By any measurement, Martina Curtin's journey from Kilshanny, Co. Clare, to America has had a profound impact across the neighborhoods of Boston. As the founder in 2009 of Curtin Home Care (CHC Home Care Inc.), a provider of private assistance, Martina has proven that entrepreneurship and compassionate, professional support for families facing medical challenges are not mutually exclusive.

After the company's acquisition by a corporate entity in 2020, Martina took the time to earn an MBA from Suffolk University and then, in 2024, opened Concierge HomeCare Plus, an individual-centric boutique home-care service focused on the consulting side — helping families understand their options and navigate care, rather than managing staffing.

Her mission to ensure clients' physical and emotional comfort has led to such accolades as the Care Ambassador Award at the Irish Echo's Small Business Impact Awards event in 2019, and now membership in Boston Irish's Hall of Honors Class of 2026 for her accomplishments as an Irish American entrepreneur and business leader.

As the first female president of the Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston (ICC), Martina is a key promoter of Irish culture and heritage who has expanded the ICC's presence in the local Irish community and beyond. Her determination to help connect and empower women from a wide array of backgrounds moved her to help found and preside over the networking group Mná Mheiriceá.

Prominent Boston attorney John Foley, who served as the ICC's general counsel for ten years, said he had served with Martina on the ICC board and seconded the nomination of her for president.

"Seamus Mulligan spotted her leadership and her ability to get things done," Foley recalled. "The last thing the ICC needed was another old white bald guy as its president. So he nominated Martina, who was a generation younger, a woman and Irish born. It was a brilliant selection. Martina's leadership of the ICC has been transformative. She has led by rolling up her sleeves and making sure everyone felt welcomed. She leads by doing."

The Road from Kilshanny to Back Bay Boston

Martina grew up on a working farm in the rural village of Kilshanny, close to the Cliffs of Moher, the oldest of eleven children of Michael and Joan Curtin — seven girls and four boys.

"Everyone had jobs to do, and we were expected to get on with them," she said. "We sold turf, raised beef cattle. We also bred Connemara ponies and took them to the shows, and at Christmas, we sold turkeys and geese. At the time, it was just everyday life. Looking back, I realize we were growing up in a family business."

Her father, she said, was "very particular about how the cattle looked and how the ponies were turned out for the shows. Everything had to be right. He probably wouldn't have called it 'the brand,' but that's what it was — taking pride in what you were selling and in your name. I definitely inherited that from him."

Her parents valued education deeply. The family took news seriously — the Irish Independent every day, The Clare Champion, the Farmers Journal on Thursdays, and two Sunday papers were always in the house.

"I definitely inherited my parents' curiosity and interest in the world around me," Martina said. "Even in this age of technology, I still love reading a physical newspaper."

 With seven girls in the family, she noted, there was never any talk of things girls couldn't do. "We worked inside and outside, whatever needed doing. I think that helped me later in life because I didn't go into things thinking I couldn't do them because I was a woman."

Coming to America — and Building a Business

 Martina first came to the US in 1999. "I loved everything about it — the fast pace, the work ethic, and the sense of possibility. People worked hard, and their successes were celebrated. That really appealed to me."

She tapped into the healthcare network in Boston and began building connections and finding opportunities. When she decided to start CHC, she had seen what worked well in other agencies and what could be improved.

"The biggest challenge was managing all the moving parts," she said. "The home care industry in Massachusetts is very fragmented, and families often worry about whether a caregiver would show up. Hiring dependable, compassionate people was paramount."

By the time CHC was acquired in 2020, the company had a team of 85 full- and part-time staff, including case managers, nurses, caregivers and administrative staff.

"They deserve just as much credit as I do for CHC's success," Martina said. "It was something we built together."

The ICC, Mná Mheiriceá, and What Drives Her

"I really wear my heart on my sleeve when it comes to my Irish heritage," Martina said. "That was the draw to the Irish Cultural Centre — the people, the connections and keeping that sense of community alive."

Becoming the ICC's first female president — and doing so during Covid — was no easy task. "It comes back to surrounding yourself with good people, and we have a phenomenal team at the ICC."

Supporting women led directly to the founding of Mná Mheiriceá. "We wanted to bring women together through business, wellness, and social events. It's about meeting people, sharing what we know and helping each other along."

"My mother had no sisters," she added, "and sometimes in the middle of planning an event, I wonder, 'Was she ever lonely? Would she have enjoyed something like this?' I want every woman who comes along to feel welcome and know there's a seat at the table for her."

On receiving notice of her induction into the Boston Irish Hall of Honors, she said: "Being recognized at the Boston Irish Honors has made me look back and reflect on my journey."

The values her parents lived every day — work hard, take pride in what you do, welcome people, show up for others, do your best — are the same ones she carries into every boardroom, care consultation, and community event.

"I certainly trace my entrepreneurial spirit back to the farm," she said. "I grew up watching my parents make the most of what they had, manage different sources of income and adapt to the seasons. Those early lessons shaped how I built my businesses and how I lead today."

Martina lives in the Back Bay with her husband, Craig Carlson, a senior advisor at Arthur D. Little.

Peter F. Stevens is a Boston Irish contributor.