Irish Boston History & Heritage

Burns Statue in Boston Fens   Scotland’s national poet,  Robert Burns   (January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796) , is revered and celebrated in his native country and around the world.   Burns Night began in 1801, five years after Burns’ death, and has continued enthusiastically ever since. This devotion to Burns’ memory is especially evident in New England, where generations of Scots and  Scots-Iris h have settled over the past 400 years. To honor his birthday each year, New Englanders celebrate with traditional Scottish music and song, poetry and toasts and cuisine and congeniality.  Here is a selection of Robert Burns celebrations that take place in 2020, compiled by the Boston Irish Tourism Association. January 21 Greater Boston Community Burns Supper The Burren Pub 247 Elm Street, Davis Square, Somerville First organized in 2010, this community event takes place in one of the Boston area’s most notable t...

Patrick A. Collins, the second Irish-born Mayor of Boston,  was inaugurated on January 6, 1902, at Boston City Hall.  He beat incumbent Mayor Thomas N. Hart in what the Boston Post described as "the largest vote ever cast for mayor in Boston." Collins, a resident of South Boston, received 52,046 votes to Hart's 33,076, winning by a plurality of 18,970 votes.  In an earlier contest in 1899 when the two men faced off, Hart beat Collins by a plurality of 2,281, according to the Post . Monsignor Denis O'Callaghan of St. Augustine's Church in South Boston, led the prayer during Collins' inauguration ceremonies.  In his inaugural address, Collins focused on was the city's financial condition and the public debt.  He talked about heavy traffic and  promised to build a new avenue "in the Fort Point Channel to the northern terminals and docks."  He promised improvements to Boston Harbor, with encouragement from Congress from Washington, "t...