Irish Boston History & Heritage

Irish-American leaders from Massachusetts and New England are gathering at the Boston Irish Famine Memorial in downtown Boston on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. to commemorate those who suffered in the 19th Irish Famine. The event, organized by the  Boston division  of the  Massachusetts Ancient Order of Hibernians , will include a prayer service and moment of silence. The memorial was unveiled on June 28, 1998, as part of the 150th anniversary commemorations of An Gorta Mor (the Great Hunger), which killed nearly one million Irish and sent nearly two million into exile.  Many  of them fled to Boston, transforming the city.  The project was headed by the late  Tom Flatley . The Irish Famine Memorial is along Boston's Irish Heritage Trail , a walking tour of Irish landmarks that convey over 300 years of Boston Irish history. For information about year round Irish cultural activities in Massachusetts and the New England states, visit IrishMass...

Kiana Weber from Gaelic Storm The Boston Irish Tourism Association has released its 2014 schedule of outdoor festivals and concerts featuring Irish and Celtic music throughout the New England region.  The festival season runs from May through October and accentuates the region’s rich Irish, Scottish and Canadian traditions of music, dance and culture. Kicking off this year’s schedule are three outdoor festivals at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton , Massachusetts , in celebration of the group’s 25th anniversary.  The ICC’s festival on May 31 is devoted to sports and children’s activities; on June 6-7 is a weekend of music and entertainment, featuring top groups like Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, Black 47, Dervi and Comhaltas Ceoltoiri.  Then on June 14 dancers from around New England will converge on the ICC for a feis, hosted by Harney Academy of Irish Dance, where they’ll compete in dance competitions throughout the day.   The 4th annual S...

Belfast  Lord Mayor  Máirtín Ó Muilleoir  and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh sign Sister City Agreement Boston and Belfast, two cities entwined historically by immigration, politics, business and culture, today become official partners in the prestigious Sister Cities program .  Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Belfast Lord Mayor  Máirtín Ó Muilleoir signed the formal agreement at the Seaport Boston Hotel as a host of Irish-American business leaders and local officials looked on. "Together, Boston and Belfast will strive to foster educational exchanges, promote cultural understanding, and stimulate economic development through our new Sister City relationship," said  Walsh . "This formal agreement goes far beyond a declaration on ink on paper; it truly speaks to our historic connection, genuine ties, and deeply linked heritage." “ Belfast and Boston share enduring links of history and heritage over many years...