Brockton’s Sen. Kennedy, voice of passion, is dead at 63

By State House News Service
July 1, 2015
State House News Service

Sen. Thomas Kennedy, a Brockton Democrat and fixture at the Massachusetts State House for more than three decades, passed away on Sun., June 28, according to his family. He was 63 and, an acquaintance of the family said, had been undergoing treatment for cancer and died of complications related to the disease.

Senator Thomas Kennedy of Brockton dead at age 63

By Matt Murphy, State House News Service
June 29, 2015
Matt Murphy, State House News Service

Sen. Thomas KennedySen. Thomas KennedySen. Thomas Kennedy, a Brockton Democrat and fixture at the Massachusetts State House for more than three decades, passed away on Sunday night, according to his family. He was 63.

Kennedy joined the House in 1983 and won election to the Senate in 2008 where he most recently served as co-chair of committees on Election Laws and Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

According to someone close to the family, he had been undergoing treatment for cancer and died of complications.

In a Facebook post overnight, Kennedy's sister Mary Kennedy Bardsley wrote: "Our hearts are broken...May you be raised up on eagle's wings, dear brother Tommy...oh how we loved you so...! Rest in peace."

Kennedy joined the House in 1983 after serving on the Brockton City Council. In 2008, he won the Second Plymouth and Bristol Senate seat.

Young Bostonians are big winners at Comhaltas May Fleadh

By Sean Smith
June 4, 2015
Sean Smith

The annual Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Mid-Atlantic Fleadh, held the weekend of May 8-10 in Parsippany, NJ, saw a number of Greater Boston musicians – especially younger ones – enjoy success.

The CCE Boston music school’s Realta Geala youth ensemble earned first place in the U15 (under age 15) ceili group competition. Sean Clohessy and Kathleen Conneely were the ensemble directors this past year.

Braintree’s Michael Ryan seizes the day in ‘Newsies’

By R. J. Donovan
June 4, 2015
R. J. Donovan

Braintree native Michael Ryan appears in Disney’s high-energy Tony Award-winning hit musical, “Newsies,” at Boston’s Opera House June 23 - July 5.Braintree native Michael Ryan appears in Disney’s high-energy Tony Award-winning hit musical, “Newsies,” at Boston’s Opera House June 23 - July 5.

Michael Ryan is living the dream.  It wasn’t all that long ago that the young actor was sitting in Boston’s Opera House enjoying a performance of “Wicked.”  The Braintree native returns to the scene later this month, but this time he’ll be standing center stage, appearing in the national touring company of Disney’s high-energy hit musical, “Newsies,” playing from June 23 to July 5.

It has all happened very fast for Ryan and he’s enjoying every moment of the experience.  He attended school in Braintree, participated in two summer theater programs on the South Shore and studied musical theater at Pace University.  Following graduation, he performed on a cruise ship for seven months. When that ended, he returned to New York.  Two weeks later he auditioned for the national tour of the Tony Award-winning “Newsies” and got the job.

“It was unbelievable,” he said by phone during the show’s run in Dallas. “I was shocked and so lucky.”

Passing Thoughts on “Yes” Referendum Win

By Bill O'Donnell
June 4, 2015
Bill O'Donnell


Passing Thoughts on “Yes” Referendum Win – The referendum was about the serious social business of choosing what side of history one wanted to be on. And the 24-point win by the “Yes” forces was led by the young people of Ireland who jumped onto planes, trains, and buses to get home to vote. The “Yes” side had a well of support also from Irish seniors who even in the conservative midlands voted roughly 50 percent for same-sex marriage.  Add to that a modest, if rebellious, segment of the Catholic clergy, and you had all that was needed for a sweeping 62-38 landslide win.

WHAT’S NEW IS OLD When Bigotry, Suspicion, and Mistrust Collide

By Peter F. Stevens
June 4, 2015
Peter F. Stevens

During the recent rioting in Baltimore, the media cliché was heard over and over: “How could this have happened?” The answer is another question: “How could this not have happened?” And the answer to that comes with a reflection on the sad, frustrating reality that throughout our nation’s history, violence spawned by poverty and prejudice has happened again and again.

Pope John Paul II Park: It could use some fixing

By BostonIrish.com... (not verified)
June 4, 2015

By James W. Dolan
Special to the Reporter

Pope John Paul II Park, the southern gateway to the city, needs some attention. Thousands of people each day cross the Neponset and enter Dorchester. The first thing they see is the park. From a distance it looks nice but close up it’s an underutilized mess. I expect its namesake would be embarrassed at the neglect. Unfortunately, the Southeast Expressway blocks the view and creates a barrier between the park and its neighbors.

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