North End’s St. Stephen Church celebrates sesquicentennial

By BIR News Room
October 4, 2012

By Patrick E. O’Connor

St. Stephen Church, circa 1960St. Stephen Church, circa 1960
The 150th anniversary of the establishment of St. Stephen Church on Hanover Street in the North End was remembered with a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday, September 23 with Auxiliary Bishop Robert F. Hennessey presiding.

St. Stephen Church was originally the New North Congregational Church. Boston born Charles Bulfinch, the nation’s premier architect of the time, received the commission to design a church to replace a previous church at Hanover and Clark Streets in 1802. The church was completed in 1804 and by 1814, renamed the Second Unitarian Church.

During the Civil War era, the Unitarian congregation declined as the immigrant population of the North End swelled. A previously established St. John the Baptist Church on Moon Street had outgrown its use. Father John J. Williams, administrator at the time and later Archbishop of Boston, purchased the church on September 26, 1862 for $35,000. He dedicated the church to St. Stephen, the first Christian Martyr on December 2, 1862.

Assessing the prospects for an emerging Ireland: Irish American Partnership takes to road to check on opportunities and difficulties

By Joe Leary
October 4, 2012
Joe Leary

Above, one of many sessions involving members of the Irish American Partnership and Irish officials that took place during the Partnership's mission to Ireland in August.Above, one of many sessions involving members of the Irish American Partnership and Irish officials that took place during the Partnership's mission to Ireland in August.
A group of 14 Irish American Partnership members, including several Bostonians, traveled to Ireland recently to learn for themselves about the difficulties and opportunities facing the Irish people in these difficult economic times. In an extraordinary tour, the visitors made 21 stops and talked with some 60 Irish leaders, North and South, over four and one half days. 
Sunny, ideal Irish weather was the order of the day throughout the trip; transportation was by a luxurious bus; and Irish hospitality was in evidence everywhere.

When you listen to A.J. Gerritson talk, you know he’s a man who’s on the move

By Greg O’Brien, Special to the BIR
October 4, 2012
Greg O’Brien, Special to the BIR

"The Irish in me keeps me forever grounded, always in search of self-improvement, always looking for creative ways to do it better." -A.J. Gerritson"The Irish in me keeps me forever grounded, always in search of self-improvement, always looking for creative ways to do it better." -A.J. Gerritson

How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? That’s a tough one. But do you know the temperature at which paper burns? A. J. Gerritson does, and in fact he branded it on his company’s name.
In true 21st century style, Gerritson and his founding co-partner, Nicholas Lowe, discerning the need for new, on-line approaches to communications and marketing, created the firm of 451 Marketing in 2004, naming it after Ray Bradbury’s classic novel, Fahrenheit 451.

Weekend to remember for Tip O’Neill’s clan

By Ed Forry
October 3, 2012

By Liam Ferrie
Special to the BIR

The O’Neill clan gathers with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Dublin on September 6. Pictured, l-r: Michael O’Neill, Jr., grandson of Speaker O’Neill Thomas P. O’Neill III, son of Speaker O’Neill, Shelly O’Neill, Thomas P. O’Neill III’s wife, Taoiseach, Rosemary The O’Neill clan gathers with Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Dublin on September 6. Pictured, l-r: Michael O’Neill, Jr., grandson of Speaker O’Neill Thomas P. O’Neill III, son of Speaker O’Neill, Shelly O’Neill, Thomas P. O’Neill III’s wife, Taoiseach, Rosemary

BUNCRANA, Co. Donegal –The late Tip O’Neill was no doubt looking down with a huge smile on his face on events in Buncrana on the first weekend of September. His lifetime achievements were being acknowledged by the people of the County Donegal town near which his grandmother was born and it was all taking place in the presence of his many descendants, including his sons Tom and Christopher and daughters Susan and Rosemary.

In Boston visit, Ireland's Tourism Chief touts "The Gathering 2013"

By Ed Forry
October 3, 2012

By Ed Forry
BIR Publisher

Ireland's Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar (left) is pictured with Ruth Moran of Tourism Ireland, BIR Publisher Ed Forry, and Tourism Ireland Director Niall Gibbons Ireland's Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar (left) is pictured with Ruth Moran of Tourism Ireland, BIR Publisher Ed Forry, and Tourism Ireland Director Niall Gibbons
In an exclusive interview with the BIR on Sept. 7 at Tourism Ireland’s offices just off Dublin’s St. Stephen’s Green, TI executive director Niall Gibbons explained the government’s vision for the year-long promotion.
“The Gathering is a very exciting initiative,” Gibbons said. “It’s the biggest tourism initiative in the history of the state. It’s going to take place in 2013. It has been in preparation through a lot of this year and it’s going to be a very exciting time for anybody coming to visit Ireland.”

Murdoch's brand grossly and continuously abuses journalistic guidelines

By Bill O’Donnell
October 2, 2012
Bill O’Donnell

Lies, Bad Journalism Typify Murdoch Brand – One of the immutable principles of newspaper columns and opinion pieces is that they must be signed, with the identity and relevant facts about the writer attached to the piece. Only then can we begin to know and weigh what ties exist and/or what employment history may have influenced the opinions and judgments of the writer.
The same principles, or rules of the game, are essentially in force for other media.

When it comes to wind energy, the Irish know their stuff

By Ed Forry
October 2, 2012

By Judy Enright
Special to the BIR
The Irish are a wind-loving lot – and why not when they are so often buffeted by the gales that swirl around the greenest island in the Atlantic? While some here complain that wind turbines block their vistas, the Irish have long embraced the concept of harnessing the wind’s energy and all its resulting benefits and you can see turbines atop many hills in the country.

New M4 Motorway makes for easy travel across Ireland

Ed Forry
By Ed Forry
October 2, 2012

By Ed Forry
A September trip to Ireland brought with it good weather, some surprising motoring, and some great new memories from my ancestral homeland.
The good news for this visitor is how the exchange rate is advantageous against the dollar; in late September, a euro cost $1.30, not a bad rate compared to a year ago. Also, Irish hotels and restaurants are offering attractive low rates and package deals, helping the American tourist to stretch the travel budget.

Oct 19 luncheon honors US Rep Richard Neal, Bob & Mary Muse family, Brendan & Greg Feeney

By Ed Forry
October 2, 2012

The Boston Irish Reporter, the region's leading chronicler of all things Irish-American, will host “Boston Irish Honors 2012” on Friday Oct. 19, in the main ballroom of Boston's Seaport Hotel. The annual event draws an appreciative audience of some 400 top Boston business and civic leaders and officials of Boston’s many Irish social and cultural organizations.

Boston College: IRA interviews should stay sealed

By BostonIrish.com... (not verified)
September 10, 2012

By Denis Lavoie (AP)— A lawyer for Boston College says a judge was wrong to order the school to give police in Northern Ireland recordings of interviews with former members of the Irish Republic Army. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Friday in the school's appeal.

College researchers conducted and recorded the interviews as part of an oral history project.

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