Remembering Martin McGuinness

By Robert P. Connolly
March 30, 2017
Robert P. Connolly

Martin McGuinness, Photo courtesy Robert P. ConnollyMartin McGuinness, Photo courtesy Robert P. Connolly
In some respects, it was as if he were just another government official showing up for work on a chilly Belfast morning. But as the man who had inspired cheers and chills for three decades emerged from his car, it was surprising that television crews and throngs of reporters weren’t there to capture the moment.

The date was Dec. 2, 1999, and there wasn’t a camera in sight when Martin McGuinness began to climb the stairs at Stormont Castle in Belfast.

The date has taken its place in the annals of Irish history, as it marked the first gathering of the ministers who would run Northern Ireland’s newly elected government – a power-sharing coalition flowing out of the Good Friday peace agreement. For McGuinness, this was the beginning of a nearly two-decade tenure as a top official in the government of a state that for many years he had been determined to destroy.

RIP, Martin McGuinness

By Joe Leary
March 30, 2017
Joe Leary

From left, Frank Burke, Martin McGuinness, and Joe Leary at the Clover Club years ago.From left, Frank Burke, Martin McGuinness, and Joe Leary at the Clover Club years ago.The first time I saw Martin McGuinness was at the old Ritz Carlton Hotel in Boston in 1996 as he was striding down the second-floor corridor to join a luncheon the Irish American Partnership was holding in in his honor.

We had run a breakfast for Northern Ireland Secretary of State Mo Mowlam that morning and had invited McGuinness and Sinn Fein to address the Partnership at lunch. As I remember, the ballroom was full of hotel security watching nervously from the balcony as he began to speak after we finished our lunch.

The British Consul (we invited all sides) and several of his people were there attempting to ask discrediting questions, but McGuinness, completely at ease before the 300 or so people in front of him, handled everything quite well. Afterwards, he and I sat down for a quick chat and began a 21-year friendship that endured until he died last month. I would meet him in Belfast and Derry and whenever he came back to Boston.

St. Patrick’s Day breakfast fare: A bit of blarney, jabs at Trump

By BIR News Room
March 30, 2017

State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry’s annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast drew some 750 friends of Ireland to the Boston Convention Center on March 19. Among the guests were US Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, and Congressman Stephen Lynch.

A special guest was Ireland’s Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Katherine Zappone, who was visiting the city to mark the St Patrick’s holiday on behalf of her country.

Celtic Women "Voices of Angels" Debuts at #1

By BIR News Room
March 23, 2017

Multi-platinum international music sensation Celtic Woman’s latest studio album VOICES OF ANGELS (released November 18 on Manhattan/Caroline) follows in the group’s tradition of #1 albums, entering the World Billboard chart at the top position, where it remains for week two; this marks the group’s 12th #1 entry. In addition, for the first time in the group’s legacy, a Celtic Woman album entered the Billboard Classical chart at #1,holding at #2 in its second week.

Meanwhile, Celtic Woman’s Destiny--currently #5 on the Billboard World chart--released earlier this year was just nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best World Music Album. This marks the group’s first-ever nomination. To celebrate the nomination, the group hosted a Facebook Live session yesterday (Wednesday, December 7). To view the conversation, click here.

St. Patrick's Day Breakfast sees historically large turnout

By BIR News Room
March 23, 2017

(L-R) Kim Elkins of Delta, Bob Clifford, First Officer, winner Gerri Munroe, Delta’s Charlie Schewe, winner Michael Duffy, and Senator Linda Dorcena Forry. (L-R) Kim Elkins of Delta, Bob Clifford, First Officer, winner Gerri Munroe, Delta’s Charlie Schewe, winner Michael Duffy, and Senator Linda Dorcena Forry.

Senator Linda Dorcena Forry’s annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast drew an historically large crowd to the Boston Convention Center on Sunday, March 19, 2017. Among the more than 750 guests were US Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Congressman Stephen Lynch.

A special guest was Ireland’s Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr. Katherine Zappone, who was visiting the city to mark the St Patrick’s holiday.

With roots back to the 1940's, this annual political breakfast is legendary in our city's history, and serves as the epicenter of politics and culture as both meet to celebrate Boston’s famed Irish history. Senator Forry produces the two hour spectacle with the help of the not-for-profit First Suffolk Partnership Inc. which solicits sponsors to defray the costs of the free breakfast. The St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast was telecast live and on demand to tens of thousands of viewers by NECN-NBC News/Boston, and was live streamed to a worldwide audience at NECN.com.

Irish Film Festival sets its 17th run: March 23-26 at Somerville Theater

By Jennifer Smith
March 16, 2017
Jennifer Smith

Modern Irish cinema will tackle weighty social conundrums while also prompting a few more belly laughs than usual at this month’s Irish Film Festival in Somerville, the annual movie-lovers’ celebration of a changing Ireland.

The four-day event, the 17th in a series, launches next week, beginning on Thurs., March 23, and running through Sun., March 26, at the Somerville Theater.

The team previewed the festival earlier in the month at the Aeronaut Brewing Company in Somerville, rolling out a schedule of more than 30 features, shorts, and documentaries for the March 23-March 26 run.

Recapping Ireland's Rugby; Six Nations 2017

By Tyler McManus
March 3, 2017
Tyler McManus

After beating the three top teams in the southern hemisphere during its autumn international matches, the Ireland national rugby team brought high expectations into the 2017 RBS Six Nations tournament.

A slow start and fierce defense from the opposition made the difference in a 27-22 opening loss for the Boys in Green at Murrayfield Stadium in Scotland on Feb. 4.

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