In giving his blessing at the inaugural ceremonies for the Great Hunger Memorial, Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley compared the 19th-century Irish children who arrived on “orphan ships” to “those children at the borders of our country who are fleeing oppression and hunger, and whose parents are making a supreme sacrifice to save their lives and give them a new future.”
By John McColgan, Boston City Archivist May 30, 2019
John McColgan, Boston City Archivist
Presented at the Deer Island Great Hunger Memorial dedication
May 25, 2019 Copyright, John McColgan
An Gorta Mor, Ireland’s “Great Hunger”, saw an estimated 1.5 million people die of starvation and disease. Another two million emigrated. Many of these perished from the plagues they fled - thousands on the ocean journey, thousands more on North America’s shores, and thousands in quarantine, in places like Deer Island in Boston Harbor.
BY SEAN SMITH
SPECIAL TO THE BIR
From a purely transportational standpoint, the Friel Sisters’ recent stay in the Boston area had its difficulties: They arrived late for their sound check at one gig, and a few days before going back home to the UK, they learned that the airline on which their return flight was booked had gone under.
BY SEAN SMITH
SPECIAL TO THE BIR
April was a cruel month indeed for Boston’s Irish music community, as word circulated that three area Irish sessions were coming to an end, including, arguably, the most iconic of them all, the Monday gathering at the Green Briar Pub in Brighton.
Also on the list were Harrington’s in Wakefield and the monthly session at the Canadian American Club in Watertown.
Listings provided to BIR, courtesy Richard Archer.
Sat., June 1 – The Irish Music Club, 410 Quincy Ave., Braintree will conduct its monthly dance. Music by the Andy Healy band from 7-11 pm. Complimentary coffee, tea, and pastries. Admission is $10. For additional information call Anna at 617-696-6007.
Sun., June 2 – The Irish Social club in West Roxbury features “Erin’s Melody” for its dance. 7-10 p.m.'