Haass NI Proposals Down For The Count

By Bill O'Donnell
January 31, 2014
Bill O'Donnell

February 1, 2014– Despite seven good-faith drafts proposing remedies for the three fundamental areas of discontent – flags, parades, and the legacy of the Troubles – the five Northern Ireland parties were unable in the end to come to an agreement. There was a short leash on Dr. Richard Haass’s negotiations, a window so relatively short that it helped preclude the Northern Ireland political parties from working through to a solution.

Let’s make their dream for a Deer Island Irish Memorial come true

Ed Forry
By Ed Forry
January 31, 2014

By Ed Forry
Dr. Bill and Rita O’Connell, longtime stalwarts of Boston’s Irish community, spent much of their life learning about “The Great Hunger,” the famine that ravaged Ireland in the middle of the 19th century. Many died from starvation, and many others sought to extend their lives by cramming into sailing ships to escape to America.

Walsh plans trip to Ireland in the spring

By Gintautas Dumcius
January 31, 2014
Gintautas Dumcius

A Galway-only visit this time, maybe in May, says mayor
By Gintautas Dumcius
BIR Staff
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who boasts roots in Co. Galway, always keeps an eye on the ould sod, but this spring, as he rounds out his first few months in office, he plans to check things out personally. “I haven’t even focused on it yet,” Walsh told the Reporter this week as he continues to settle into his new job. “I do want to go, though, probably in May.” He added that he wouldn’t be making any other stops while over there.

Dr. Bill O'Connell, visionary who hoped to memorialize "Famine Ship" victims

By Ed Forry
January 10, 2014
Ed Forry

Dr. William T. O'Connell, of Duxbury, passed away on Monday, January 6, 2014.
Dr. Bill as he was known to many, lead an active life. He traveled extensively from Russia to South America, including 21 trips to Ireland, he skied into his 70's, and devoted considerable time and resources to a wide range of Irish cultural and historic organizations. Always at his side was his beloved late wife Rita, who was the light of his life and the true companion of his days.

This is the Jack Shaughnessy I knew

By Arthur Murphy
January 2, 2014
Arthur Murphy

BY ARTHUR MURPHY
SPECIAL TO THE BIR
Jack Shaughnessy grew up in Quincy, graduated from BC High in wartime 1944, served in the Navy, and afterwards worked with his brother Al in building a very successful crane and rigging business in South Boston. That is a spare biographical sketch, and only a small part of the Jack Shaughnessy the city of Boston came to know.

Story of the Year: A heart-breaking loss triggers a spirited response

By Bill Forry
January 2, 2014
Bill Forry

The year’s most indelible images, memories and emotions for the city — and certainly for Dorchester at-large— are connected to the April 15th terror attack on spectators and participants at the Boston Marathon. The bombings killed three and wounded hundreds more and the aftershocks of the two devices rippled across the nation and globe.

Boston Sports, 2013- For local teams, stunning in a rear-view look

By Clark Booth
January 2, 2014
Clark Booth

BY CLARK BOOTH
SPECIAL TO THE BIR
Clearing the decks soon to be draped in holly as the clock runs out on what’s been another banner year in sports – especially if you hail from New England!
•••
The scorecard for 2013 is stunning! A spectacular championship in baseball. In hockey, a precious near-miss as tender as any Cup might be. A festival of world-class dramatics in football that has become routine in the Belichick/Brady era. And if in basketball we had to accept the end of an era, your team, given its history, need never apologize.

The grand finale at BCMFest will feature Celtic dance

By Sean Smith
January 2, 2014
Sean Smith

Celtic dance – in both a traditional and contemporary vein – will be the focus of the BCMFest Nightcap, the grand finale for the 11th annual BCMFest (Boston’s Celtic Music Fest), on Sat., Jan. 11.
A grassroots celebration of local Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton, and other Celtic music, BCMFest takes place over two days at venues in Harvard Square. The festival is a program of Passim, the nonprofit folk and acoustic music-oriented performance and education center.

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