Story Ideas from the Boston Irish Tourism Association for 2008

Irish Culinary Celebrations in Massachusetts

With the renaissance of culinary sophistication in Ireland taking place over the past twenty-five years, there is a new generation of Irish cuisine taking shape alongside the traditional perceptions of Irish cooking. These styles take center stage during the Irish Culinary Celebrations organized by the Boston Irish Tourism Association each March. The group invites Irish chefs from Ireland to cook alongside their Boston counterparts, for a moveable feast of dining events in hotels, restaurants and pubs throughout greater Boston. BITA is setting up interviews with the participating chefs, and can also make available Irish recipes, high resolution food images, pub interiors, chef head shots and photos from the 2007 Irish culinary events held across the city.

Irish Genealogy

With 24% of residents in Massachusetts claiming Irish ancestry, there are dozens of significant resources available to family history, including libraries, cemetery and public records, museums, genealogy societies and on-line programs. The Irish American Research Association (TIARA) offers workshops and trips to Ireland. In January TIARA and the Massachusetts State Archives is sponsoring a Genealogy lecture on tracing your Irish roots at the State Archives. BITA has published a booklet, Finding Your Irish Roots in Massachusetts which is available upon request.

Irish Heritage Trails in Massachusetts

The Boston Irish Tourism Association has created a Boston Irish Heritage Trail that charts nearly three centuries as displayed through the city’s statues, memorials, historic burying grounds and public buildings. The 20-site walking trail starts at the Waterfront and ends at Fenway Park and includes a variety of Irish politicians, poets, sculptors, painters, builders, and women leaders. A free map of the Trail is available at local visitor kiosks throughout the state. BITA has published an Irish Heritage Trail walking map that is available for free upon request.

St. Patrick’s Day in Massachusetts

There are seven St. Patrick’s Day parades throughout the Commonwealth. The two largest parades in Boston and Holyoke often draw upwards of one million viewers each, and there are thousands of marchers, brass bands, pipe bands and colorful floats. The parades occur over a three week period on the weekend, and each parade has its own distinct personality and history. Since the 19th century, St. Patrick’s Day parades are viewed as an annual expression of the Irish immigrant community’s pride and political ambitions in cities and towns across the United States. BITA has details of these parades at www.irishmassachusetts.com/Parades.php.

Editors & Writers: please contact Michael P. Quinlin irishmassachusetts@comcast.net at 617 696 9880 to discuss a story idea.

To request high resolution, print-ready images, please contact ColetteQuinlin@Comcast.net.