Irish Boston History & Heritage

“We would like to live as we once lived.  But history will not permit it.” President Kennedy, November 22, 1963 Half a century later, we allow ourselves to be captured in time. To imagine earlier days that must have been better days. It was the time of our life, our nation’s life, when idealism trumped cynicism, when grace and beauty took their rightful place in how we saw ourselves, how the world saw us. Televisions were black and white, just like the battle between good and evil. New frontiers opened up, old prejudices broke down. We felt that anything was possible. The Boston accent, summers on the Cape, boats swaying in the bay, clam bakes and ocean waves. The beauty of youth. It all seemed endless. Fifty years later, we hold our memories gently and remain wistful of that time interrupted. Even now, we carry the promise of possibility in our hearts - from Boston Irish Tourism Association

The City of Boston marks November 16 as Goody Glover Day in Boston, in tribute to Goodwife Ann Glover, an Irish women accused of being a witch by Cotton Mather and other Boston Puritan leaders.   Glover was an Irish indentured servant sent to Barbados by Oliver Cromwell in the 1650s.  Her husband died there, and by 1680 she and her daughter were living in Boston, employed as housekeepers by John Goodwin.  In summer 1688 four of the five Goodwin children fell ill.  The doctor concluded "nothing but a hellish Witchcraft could be the Origin of these maladies."  Martha, the 13 year old daughter, confirmed the doctor's diagnosis by claiming she became ill right after she caught Glover stealing laundry. Glover was arrested and tried as a witch. In the courtroom there was confusion over Glover's testimony, since she refused to speak English, despite knowing the language.  According to Mather, "the court could have no answers from her, but in the...

Local Catholic and Irish-American leaders gathered today at the Old Calvary Cemetery in Boston on the anniversary of the death of James Michael Curley , the larger-than-life political figure who dominated Boston and Massachusetts politics for half a century. Curley died on November 12, 1958, fifty-five years ago today. Attending the ceremony was Ray Flynn , former mayor of Boston and US Ambassador to the Vatican, who spoke about "the heart and vision" of Curley and his career "helping the poor and needy of Boston." Curley served four four-year terms as mayor of Boston, in 1914, 1922, 1930 and 1946.  He was Governor of Massachusetts from 1935-37, and also served as  US Congressman from 1911-14. Find out more about Boston's Irish history at IrishHeritageTrail.com .

(November 5, 2013) -- Martin J. Walsh , a Massachusetts state representative from Dorchester, has been elected as the next Mayor of Boston.  He defeated his opponent, Boston City Councilor John R. Connolly . Walsh, the son of Irish immigrants from County Galway, Ireland, vowed to make Boston an inclusive city where jobs, housing and educational opportunities are equally distributed across the city's neighborhoods. Connolly was gracious in defeat, vowing to work closely with Mayor-elect Walsh in the coming term.  Elected as state representative in 1997, Walsh developed a powerful coalition of labor unions, neighborhood activists, elected officials and ordinary citizens who support his message of inclusion and opportunity for all. At the campaign party at the Park Plaza Hotel in downtown Boston, the Dropkick Murphys performed during the night.  In April, the Galway Independent ran a profile of Walsh and his connections to Galway. Walsh joins an illustrious l...

Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox , 2013 World Champions. In appreciation, here are some stories we've run on the Red Sox and the organization's illustrious history from an Irish-American perspective. Fenway Park: Irish American Managers from Collins to Farrell From Honey Fitz to Sweet Caroline: A Century of Fenway Park Fenway Park, Host to Irish Hurling, DeValera Rallies and Monster Masses Fenway Park: An Irish-American Landmark Fenway Park now on National Register of Historic Places Fenway Park Ground Breaking, September 25, 1911 Sean Casey: The Friendliest Guy in Baseball  For year round details on Boston's Irish community, visit IrishBoston.org .