Irish Boston History & Heritage

Over 15,000 spectators attend the Greater Boston Feis at Malden Municipal Stadium in Malden , Massachusetts on Sunday, July 30, 1950.  It was part of a cultural rekindling of Irish traditions taking place in Ireland and Diaspora communities after World War II, and continued annually in greater Boston throughout the 1950s. The bilingual program book, printed in English and Irish, was organized by the Central Council of Irish County Clubs, Inc, with Richard J. Cardinal Cushing , Archbishop of Boston, listed as the event’s patron. Over 1,500 contestants participated in 72 different events, ranging from competitions in accordion, violin, harp, piano and Irish war pipes.   Among the winners were Joe Derrane of Roxbury, who won first for senior accordion solo, with Joseph Joyce of Jamaica Plain and Tom Senier of Dorchester tied for second place.   Paul Derrane, Joe’s younger brother, took first place for junior accordion solo and John F. Conroy of Dorchester won second in the

Boston Mayor  Martin Walsh  was joined today by the  National Park Service ,  Boston Parks & Recreation Department ,  Friends of the Public Garden  and  Museum of African American History  officials to formalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaboratively restore the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial, known as the Shaw Memorial. Located at the corner of Beacon and Park Streets, across from the Massachusetts State House, the memorial pays tribute to the 54th Black Regiment of soldiers who fought valiantly in the American Civil War.  This work captures the humanity, nobility and unfettered idealism of war in the depiction of the foot soldiers who fought for freedom from slavery.   Mayor Walsh called the memorial, “one of the most important pieces of art in the  United States of America  and we are deeply proud to have that piece here in the city of  Boston .  It reminds us of what is possible in our city when we live by our highest