Here and There

By Bill O'Donnell
April 1, 2015
Bill O'Donnell

Good News On Irish Economy – A number of factors have come into play that lend a rosy scenario to Ireland and its rebounding economy. The most important indicators by any standard are the recent numbers from 2014. They show robust economic growth of 4.8 percent, exceeding government forecasts. Ireland’s GDP last year far exceeded the previous year’s number, and follows a solid increase in domestic demand as consumers resumed spending.

Remembering the 1916 Rising: Irish parties have their differences

By Joe Leary
April 1, 2015
Joe Leary

It was a short rebellion. Only six days. According to the “Book of the 1916 Rising,” a 2006 publication by the Irish Times, 450 people died – 62 Irish rebels, 132 British soldiers and 256 civilians. Beyond that, the British Army imprisoned approximately 3,400 men and women in England and Wales, but soon released 2,000 of them back to Ireland.

Recalling our ’62 campaign against ‘Teddy’

Ed Forry
By Ed Forry
April 1, 2015

It was the summer of ’62. I had just finished BC High, and was hoping to hang out for the summer, prior to college. A good friend had keys to his mother’s car, and together we cruised down Route 3 to the Cape, driving along Route 132 into Hyannis, while keeping an eye out for “summer help wanted” signs. It was already the second week in June, and, of course, all the summer jobs were filled. So we returned home, our dreams of idyllic days on the beach summarily dashed.

Eire Society Gold Medal to Catherine Shannon

By BIR News Room
April 1, 2015

The Eire Society of Boston will hold award its Gold Medal to Dr. Catherine B. Shannon, Professor Emerita of History at Westfield State University, at its 78th Gold Medal Dinner on Saturday evening, April 25, at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. For four decades, Prof. Shannon Ph.D. taught courses in Irish, British and European History at the Western Mass. campus.The Eire Society of Boston will hold award its Gold Medal to Dr. Catherine B. Shannon, Professor Emerita of History at Westfield State University, at its 78th Gold Medal Dinner on Saturday evening, April 25, at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. For four decades, Prof. Shannon Ph.D. taught courses in Irish, British and European History at the Western Mass. campus.
The Eire Society of Boston will hold its 78^th Gold Medal Dinner on Saturday evening, 25 April at 6pm at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. This year, the Gold Medal Honoree is Dr. Catherine B. Shannon, Professor Emerita of History at Westfield State University.

For four decades, Catherine B. Shannon Ph.D. taught courses in Irish, British and European History. She is the author of /Arthur J. Balfour and Ireland, 1874 -1922 /(1988), and /The Churchills in Ireland: Connections and Controversies/ (2012 Irish Academic Press), where she explored the role of Lord Randolph Churchill in Irish affairs from 1877- 1893.

She has published book chapters and articles on the role of women in the Northern Ireland conflict and peace process, and was actively involved in the 1980’s- 1990’s in the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Dr. Shannon was the first woman president of the 278 year old Charitable Irish Society of Boston, served as president of the Eire Society of Boston and was a member of the Executive Committee of the American Conference of Irish Studies for over a decade.In 1999 she was among 15 Irish-Americans from Massachusetts to receive a “Dreamer of Dreams” award from the New York based Irish Voice newspaper.Dr. Shannon was the recipient of the Solas Award from the Irish International Immigration Center and the Irish Heritage Award from the Irish American Partnership, both based in Boston.She is currently researching the role of Boston and New England in providing food aid to Ireland in 1847 at the height of the Great Famine.

John Joe Somers, at 63; the ‘Dean of Irish Pubs’

By Ed Forry
April 1, 2015


The Boston Irish community is mourning the death of John Joe Somers, the “dean of Irish Pubs” who passed away March 24 after a long illness. He was 63.

Mr. Somers was the founder and owner of the Somers Pubs, a popular group of Irish locals that included, among others, Mr. Dooley’s, the Green Dragon, Hennessey’s, and Durty Nelly’s in downtown Boston and in the suburbs.

He was the recipient of the 2003 “Always the Irish Heart” award presented by the Irish Chamber of Commerce USA, and was highly regarded for his philanthropy and job creations.

That year, Mr. Somers told the BIR that his success could be explained by his commitment to work. “It’s just attention to detail. Anybody can make money in a good economy,” he said. “It’s when the economy goes slower is when you separate the wheat from the chaff.”

New deal for parade, yuks for breakfast

By Lauren Dezenski, Reporter Staff
April 1, 2015
Lauren Dezenski, Reporter Staff

Last month’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in South Boston unveiled a new deal along the parade route while tradition kept pace at the Convention Center where state Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry, in her second year as host, presided over the annual holiday breakfast where politicians tried to one-up each other over scrambled eggs, sausages, and corned-beef hash and before some 500 guests.

The New Kennedy Compound: President Obama, colleagues dedicate EMK Institute in Dorchester

By Lauren Dezenski, Reporter Staff
April 1, 2015
Lauren Dezenski, Reporter Staff

President Obama spoke feelingly about the late Sen. Ted Kennedy at the dedication of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate on Columbia Point, Dorchester, on Mon., March 30. Seated at left, Edward M. Kennedy Jr., First Lady Michelle Obama, and the senator’s widow, Victoria Kennedy. Chris Lovett photoPresident Obama spoke feelingly about the late Sen. Ted Kennedy at the dedication of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate on Columbia Point, Dorchester, on Mon., March 30. Seated at left, Edward M. Kennedy Jr., First Lady Michelle Obama, and the senator’s widow, Victoria Kennedy. Chris Lovett photo

The Lion of the Senate’s tribute to the body that he loved finally became a reality on Mon., March 30, with the dedication and opening of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Dorchester.

In a ceremony replete with pageantry, its attendees reflected the cooperation embodied by the late senator, as officials from all forms of government converged on Columbia Point, the former landfill where Kennedy’s widow, Victoria Kennedy, said her husband hoped to create an “institute with full-scale recreation of the Senate chamber.” The large white building standing behind her “stands exactly where Teddy dreamed it would.”

Southie St. Patrick's Day parade still on for Sunday, March 15

By Lauren Dezenski, Reporter Staff
March 3, 2015
Lauren Dezenski, Reporter Staff

St. Patrick's Day Parade 2014: Photo by Chris LovettSt. Patrick's Day Parade 2014: Photo by Chris LovettDespite snow-clogged thoroughfares, the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade will still be held on Sunday, March 15, according to officials close to the decision.

"One thing wanted to agree on, we want a parade on the 15th to happen," said Mayor Martin Walsh in a press availability Monday night. Walsh, representatives from the Veterans Council, and others met at City Hall at 5 p.m. Monday to discuss the parade.

Make no mistake – this is the month to honor the Saint

By BostonIrish.com... (not verified)
March 2, 2015

By Judy Enright
Special to the BIR

Mulranny Park Hotel, in Mulranny, Co. Mayo, recently opened for the 2015 season and is celebrating its 10th birthday this year with many offers and specials. Photo by Judy EnrightMulranny Park Hotel, in Mulranny, Co. Mayo, recently opened for the 2015 season and is celebrating its 10th birthday this year with many offers and specials. Photo by Judy Enright

It’s March and, as our readers know, March is all about Patrick – Saint Patrick, that is – and you’d have a hard time finding anyplace in Ireland – or here, for that matter – that doesn’t celebrate the saintly man this month.
Dublin marks St. Patrick’s Day for nearly a week with a parade, 5K road race, walking tours, street theatre, a floating cinema on Grand Canal Dock, a beer and whiskey festival, boat races, all kinds of indoor and outdoor musical events and much more. For details, visit stpatricksfestival.ie online. The Dublin festival began in 1996 as a one-day event but was obviously a big hit because the event was expanded and this year it will run from March 14th to the 17th.

Cork City will be holding its annual St. Patrick’s festival on the same four days. Events include a parade, music, street entertainers and more. See corkstpatricksfestival.ie.

Pages

Subscribe to Boston Irish RSS