The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, will today (Saturday) address a conference on the 1916 Easter Rising in Boston College, on the penultimate day of her St Patrick’s Day trip to Massachusetts. Other speakers at the conference, which is being co-hosted by the Irish and British Consulates in Boston, include historian Diarmuid Ferriter and writer Colm Tóibín.
As part of the trade and culture mission, Minister Humphreys has met with Irish American business leaders and groups which support Irish immigrants living in Boston. She has also met with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Martin J Walsh. Tomorrow (Sunday), Minister Humphreys will attend the annual St Patrick’s Day Breakfast in the Irish neighbourhood of South Boston.
Speaking in advance of the Boston College Conference Minister Humphreys said:
“The Irish community in the United States played a very important role in supporting those who ultimately went on to instigate the Easter Rising, and chart a path towards Irish freedom. Five of the Proclamation’s seven signatories spent significant time in the United States before the Rising.
“The close links which existed between Ireland and the United States at the time is also evident in the Proclamation. America is the only other country mentioned in the 1916 Proclamation, which reminded us that Ireland, in the pursuit of its ideals, was ‘supported by her exiled children in America’.
“As events unfolded at home in Ireland, America took notice; for 14 days the Rising was a front page story in the New York Times. Now, 100 years on, the links between our two countries are stronger than ever, and the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme provides the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution made by the Irish Diaspora in the United States over the last century.
“More than 200 events are planned across America as part of the Global and Disapora strand of Ireland 2016, including a series of conferences and cultural events here in Massachusetts. The Irish Government is determined to produce the best possible programme of commemoration on this side of the Atlantic: one that is truly commensurate with the role that America and Irish America played in the lead-up to 1916 and throughout the century since.”
Notes to Editor:
Irish-Boston links:
- More than 21% of the population of Massachusetts claim Irish ancestry. Boston is the most Irish of all large metropolitan areas in the US.
- The American-Ireland Fund (AIF) and the Irish American Partnership (IAP) are both headquartered in Boston. These are philanthropic organisations which fundraise for worthy causes on the island of Ireland.
- Massachusetts is the second largest US State in terms of exports to Ireland, with exports reaching $952 million in 2015. Massachusetts also imported $1.6 billion worth of goods from Ireland last year.
- Massachusetts-based companies account for over 14,000 jobs in Ireland. These include jobs in sectors such as medical devices (Boston Scientific), biotechnology (Genzyme) and electronic equipment (Analog Devices).
- Deep business links exist between Ireland and Boston. Irish companies across all sectors have chosen Massachusetts as the location for their US headquarters. The Irish financial services sector is well represented, with key players like Globoforce and Fineos establishing their North American presences here.
Highlights of Minister Humphreys’ itinerary:
17-18th March:
American Irish Partnership St Patrick’s Day Breakfast
Courtesy call on Governor Charlie Baker, Massachusetts State House
Attend reading from Brooklyn by Colm Toibin at Boston Public Library
Community Event hosted by the Irish Pastoral Centre
Address the Charitable Irish Society 279th Anniversary Dinner
Media interviews
Business Breakfast with Irish Network Boston and Boston Irish Business Association
Visit the Irish International Immigrant Center
Courtesy call on Mayor Martin J Walsh
Meet with representatives from Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Tourism Ireland
Address the Boole Shannon Symposium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Address St Patrick’s Day Reception at Fenway Park
19th-20th March:
Visit the JFK Presidential Library and Edward Moore Kennedy Institute
Visit the Irish Cultural Centre
Visit the ‘Making it Irish’ exhibition at McMullen Museum of Art
Address Easter 1916 Conference at Boston College
Attend annual South Boston St Patrick’s Day Breakfast
St Patrick’s Day Parade, South Boston