Story Ideas from the Boston Irish Tourism Association

 

St. Patrick’s Day in Massachusetts

There are six St. Patrick’s Day parades throughout Massachusetts, in Abington, Boston, Cape Cod, Holyoke, Scituate and Worcester. The Boston and Holyoke parades often draw upwards of one million viewers each, with thousands of marchers, brass bands, pipe bands and colorful floats. The parades occur each March on weekends, and each parade has its own distinct personality and history. BITA has details of these parades at irishmassachusetts.com/Parades.php.

Irish Genealogy

With 24% of residents in Massachusetts claiming Irish ancestry, the state has many repositories for researching family history.  The Irish American Research Association (TIARA) offers workshops and trips to Ireland. The Massachusetts State Archives at Columbia Point has ship records and local materials, and the National Archives in Waltham and Pittsfield has census information and family history data. BITA has published a booklet, Finding Your Irish Roots in Massachusetts, available upon request.

Boston Irish Heritage Trail

BITA is creator of the Boston Irish Heritage Trail, a 20-site walking trail charting the Irish experience in Boston over three centuries, through the city’s statues, memorials, cemeteries and public buildings. The trail begins at the Waterfront and ends at Fenway Park, featuring various politicians, poets, sculptors, builders, and military heroes. A free map of the Trail is available at local visitor kiosks, and in BITA’s Travel & Culture Guide, issued free each March, June and November. BITA organizes guided tours of the Irish Heritage Trail each March and in the summer months.

Profiles on Irish-Americans in Massachusetts

BITA has written dozens of stories on leaders in the Irish-American community, from athletes and musicians to politicians and hospitality experts.  We’ve written about historical figures and episodes, the Kennedy Family, and In Memoriam essays. Find details at irishboston.org/profiles_main.php. 

Ireland

BITA writes frequently on what Ireland has to offer for American visitors, covering promotions like The Gathering and the Wild Atlantic Way, and Boston-related promotions like Gaelic Gourmet Gala and the Volvo Sailing Race.  We work with tour guide companies to help plan the perfect trip to Ireland.

Editors & Writers: please contact irishmassachusetts@comcast.net regarding story ideas.

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