Irish Boston: A Lively Look at Boston's Colorful Irish Past, Including Museums, Historic Sites, Pubs, Music, Dancing, and Much More [Paperback]

Michael P. Quinlin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2004

Little-known stories and larger-than-life characters that people the 300-plus years of Boston Irish history, complete with detailed information on places to go, drink, and shop!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The history of the Irish in Boston is a fascinating one filled with tragedy, triumph, romance, heartbreak, and heroism. Irish Boston tells this spirited tale in vivid detail and portrays what life was like for Irish Americans who made their home in Boston over the past three centuries. From the Irish patriots of the American Revolution to the first Irish Catholic president of the United States, Boston’s Irish have shaped the history of the city - and the nation - in all areas of culture and society, not to mention politics.

The cast of characters includes such larger-than-life personalities as Hugh O’Brien, Boston’s first Irish Catholic mayor; John Singleton Copley, America’s first great portrait painter; Louis Sullivan, considered the father of American architecture; James Brendan Connolly, the first top medalist in the modern Olympic Games; and Patrick Kennedy and Bridge Murphy, progenitors of the Kennedy political dynasty.

More than just an engaging history, Irish Boston also includes a visitor’s directory with information on all things Irish in and around Boston, from the Irish Famine Memorial to the Boston College Irish Film Series. Use this one-of-a-kind guide as your complete source for the total Irish experience in Boston.

About the Author

Michael P. Quinlin is the founder of the Boston Irish Tourism Association and creator of the Boston Irish Heritage Trail. He is the author of Guide to the New England Irish, and his many articles and op ed pieces have appeared in the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, and the Irish Echo. He lives in Milton, Massachusetts.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 1st edition (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762729015
• ISBN-13: 978-0762729012
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,374,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael P. Quinlin is author of Irish Boston (Globe Pequot Press) and editor of Classic Irish Stories (Lyons Press). He has published three editions of Guide to the New England Irish, and various books relating to Irish music and history. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, he now lives in Milton, Massachusetts, where he runs the Boston Irish Tourism Association. He is also founder of MassJazz, which promotes jazz in Massachusetts to visitors from around the world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine blend of history, biography and travelogue, October 9, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Irish Boston: A Lively Look at Boston's Colorful Irish Past, Including Museums, Historic Sites, Pubs, Music, Dancing, and Much More (Paperback)

From an engaging written history to a survey of historic and cultural sites, Irish pubs and gift shops, and annual events, any present or past Bostoner will find Michael P. Quinlin's Irish Boston: A Lively Look At Boston's Colorful Irish Past, Including Museums, Historic Sites, Pubs, Music, Dancing, And Much More an excellent purchase celebrating both the past history of the Irish in Boston and their present-day culture and influences. Especially notable are chapters which focus on famous and notable Irish personalities in Boston, making for a fine blend of history, biography and travelogue all under one cover.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating peek at Irish Boston, September 3, 2004

By 

Julie K. Dennehy "dennehypr" (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Irish Boston: A Lively Look at Boston's Colorful Irish Past, Including Museums, Historic Sites, Pubs, Music, Dancing, and Much More (Paperback)

This comprehensive peek at the culture behind America's most Irish city is fascinating if you are interested in Irish American history. I was impressed by this "labor of love" by the author, and his tribute to the city's Irish community is heartfelt. Particularly interesting are the inclusion of not only photos and great content, but a guide to interesting destinations, Irish pubs, events and other reasons to visit Boston. A great gift for anyone with kelly green blood in their veins, I bought three for Christmas gifts! Thanks, Michael, for such a sincere and thorough chronicle of this important Boston community.