Hello Boston... I'm visiting your great city this fall - have never been to Boston before and can't wait to discover all it has to offer. One thing I have always been curious about...is it true what they say about the large contingent of Irish in Boston? I'd be interested to know the history behind this, and of course, any recommendations on popular areas of town which have the finest of Irish pubs. Thanks.
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By Ron Newman - Aug 12, 2003, 12:45 PM Post #2 of 124 [In reply to]
Boston has a huge Irish population. It's the largest single ethnic group here. You'll find Irish bars and pubs nearly everywhere. South Boston is the most traditionally Irish neighborhood, followed by Charlestown and parts of Dorchester, but the popular Irish pubs often seem to be elsewhere -- North Station, Cambridge, and Somerville.
By HTP - Aug 12, 2003, 1:02 PM Post #3 of 124 [In reply to]
The history has to do with the potato famine in the 1840s when thousands of Irish arrived wtihin a few years at the North Atlantic ports of Boston and New York. They were the lucky ones as a million or more died of starvation. Today, the city of Boston's Irish population is much diminished compared to 50 or so years ago, as many have moved to the suburbs, but the metro area still has a big Irish and Catholic population. There's a big literature on the Irish in America, including Boston. Easy to find if you're interested.
By Vikram - Aug 12, 2003, 1:27 PM Post #4 of 124 [In reply to]
Not to mention a statue of starving Irish people outside the Borders bookstore at Park Street. Everytime I'm in the area I check to see what people have left behind in the bowl accross from the starving woman. Previous finds include a cheeseburger, a coke and a hypodermic (YIKES!)
By Ron Newman - Aug 12, 2003, 1:28 PM Post #5 of 124 [In reply to]
the Borders store and the statue are actually at the corner of Washington and School streets. A short walk from Park Street, but not visible from there.
By Vikram - Aug 12, 2003, 1:31 PM Post #6 of 124 [In reply to]
Umm..yeah I meant to say that but didn't know the street names. Figured a T stop location would be just as good. Thanks
By Ron Newman - Aug 12, 2003, 1:33 PM Post #7 of 124 [In reply to]
The absolute closest T station would be State, which has an entrance right across the street. But Park Street or Downtown Crossing will do. Also across the street is the Dreams of Freedom Immigration Museum, well worth a visit if you're interested in this history.
By Vikram - Aug 12, 2003, 1:36 PM Post #8 of 124 [In reply to]
Sad news: I get this when I click on any link.. ANNOUNCEMENT: 8/1/2003 DREAMS OF FREEDOM: BOSTON'S IMMIGRATION MUSEUM HAS CLOSED INDEFINITELY DUE TO FUNDING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT. Click here
If you want to drink with Irish people (as opposed to hanging out with mostly Irish-Americans in an Irish-owned bar), I'd try the Littlest Bar downtown, the Kinvara in Allston, Blackthorne's in South Boston, Ned Kelly's in Dorchester, the Irish Village in Brighton, and the Irish Embassy by North Station.
By Ron Newman - Aug 12, 2003, 1:40 PM Post #10 of 124 [In reply to]
Oh no! And I haven't seen a word about this closing in either daily newspaper. Has anyone else?
By slim - Aug 12, 2003, 2:57 PM Post #11 of 124 [In reply to]
Adam actually told me once that my neighborhood, West Roxbury, has more Irish now than Southie. That true Adam?
The Irish Embassay is closed or is closing soon, it's going to be a "Coyote Ugly" bar, named after that stupid movie which has a chain of these bars in other cities.
By slim - Aug 12, 2003, 3:00 PM Post #13 of 124 [In reply to]
And the Corrib and West Roxbury Pub in Westie. Loaded with Irish nationals.
By Ron Newman - Aug 12, 2003, 3:02 PM Post #14 of 124 [In reply to]
Some books by Thomas O'Connor that people have recommended in the past: South Boston: My Home Town: The History of an Ethnic Neighborhood The Boston Irish: A Political History
By adamg - Aug 12, 2003, 3:03 PM Post #15 of 124 [In reply to]
Y'know, they should put up a zone for stupid stuff that you need to be a tourist to get into - the Hard Rock Cafe, Cheers I and II and this. Doh, wait, that's what Quincy Market is!
By JP - Aug 12, 2003, 3:05 PM Post #16 of 124 [In reply to]
Man, I work close to the place and I never knew that it was closing. Bad English on their notice part: it should say something like closed due to LACK of funding.
Really? Is the hostel above it closing too?
By Fred Sennott - Aug 12, 2003, 7:51 PM Post #18 of 124 [In reply to]
There are many Irish families in the Boston area that came over before the potato famine.My fathers family first arrived around 1810,and there were quite a few Irish in Boston then. Trust in God and sin not.Don't blame me I'm like Sparky I voted for Sarah to.
There are many Irish families in the Boston area that came over before the potato famine.My fathers family first arrived around 1810,and there were quite a few Irish in Boston then.
My own Irish family didn't start coming here until just 100 yrs ago. My mother's paternal grandfather. some sort of trouble he was in back there.
I don't know but I would have to assume that it is. I can't understand why the Irish Embassy would sell they always had a good crowd in there.
Try Somerville Union Sq , The Tor NA Nog Sunday Nite live music and the owner from Ireland sometimes performs too. Sally O'Briens is nice and it has live music too. Union Sq has a lot of Irish people that go to the bars scence in Union Sq.
Some of my family arrived here in 1790's from Ireland....
Hey cdngirl, The original neighborhood where Irish immigrants first settled in Boston was actually the North End, which today is a predominantly Italian neighborhood (and worth checking out). They were slums at the time. Over the years the Irish tended to move to South Boston (Southie)and Dorchester, West Roxbury, etc. Boston College, when ,way back, it was still in town, was where the "Irish Catholics" went to college. Of course it still is largely Irish and it is a Jesuit institution. But at the time, the students would ride the T into town to attend BC and carried their lunch in brown paper bags and were therefore named "brown baggers". True. BC also hold the largest collection of Irish literary works in the US. It also holds, well it did when I was there and I'm sure it still does, one of two copies of the Book of Kells in the Bapst Library-or was it the Burns Library?? The other is in London. Anyway, BC is at the end of the B line (Green line). Check it out.
Lol.. and my drunk parents.
Try Somerville Union Sq , The Tor NA Nog. Union Sq has a lot of Irish people that go to the bars scence in Union Sq.
The Banshee in Dorchester is loaded with drunk Irish 17 year olds every summer, sounds horrifying but a good time. They also like the Phoenix landing.
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