A forward step for Famine-era memorial on Deer Island: MWRA joins plan for marker where 900 Irish pilgrims died

By Ed Forry
December 8, 2014

There has been some progress in developing a plan to establish a memorial in remembrance of the hundreds of Irish Famine-era emigrants who lost their lives before reaching the mainland of Boston.

In 1847, the city of Boston opened a quarantine station on Deer Island in Boston Harbor in 1847 for the treatment and cure of thousands of Irish who had made the long ocean journey to escape the Great Hunger. While many survived, some 900 died and were buried in graves on the island, located just off the town of Winthrop. The island is now accessible by a causeway, and currently houses Boston’s huge wastewater treatment facility.

Things are looking up for people in the North this holiday season

By Joe Leary, Special to the BIR
December 8, 2014
Joe Leary, Special to the BIR

With a Catholic majority looming in the near future and the British government cutting back on funds to run the Northern Ireland government, rather profound changes are coming to this small province. One change may arrive before Christmas.

For all the attention it gets, Northern Ireland, with its population of 1.8 million, has fewer people than the three medium-size Massachusetts counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Plymouth. In fact the distance between the two largest cities on either side of Northern Ireland is about the same as between Boston and Hyannis.

A new dispute- taxing households for their water- flares up all across Ireland

By Bill O'Donnell
December 4, 2014
Bill O'Donnell

BY BILL O’DONNELL
We Reap What We Sow – In the years since the Irish bailout following the recession that hit Ireland and much of the world a staggering blow, Irish taxpayers have involuntarily contributed over 29 billion euros (roughly $389 billion US dollars) to the Irish exchequer. Given the crowd scenes and protests in the news from Greece, Spain, and other similarly hard-hit EU constituencies, the Irish people have been relative paragons of restraint.

Holiday Calendar- Boston Irish events this month

By BIR staff report
December 4, 2014
BIR staff report

Thurs., Dec. 4, 6-9 p.m. – Annual Irish Network Boston Chrstmas Party, Faneuil Hall, Complimentary bar and hors d’oeuvres, free for members who have paid $50 annual dues.
Fri., Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. – Pauline Wells, “Home for Christmas” lineup of talented musicians and singers, including the band Devri. To benefit”Cops for Kids with Cancer,” Norwood Theatre, 109 Central St, Norwood. Tickets $27 for adults and $24 for seniors/students, 781-551-9000. … Tony Kenny’s Christmas Time in Ireland, 7:30 p.m., Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College. 978-837-5355 | merrimack.edu.

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