Boston Mayor James M. Curley and Family Visit Europe in April 1950
James M.Curley with wife leaving for Europe
On April 13, 1950, former Boston Mayor James Michael Curley took his family on a seven week vacation to Europe for "relaxation, recreation and study."
The previous fall, he had lost his mayoral bid for re-election to fellow Democrat John B. Hynes in November 1949, effectively ending Curley's political career of 50 years. The in February, 1950, the Curley family suffered a terrible loss when two of their children, Mary Curley Donnelly, 41, and Leo, 34, died a few hours apart of cerebral hemorrhages.
The European vacation included stops in France, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, England and Ireland, visiting Paris, Lisbon, Rome, Naples, London and Dublin.
1950 had been declared a Holy Year by Pope Pius XII, and the Curleys were among thousands of Catholics from around the world making a pilgrimage to Rome. The Curley family had a special audience with Pope Pius on May 1, during which the Holy Father presented Curley with "a special medal marking the sixth year of his pontificate in 1944, when the American soldiers arrived in Rome," reported The Boston Globe. "To others he commemorative Holy Year medals. Curley said the Pope also blessed for him 200 rosaries and 200 medals he had taken to the audience and which he will present as gifts to friends on his return to Boston."
On May 23, the Curley party landed in Ireland for a three-day visit to end his seven-weeks tour of Europe.
"I sympathize with the Irish," he told Associated Press, "in their effort unite their country. There is just excuse for too allowing a small minority in the six northern counties to continue gerrymandering Ireland."
In Dublin, Curley was received by Prime Minister John Costello. Curley told AP he "hoped to find distant relatives in Galway." The following day he was feted by External Affairs Minister Sean MacBride. The next day they traveled to Galway and Mayo to meet members of the MacDonagh family, whose relatives worked for Curley in Boston.
The Curley party left Ireland on the S. S. Mauretania, and arrived in New York on Saturday, June 3. Upon landing, he immediately announced that he would seek fifth term as Boston's chief executive next year.
The European vacation included stops in France, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, England and Ireland, visiting Paris, Lisbon, Rome, Naples, London and Dublin.
Before he left Boston, Curley told reporters he was taking with him a replica of the Boston Common plaque in honor of Commodore John Barry, Revolutionary War naval hero, which he planned to present to the French Ministry of Defense. He was also carrying a letter to the French Government from Consul Albert Chambon in Boston.
Dozens of relatives and friends were at the train station to see the Curley party head off for New York. In addition to the ex-Mayor and Mrs. Curley, others in the party included his son George and Mrs. Curley's brother, Richard Casey.
Dozens of relatives and friends were at the train station to see the Curley party head off for New York. In addition to the ex-Mayor and Mrs. Curley, others in the party included his son George and Mrs. Curley's brother, Richard Casey.
The Curley party sailed from New York aboard the liner Italia. Just as he was boarding the ship on April 13, Curley learned that President Harry S. Truman had granted him a full Presidential Pardon for two federal felonies, involving mail fraud in 1942 and impersonation in 1903. The pardon came after a direct appeal to the president by South Boston's US Congressman and Speaker of the House John McCormack.
1950 had been declared a Holy Year by Pope Pius XII, and the Curleys were among thousands of Catholics from around the world making a pilgrimage to Rome. The Curley family had a special audience with Pope Pius on May 1, during which the Holy Father presented Curley with "a special medal marking the sixth year of his pontificate in 1944, when the American soldiers arrived in Rome," reported The Boston Globe. "To others he commemorative Holy Year medals. Curley said the Pope also blessed for him 200 rosaries and 200 medals he had taken to the audience and which he will present as gifts to friends on his return to Boston."
On May 23, the Curley party landed in Ireland for a three-day visit to end his seven-weeks tour of Europe.
"I sympathize with the Irish," he told Associated Press, "in their effort unite their country. There is just excuse for too allowing a small minority in the six northern counties to continue gerrymandering Ireland."
In Dublin, Curley was received by Prime Minister John Costello. Curley told AP he "hoped to find distant relatives in Galway." The following day he was feted by External Affairs Minister Sean MacBride. The next day they traveled to Galway and Mayo to meet members of the MacDonagh family, whose relatives worked for Curley in Boston.
The Curley party left Ireland on the S. S. Mauretania, and arrived in New York on Saturday, June 3. Upon landing, he immediately announced that he would seek fifth term as Boston's chief executive next year.
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