By definition, a corner house sits at the edge of a crossroads, in close proximity to all manner of passersby happening through the intersection. In the same vein, Boston quartet Corner House lies at a musical crossroads, its doors and windows open to the musical styles, genres, and philosophies at the metaphorical intersection: Irish/Celtic, bluegrass, old-timey, New England contra dance, plus contemporary and singer-songwriter folk.
As the calendar turns toward Thanksgiving, several prominent Irish Americans are doing their level best to turn the conversation away from platters of holiday “gobbler” to the spewing of lies, and, in one case, an ill-advised confession to several of those whoppers. The Turkey Day menu from Irish American Hall of Shamers William Barr and Mick Mulvaney features endless dollops of Malarkey and Ukrainian Stuffing.
On Oct. 18, our news organization celebrated the 29th year of publishing the Boston Irish Reporter with our tenth annual luncheon at the Seaport Boston Hotel.
The Boston Irish Honors luncheon is a celebration of people who we think exemplify the Boston Irish experience through their accomplishments, their family history, and their caring for others.
This year, we saluted two women and two men who have inspired us with their vision, their hard work and their caring for others: Jim Carmody, Kathy and John Drew, and Grace Cotter Regan.
By Ed Forry
Ten years ago, when we first gathered with some friends and advisors to discuss how to sponsor an annual luncheon featuring stories drawn from Boston’s large Irish community, we had a central idea in mind: We hoped to honor the remarkable people and families in our community who truly exemplify the best qualities of the Boston Irish.
In telling their stories, which speak to our heritage both here and in Ireland, we seek to reaffirm our immigrant roots and recall, with gratitude, the men and women who came here and made Boston our home.
The adage “geography is destiny” holds true for John and Kathy Drew. From South Boston and Dorchester to today’s local waterfront, geography has very much helped to shape the couple’s lives.
For some, the notice released by the Jesuit order on Aug. 24, 2017, came out of the blue; for others, it seemed appropriate by a certain measure: “Today, the board of trustees of Boston College High School announced the election of Grace Cotter Regan as the school’s next president. Regan comes from Saint Mary’s High School in Lynn, Mass., where she used her formidable skills to grow and develop the urban Catholic school.
By Jack Thomas
Jim Carmody is manager of the elegant Seaport Hotel overlooking Boston Harbor, and from the Irish enclave in Dorchester, where he grew up in a lower middle-class two-decker as one of eight children in a family living paycheck to paycheck, the distance, geographically, is a 14-minute drive, but culturally, it’s about a million miles.
Sherrill House, a not-for-profit skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, has announced that its CEO, Patrick Stapleton, has been appointed by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker to serve on the state’s recently established Nursing Facility Task Force.
The 15-member panel is charged with evaluating ways to ensure the financial stability of skilled nursing facilities, to enhance their role within the continuum of elder care services, and to address current workforce challenges.