The Irish Heritage Trail is one of four major walking trails in the city that explores an important segment of Boston’s history and heritage. The Irish trail sites intersect with the Freedom, Black and Women’s trails, underscoring the city’s common historical themes.
In addition to the downtown trail, the Irish Heritage Trail features an additional 20 sites in Boston’s neighborhoods, including iconic stops such as Bunker Hill, Dorchester Heights, Ray Flynn Cruise Terminal and Forest Hills Cemetery.
Created in 1994 by Michael Quinlin when he was assistant parks commissioner of Boston Parks and Recreation Department, the Irish Heritage Trail, plans are underway to add new sites to downtown Boston and the neighborhoods, and to expand the geography to include greater Boston and eventually the entire Commonwealth.
The trail’s target audience includes tourists, educators, history lovers and New England residents. Since 2003, more than 300,000 free maps have been distributed in stand-alone maps, brochures and in each issue of Travel & Culture magazine, published three times a year (March, June, November). The trail has been widely profiled in the media, on television, radio, online and print.
Irish Heritage Trail in the News
Television/Video
Lets Meet Boston/ March 2025
NECN/ NBC Channel 10 Boston/ March 2019
An Irish American Heritage Tour of Boston
Chronicle, Channel 5/ March 2018
Airing of the Green: Irish Heritage Walking Tour
Print/Digital Media
Forbes.com/ March 2025
Boston's Irish Heritage Trail Adds New Landmarks
Boston Globe/ March 2025
Discovering Boston's Irish History on Foot
Boston.com/ March 2025
A Guide to Boston's Irish Heritage Trail
Worcester Telegram/ March 2025
Boston Irish Heritage Trail expands across Central Massachusetts
105.7 WROR/ March 2025
Discover Boston's Irish Heritage
Irish Star/ Feb 2024
Boston Irish Heritage Trail showcases 'intersectionality' of Irish history
Irish Echo/ July 2023
Boston Commemorates Irish Famine 25th
Joe Kinsella/ March 2023
Boston Irish History Walk
BOS Today/ March 2023
Tour the Irish Heritage Trail in Boston
Irish Echo/ March 2022
Revolutionary Irish on Boston Heritage Trail
50+ Advocate/ March 2022
Irish Heritage Trail pays tribute to Boston's largest ethnic group
Boston Herald/ March 2021
No parade? No problem - here's how to celebrate Bay State's Irish history
Forbes.com/ March 2021
Celebrate St Patrick's Day 2021 Virtually, or Social Distantly With These Events
Irish America Magazine/ March 2020
Landmarks Tell The Boston Irish Story
Boston Herald/ March 2020
Lead Your Own Parade down Boston’s Heritage Trail
Irish Echo/ March 2020
Irish on Both Sides of the Boston Massacre
Irish Echo/ December 2019
Boston Irish Heritage Trail Marks 25 Years
