‘More Irish than Ireland,’ Milton hails Celtic heritage

By Jacob Aguiar
July 2, 2014
Jacob Aguiar

The town of Milton took time on June 22 to celebrate its strong Irish roots by presenting a Celtic Music festival headlined by internationally recognized Frankie Gavin and his band DeDannan. Gavin has been cited as “the world’s fastest fiddler: by the Guinness Book of World Records.

“I hear Milton is more Irish than Ireland itself,” joked Gavin. He and his band flew in from Ireland the night before the event.

Dorchester pub is World Cup Central: The Banshee is the ‘go-to’ place for for US supporters

By Jacob Aguiar
July 2, 2014
Jacob Aguiar

Pandemnonium reigned inside The Banshee Pub on Dorchester Avenue last month as the United States defeated Ghana, 2-1, in World Cup tournament play. Strangers hugged, women were hoisted onto shoulders, and splashes of beer sprayed the room.
A small contingent of Ghana supporters on site were offered heartfelt handshakes and conciliatory embraces as images of their vanquished countrymen flashed on the bar’s ten flatscreens.

At last, a US ambassador for Ireland

By Wire Services
July 2, 2014
Wire Services

A Missouri lawyer has been nominated to be the next US ambassador to Ireland. The selection of Kevin O’Malley comes after an unusually long wait by the White House of some 18 months to make the call on the diplomatic post.

A prominent trial lawyer in St. Louis and a second-generation Irish American (his grandfather came to the US from Mayo), O’Malley has 35 years of experience in litigation, “specializing in medical negligence cases, federal white collar criminal defense and product liability defense,” noted the Irish Times.

Stop in and you’ll see: Great dining abounds on Ireland’s West Coast

By BIR News Room
July 2, 2014

By Judy Enright
Special to the BIR

Ireland has changed a lot in the past 30 years. Much of that change is probably thanks to – or the fault of – the internet, depending on your perspective. But, changes can also be credited to the country’s many visitors who demand the best, to the Irish who travel widely and bring home creative ideas from everywhere, and to the influx of foreigners living in Ireland.
Frequent travelers will note the many changes, subtle and otherwise.

‘Lucky to be alive’ not always a cliche

Ed Forry
By Ed Forry
July 2, 2014

By Ed Forry
This past April, MSNBC’s Lawrence O'Donnell was on vacation with his brother Michael in the British Virgin Islands when his taxi van was hit in a head-on crash. Both sustained serious injuries.
In his first telecast since the accident, he gave a poignant telling of his story since that day, saying he felt “lucky to be alive.” His words articulate his profound sense of gratitude to all who helped. Here are some of those words:

"Walking the Camino" film set for screenings in Brookline

By Liam Ferrie
June 3, 2014
Liam Ferrie

Last July the hottest ticket at the Galway Film Fleadh was the one that would gain you entry to a screening of the documentary “Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago”. This wasn’t surprising as just about everyone in Ireland knows someone who has walked the 500-mile pilgrimage path from the south of France to Santiago de Compostela, in the province of Galicia in north-western Spain. The documentary is now set for a series of Boston screenings at Brookline's Coolidge Corner Theatre late this month and in early July.

Report: Kathy O’Toole in line to take charge of Seattle police force

By BIR staff
June 2, 2014
BIR staff

Kathleen O’Toole, onetime Boston police commissioner police commissioner (2004-2006) and former inspector general of Ireland’s police force, the Garda Inspectorate, has been nominated to be the chief of police in Seattle.
The announcement of O’Toole’s new posting was made in a Memorial Day ceremony by Seattle’s new mayor, Ed Murray. She was selected over two men who were also finalists for the job, the chiefs of police in Elk Grove, CA, and Mesa, AZ.

Irish, British consuls, BC fellows discuss issues confronting Ireland

By BIR News Room
June 2, 2014

Maay 30, 2014-As the rapprochement in Northern Ireland continues to evolve, scenes unimaginable before 1998 continue to unfold. In late May, a conference held at the Beacon Hill home of British Consul General Susie Kitchens offered a profound reminder of just how much has changed. Consul General Kitchens and Irish Consul General Breandan O Caollai hosted a symposium with BC’s Irish Institute and its 2014 Rule of Law fellows on May 27.

Thinking unique, extraordinary? Consult Hidden Ireland

By BIR News Room
May 30, 2014

BY JUDY ENRIGHT
SPECIAL TO THE BIR

Temple House in Ballymote, Co. Sligo, has been in the same family since 1665 and welcomes visitors to experience life in an elegant Irish estate.Temple House in Ballymote, Co. Sligo, has been in the same family since 1665 and welcomes visitors to experience life in an elegant Irish estate.
Shouldn’t your vacation in Ireland be a complete escape from everyday life? You’ve saved all year for this outing, so do something totally different and create some amazing memories.
A great place to start is with a unique and extraordinary place to stay, dine, and meet other international travelers. You could hardly do better than to select one of the 36 historic country estates included in an accommodation group called Hidden Ireland (hiddenireland.com). These are all private and historic family homes where the owners welcome and interact with guests and sometimes even head for the kitchen to don aprons and cook breakfast or dinner.

I have stayed at a number of Hidden Ireland properties over the years and can recommend all of them without reservation. I’ve enjoyed The Quay House in Co. Galway, Bruckless House in Co. Donegal, Clonalis in Co. Roscommon, and Ashley Park House in Co. Tipperary. Each one is unique, reflects the style, heritage, and flair of the family, and is absolutely delightful.

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