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Suzin Bartley relentlessly works her mission: Stressing prevention to stem tide of child abuse
Jan. 5, 2012

It has been said about child abuse that it "casts a shadow the length of a lifetime." Suzin Bartley, executive director of the Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund, has spent a professional lifetime trying to bring light to this darkness. She describes a chilling analogy—a haunting image that she has—of standing in a boat on a wide river, watching a baby float in the current. She grabs for the baby. Another one floats by, and she reaches out again. Again and again, until the boat is filled with babies. She then realizes that while it's critical to save babies floating in the river, she also need to find out who is throwing them in, and then try to stop them.

In a sentence that's what Bartley and the Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund is all about: prevention.

Arts and entertainment
Letting the younger set know the feeling when a house party turns into a session
Jan. 17, 2012

BY SEAN SMITH
SPECIAL TO THE BIR
It seemed like most any typical all-ages holiday gathering, and in many ways, it was.
A Christmas tree stood in the corner of the living room, right by the entry to the dining room. Christmas decorations graced the fireplace mantel and other parts of the house, and an assortment of various treats, including Christmas cookies, was laid out on the dining room table.

Traveling People
Ireland offers plenty of help for roots-searchers
Dec. 5, 2011

by Judy Enright
Special to the BIR

Is it because this country is such a grand melting pot that so many of us are engaged in the search for our roots? There are, of course, a number of sensible reasons for learning about your past: ancient traditions that might be lost if you didn’t learn about them; or genetic medical conditions in the family that you should know about and watch for.

Story
Little Elie Madden and her family find help, hope in Boston
Jan. 9, 2012

The Madden family: 14-month old Elie, left, with her dad Eddie, mom Esit and twin sister Emie. Photo courtesy Madden familyThe Madden family: 14-month old Elie, left, with her dad Eddie, mom Esit and twin sister Emie. Photo courtesy Madden familyBy Pat Tarantino, Reporter Staff
After nearly a year-and-a-half spent in hospitals, operating rooms, and recovery units, a Dublin family's lengthy struggle to secure a healthy future for their ailing daughter may finally come to a happy end here in Boston.

Fourteen-month-old Elie Madden was born weighing less than four pounds and suffering from esophageal atresia - a rare disorder in which her esophagus is too short to reach her stomach - and has spent much of her young life dependant on machinery to keep her fed and breathing.

But thanks to a tireless fundraising campaign by parents Eddie and Esti and an outpouring of support in Ireland, Elie is now at Boston's Children's Hospital where she is currently receiving treatment that could give her a chance at a normal, healthy childhood.

Breaking News
Judge to BC: Give up IRA tapes
Dec. 30, 2011

by Bill Forry

A federal judge in Boston has told Boston College that it must turn over recordings and other documents that are part of an oral history collection kept at the university’s Burns Library. The ruling is a major setback for BC and its allies who had sought to quash a subpoena triggered by a British request to view the documents as part of a criminal investigation into sectarian murders during the Troubles. The subpoena in question, issued last May and June, sought the records related to two individuals, Brendan Hughes and Dolours Price, both of whom were alleged to be former IRA members. BC has already handed over documents involving Hughes, who died three years ago.

Breaking News
Honors luncheon hails Irish heritage
Nov. 14, 2011

The scene on Thurs., Oct. 20 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. Photo by Margaret Brett Hastings.The scene on Thurs., Oct. 20 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. Photo by Margaret Brett Hastings.

Some 400 well-wishers gathered at the Seaport Hotel on Oct. 20 to celebrate with the awardees at the second annual Boston Irish Honors event sponsored by the Boston Irish Reporter (Download complete program).

Dick Flavin was the master of ceremonies who, after a vigorous rendition of "Casey at the Bat," with Ted Williams playing the part of Casey, introduced the honorees:

State Sen. Tom Kennedy of Brockton; Kathleen O'Toole, who has served in law-enforcement posts locally and is now finishing up a stint as Chief Inspector of the Garda Force in Ireland; and three local families, the Corcorans, the Hunts, and the Mulvoys.

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