The story of how one Boston Irish business leader stepped up to help in the wake of the terrible earthquake in Haiti typifies the great sense of empathy, compassion and benevolence that is part of the culture of Irish Americans and the Irish around the world. Here’s the story of Kevin Leary, CEO of Valet Parking of New England, (VPNE,) in his own words: “Our company has 47 employees from Haiti -- friendly, talented, and hard working employees. Sadly, many have lost members of their family in the horrific earthquake. Read more
by Bill O'Donnell--Updated Jan 29 to correct donated amount from Ireland and the EU. Ireland has once again answered the call for help, this time from a ravaged Haiti. Irish aid agencies like Goal and Concern have been shipping lifesaving supplies and personnel into that island of nine million. The Irish government has joined with other members of the European Union in donating some $350 million and quickly airlifted over 85 tons of food, medicine and other essential aid. Read more
Winnie Henry is organizing a day of Irish Dance/Music ito raise funds for Haitian earthquake relief. Right now, she says she hopes to secure a venue in Quincy in February, and she expects to stage a day-long event with music, dance and "no speeches," and direct all proceeds to the Haitian people. Currently, the Irish government has pledged significant funds and resources to the rescue efforts, and staffers and volunteers from three Irish agences- GOAL, Concern and Haven- are on the ground now in Haiti as part of the massive international aid to the Haitian tragedy. Read more
The BIR's sister publication, the Boston Haitian Reporter, has been providing up-to-the-minute coverage of Haiti's earthquake and rescue efforts since Tuesday afternoon. We invite our readers to visit the BHR website for information on how Boston's Irish community can be of assistance.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti, our Haitian-American friends and relatives and all who have a connection to the region. Read more
The Irish Cultural Centre tof New England will host the second concert of its Winter Warmer Celtic Concert Series on Saturday, January 30. ICCNE has created a dynamic Celtic Winter performance which is a collaboration of featured Irish artists in the Boston Irish community: Read more
The Eire Society of Boston and the Charitable Irish Society Invite their members and those of the Boston Irish Genealogical Society TIARA to a Celebration of a Celtic Noel
in the John J. Burns Library of Boston College at 3:00 p.m on Sunday, December 13, 2009. Read more
On Friday, November 13th, 8 p.m., the Westford Museum & Historical Society will host the 12th annual season of Music at the Museum, featuring traditional and contemporary folk music. Read more
As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton prepares to visit Northern Ireland next week in a bid to shore up the peace process, leaders from Ireland and Massachusetts will gather in Boston for a major conference to forge mutually beneficial transatlantic links. Read more
Eight persons will be honored on Thursday, Oct 8, 2009, at the second
annual Golden Bridges Awards at the Seaport Hotel/Boston World Trade
Centre. The Awards are being hosted jointly by the Irish Echo
(www.irishecho.com) and the Boston Irish Reporter
(www.bostonirish.com) and will take place during the Gateways to
Tomorrow conference, building bridges between Boston and northwest
Ireland, at the same venue on 7-8 October.
The honorees are:
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Timothy Murray, Chief Honoree
and Guest Speaker
State Senate President Therese Murray Read more
Former President Mary Robinson didn't miss and hit the wall last month when she decried "an absence of vision" in Irish government circles as the state grapples with the economic recession. Perhaps because her comments were made at the Béal na mBláth commemoration in honour of Michael Collins, they went largely unheeded by the powers-that-be. Nowhere is that clearer than at this week's gathering of the Irish diaspora in Dublin for the Global Irish Economic Forum. Read more
A Sept. 11 Concert at Boston's Historic Wilbur Theater is being
planned to mark the anniversary of terror attacks. "A Celtic
Crossing" will present a musical 9/11 concert , with proceeds going
to benefit Cops for Kids with Cancer. Headlining and hosting this
event will be Pauline Wells of Milton. A Sergeant Detective in the
Cambridge Police Department, she began singing in Ireland in 2000
while on a trip with the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and
Drums, and has performed numerous benefit concerts over the years. Read more
September 2, 2009 by Ed Forry
September 2, 2009 by Ed Forry
August 30, 2009 by Ed Forry
'CITY ON A HILL STANDS LESS TALL' AS KENNEDY LAID TO REST
By Jim O'Sullivan
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
MISSION HILL, AUG. 29 - Mourners saluted Sen. Edward Kennedy as a
champion for the downtrodden and a deeply committed family man who
donned the duties of his slain brothers, his sons recalling a caring
father and President Barack Obama praising the longest-serving member
of the family dynasty as a "happy warrior" during a stirring funeral
Mass Saturday.
"A few scant miles from here, the city on a hill stands less tall
against the morning sky," said the Rev. J. Read more
