|
2007
News
December
2007 - The Eire Society of Boston was proud
to share a multi-generation, Boston Irish community
christmas party with ICCUSA and the American Ireland
Fund at
the
Parris Lounge at Ned Devine's in Boston (Photos by
Karen Thornton).
 |
October 23, 2007: Kilmainham
Gaol, The Irish Nation's Historic Pulse
The Eire Society of Boston sponsored an event at
Jurys Hotel in Back Bay, Boston, featuring Niall
Bergin, Administrator of Kilmainham Gaol Museum
of Dublin,
Ireland. Niall
Bergin
is
employed by the Irish
Heritage Service in the Office of Public Works, which is the Irish office
responsible for protecting and maintaining Ireland’s
heritage. His work in Kilmainham Gaol ranges considerably
from guided tours of the Gaol to its many thousands
of visitors, coordinating research, recruiting new
staff and liaising with TV/Film groups and artists,
all of which would like to use Kilmainham Gaol as
a venue. He has worked with the museum since 1999.
Príosún
Chill Mhaighneann, or Kilmainham Gaol (jail), in Dublin served as a political
seismograph,
recording
many different
political upheavals in Ireland, including the imprisonment and execution
of many of those involved in the 1916 Easter Rising
for Ireland’s independence
from Britain. Niall Bergin reviewed the Gaol from its opening in 1796 to
its closing in 1924. Mr. Bergin also explored the often
overlooked story of the
fate of the common man, woman and child held in the
Gaol
and the impact of the Great
Famine and Convict Transportation on the Gaol.
 |
 |
September
2007: Eire Society Unveils Celtic Treasure
of Eire at the MFA
The Eire Society of Boston
was proud to unveil a special collection of ancient,
Irish-Celtic
gold treasures at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston
On September 13, 2007. These objects, discovered
along the coast of County
Cork and
Donnegal,
once adorned
the necks of
Celtic
aristocracy in Ireland from the middle to late
bronze age, dating back as far as 1200 B.C.
The private showing featured
three major artifacts, all gold armlets. These
Irish
treasures were purchased in 1950 through
partial
contributions
donated
by the Eire Society to the Museum of Fine Arts
Boston.
The unveiling of the objects
was conducted by Mr. David Barry, Irish Consul
General to Boston. The event included an introduction
by Eire Society President, Peter Beford Estes.
The introduction was followed by a brief talk
by Boston Irish historian Michael J.C. Neagle
who shared
the
history
of the donations of these and other objects to
the Boston community by the Eire Society of Boston.
Contributions mentioned include the
donation of a Perry Violin to Harvard University, the
commission of a Boston Pops concert at Boston
Symphony Hall and
oil paintings donated to Boston College
High School,
the Boston Public Library, the Massachusetts
State House and Harvard's Fogg Art Museum.
The event
was
followed by
a hors d'oeuvre reception at Bravo Restaurant
on the second floor of the MFA.
The event was featured in the
Boston Globe, the Boston Irish Reporter, the
Boston Irish Emigrant and held a full page article
in the
Irish Echo Newspaper (PDF).
|
|
|
August 2007: Eire Society
of Boston Supports Irish Connections Festival
The Eire Society of Boston was proud to support
the Irish Connections Festival in Canton – now titled the ICONs Festival – through
an Eire Society sponsored
booth as one of several
supporting, non-profit organizations
from
the
Boston
Irish
community. The festival is a massive tribute to Irish culture in Boston
and
New England and draws thousands of Irish Americans every year for great Irish
music,
food,
dance and craic.
 |
| Kevin
and his son William from Mansfield visit the
Eire Society booth at the 2007 Irish Connections
Festival in Canton, Massachusetts. |
May 2007: Eire Society of Boston Elects
New Leadership for 2007-2008
The Eire Society of Boston introduced the installment
of several new Officers and Board of Directors at the
May 31, 2007 Annual General Meeting held at the Burns
Library at Boston College. Among the newly elected
Board are Glenn Bronson (below left); Connie Koutoujian;
and new the Officer positions held Peter Estes, new
President; Phil O'Brien, First Vice President (below
middle); and
Anna
Quinn O'Brien, new Recording Secretary (below right).
 |
| Glenn
Bronson, new Board of Director, Phil O'Brien
new First Vice President
and Anna Quinn O'Brien, new Recording Secretary
following the Annual General Meeting elections
at the Burns Library, Boston College. |
|
 |
 The
Eire Society Awards Ambassador
Jean Kennedy Smith with the 2007
Gold Medal
The Eire Society
of Boston hosted this years Gold Medal
Dinner and Award Ceremony on May 3,
2007 at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston.
Celebrating our 70th year as Boston's
original Irish cultural organization,
the society awarded Ambassador Jean
Kennedy Smith who has been noted for
her central role in the peace efforts
in Ireland during the 1990s and for
her humanitarian efforts in the United
States. Ambassador Kennedy Smith played
a pivotal role in the peace process
in Northern Ireland that resulted in
the historic Easter Agreement. In 1974
she founded Very Special Arts, a nonprofit
organization which promotes the artistic
talents of mentally and physically
challenged children.
Click
here for photos & more information...
|
|
The
Eire Society of Boston was entertained
by Irish wine
broker, Michael Sherlock and Concannon
Vineyard's
Matt
Brooks at Ned Devine's in downtown
Boston on
February 22nd. We reviewed three of
the top Irish American wines
of the
west coast including those of Garretson
Wines, Stephen Ross (Dooley) Vineyards
and Concannon Vineyards. Mr. Brooks
and Mr. Sherlock walked us through the
rich
history of Irish American vineyards
offering Irish and Irish American wine
enthusiasts
an excellent overview into
the exquisite world of
fine wines of the American west coast. 
|
|
|
|
|
