For McCaela Donovan, life is all about theatre

By R.J. Donovan
October 3, 2014
R.J. Donovan

The actress and educator McCaela Donovan (no relation) could definitely use a few more hours in her day. For her full-time job, she’s Assistant Director of the School of Theatre at Boston University. Beyond that, she also finds time to serve as Associate Artistic Director of Bridge Repertory Theatre, currently beginning its second season. Finally, as a much in-demand talent, she’s appearing in Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning “Assassins” at New Repertory Theatre in Watertown.

For the O’Briens, it’s about more than dancing

By Sean Smith
October 3, 2014
Sean Smith

The O’Brien family has plenty to show for its involvement with Irish dancing. Their Newton home’s basement, renovated some years ago to accommodate a small practice studio, is full of photos and trophies that chronicle the success of Conor, 21, Claire, 23, and Alana, 25, over nearly two decades of competitions in the US and elsewhere.

Boston Irish Reporter’s Here & There

By Bill O'Donnell
October 3, 2014
Bill O'Donnell

US Inversion Action Impacts Irish-Based Firms – President Obama had been strongly hinting that the US government would react to the growing threat of inversion by multinationals seeking to cut their US corporate tax bills, and that came true late last month. In an inversion, companies avoid or reduce US taxes by setting up a foreign company in a country, then moving its tax domicile to that country.

Walsh returns ‘home’ to Connemara

By Bill Forry
October 3, 2014

Michael Ó Cathasaigh, age 5, of Dubhithir, Carna, County Galway awaits the arrival of Mayor Walsh in Carna on Tuesday, Sept. 23.Michael Ó Cathasaigh, age 5, of Dubhithir, Carna, County Galway awaits the arrival of Mayor Walsh in Carna on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

GALWAY, Ireland – For a few hours last Saturday, Marty Walsh was just another Yank on holiday, enjoying the sights and sounds of Clifden, one of Co. Galway’s loveliest and liveliest towns.  Your mayor had just enjoyed a sailboat ride and a quiet lunch with his partner Lorrie Higgins and two other traveling companions. Now, as he strolled through the scenic village with other tourists, he was incognito in blue jeans, sneakers, and an old-school Red Sox ball cap; mercifully, he was off the grid, stopping to buy scones and desserts for his mother at a local bakery called Walsh’s.

The respite would not last long. Later that evening, he began a series of public events with a Mass celebrated in his mother’s home village of Rosmuc, followed by a reception that went late into the night.

Reflections on a failed busing plan directly from a front-row seat

By By James W. Dolan
October 3, 2014
By James W. Dolan

Forty years ago, shortly before forced busing went into effect, I was a new judge appointed to Dorchester District Court. Since much of the anger and violence associated with that ill-conceived “solution” to segregated Boston schools spilled into the courts, I had a front-row seat from which to view its effects.

Menino’s book: Is it too little, too soon?

By Bill Forry
October 3, 2014

Thomas Menino’s “Mayor for a New America” hits stores and tablets on October 14. It will no doubt find a well-deserved place in the libraries of Bostonians who have a keen interest in city history and politics.

But it will find that shelf-space too quickly for many of us. At just 250 pages, the book is an all-too-quick read that leaves those well versed in the Menino era wanting more. Those thirsty for a serious, deep-dive chronicle and analysis of the Menino era will have to wait. Perhaps the publishers and the authors should have, too.

Irish American Partnership has sent $624,000 to Ireland

By Joe Leary
October 3, 2014
Joe Leary

Accompanied by staff and donor supporters, The Irish American Partnership’s board of directors travelled to Ireland this August on a mission to evaluate the impact of their funding decisions and to learn more about Irish education as the Partnership begins to set policies for additional support. During the trip, the board disbursed grants of $76,000, which brings the total amount of gifts sent to Ireland since November 2013 to $624,000.

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