s stature as a seminal figure in Irish and Irish-American history is particularly evident in his beloved birthplace of Dowth, County Meath; in Freemantle, Australia where he…

JFK lays wreath at John Barry Memorial in Ireland, Photo Courtesy of JFK Library

President John F. Kennedy Honors American Revolution Naval Hero John Barry in Wexford on June 27, 1963

President John F. Kennedy’s visit to Ireland on June 26-29, 1963 was later described by his siblings as one of the most memorable and cherished parts of his presidency.  Kennedy…

President John F. Kennedy’s visit to Ireland on June 26-29, 1963 was later described by his siblings as one of the most memorable and cherished parts of his presidency.  Kennedy visited his ancestral family in Wexford and Limerick, and also stopped in Dublin, Cork and Galway. The trip was widely covered by the international media…

Massachusetts State House Unveils Plaque to American Revolution Naval Hero Jeremiah O’Brien

On June 12, 1937 a plaque dedicated to Captain Jeremiah O’Brien was unveiled at the Massachusetts State House commemorating O’Brien’s “distinguished services for winning the first navel engagement in the…

On June 12, 1937 a plaque dedicated to Captain Jeremiah O’Brien was unveiled at the Massachusetts State House commemorating O’Brien’s “distinguished services for winning the first navel engagement in the War of the Revolution and of his subsequent exploits in said war as the first regularly commissioned naval officer  and commander of the Revolutionary Navy of…

Old Black and white photo of Bill Russell reaching to take a shot in his Celtics jersey

The Boston Celtics: The Story Behind Their Green Theme

Many people wonder why the Boston Celtics wear shamrocks on their green uniforms and have a giant leprechaun smoking a cigar as their team logo. And why is the team mascot a…

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

The Shaw Memorial Unveiled in Boston on May 31, 1897

Boston’s most iconic public monument, the Shaw Memorial, was officially unveiled on May 31, 1897.  The homage to the 54th Black Infantry Regiment of Boston is considered one of America’s most…

Boston’s most iconic public monument, the Shaw Memorial, was officially unveiled on May 31, 1897.  The homage to the 54th Black Infantry Regiment of Boston is considered one of America’s most significant Civil War memorials.   It was the first public monument to accurately depict black soldiers in military uniform. The memorial was created by immigrant Augustus…

3 MA Civil War Memorials created by Irish Scultors.

Three Distinctive Civil War Memorials in Boston and Cambridge

A number of Irish immigrants and Irish-American sculptors created some of the most distinctive Civil War Monuments of the 19th Century. Here are three of their monuments in Boston and…

A number of Irish immigrants and Irish-American sculptors created some of the most distinctive Civil War Monuments of the 19th Century. Here are three of their monuments in Boston and Cambridge worth visiting: 1. The Shaw Memorial, atop Boston Common and facing the Massachusetts State House, was officially unveiled on May 31, 1897, a homage to…

Rhode Island Irish Famine Memorial in Providence Honors 19th Century Victims and Survivors

The Rhode Island Irish Famine Memorial is a permanent memorial in the capital city of Providence that commemorates the victims and survivors of Ireland’s famine years in the mid-19th century. The memorial…

The Rhode Island Irish Famine Memorial is a permanent memorial in the capital city of Providence that commemorates the victims and survivors of Ireland’s famine years in the mid-19th century. The memorial occupies a prominent location at Dyer’s Landing along the River Walk in Providence. Created by sculptor Robert Shure of Skylight Studios, the Memorial was dedicated…

NE Irish Famine Memorials

Ten Irish Famine Memorials in New England

As part of Ireland’s annual National Famine Commemoration taking place in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford on Sunday, May 19, 2024, the Boston Irish Tourism Association has compiled information on ten Irish Famine Memorials throughout New…

As part of Ireland’s annual National Famine Commemoration taking place in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford on Sunday, May 19, 2024, the Boston Irish Tourism Association has compiled information on ten Irish Famine Memorials throughout New England.  These memorials were erected between 1914 and 2019 and built by local Irish communities to commemorate the Irish Famine of the 19th century, which…

Cohasset Celtic Cross

On May 30, 1914, Hibernians Unveiled a Memorial in Cohasset to Irish Immigrants who Perished off the Coast in 1849

On Saturday, May 30, 1914, Massachusetts Governor David I. Walsh joined officials from the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Ladies Auxiliary to unveil a granite Celtic Cross in memory of Irish…

On Saturday, May 30, 1914, Massachusetts Governor David I. Walsh joined officials from the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Ladies Auxiliary to unveil a granite Celtic Cross in memory of Irish immigrants who perished during a storm off the Massachusetts coastline in 1849. 7000 Hibernians from all over Massachusetts attended the ceremony, according to a story…

Courtesy of Skylight Studios

Molly Stark, a Heroine and Inspiration during the American Revolution

Molly (Page) Stark (1737-1814), whose husband General John Stark was a hero in the American Revolution, has been honored for her own role in the war. On June 26, 2004, officials, historians…

Molly (Page) Stark (1737-1814), whose husband General John Stark was a hero in the American Revolution, has been honored for her own role in the war. On June 26, 2004, officials, historians and members of the Stark family unveiled the Elizabeth Page Molly Stark statue in Wilmington, as part of Vermont’s Molly Stark Trail, a 40-mile scenic byway on Route…

Jewish + Irish Cemeteries Were Discouraged by 19th Century Boston Puritans

Ancestors of the early Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony discouraged Jews and Irish Catholics from burying their congregations in local cemeteries the first half of the 19th century.  Boston…

Ancestors of the early Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony discouraged Jews and Irish Catholics from burying their congregations in local cemeteries the first half of the 19th century.  Boston had long been known as a place where outsiders were considered with suspicion and hatred, due to their religion or ethnic backgrounds. According to Mass Moments,…

State Capitol Building, Concord, New Hampshire, Photo, Michael Quinlin

General John Stark of New Hampshire, Scots-Irish Hero in the American Revolution, Coined the Phrase Live Free or Die

One of New England’s true military heroes of the American Revolution was General John Stark (1728-1822), the son of Scots-Irish parents who emigrated to the American colonies in 1720 and…

One of New England’s true military heroes of the American Revolution was General John Stark (1728-1822), the son of Scots-Irish parents who emigrated to the American colonies in 1720 and settled in the Scots-Irish colony of Nutfield, NH, where John and his brothers were raised. Today, the former settlement is comprised of the towns Londonderry, Derry…

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