We all look forward to celebrating our proud history and culture during the 45th Annual Newport Irish Heritage Month in March.After the cancellation of most events in March 2020 due to the pandemic, and the pivot to all-virtual in March of 2021, I know you are all eager, as I am, to gather once again. Of course, the highlight for many will be the 66th Annual Parade in Honor of St. Patrick on Saturday, March 12, here in Newport.
There is much in store for you next month, and the Museum is pleased to once again sponsor a full slate of March happenings. You should all have received a flyer in the mail with an overview of our March offerings, a copy of which can be accessed by clicking HERE. A copy of the March 23 Crowley Lecture flyer was mailed separately, and that can be accessed by clicking HERE.
Please read on for a review of each of our happenings, including links to reserve.This information is also available on our website.
I hope to see many of you around town in March, and many of our out-of-area members “virtually,” via Zoom, at the much-anticipated March 23 lecture about Newport’s first Irish mayor, Patrick J. Boyle, by our own local historian and guide, Steve Marino.
One of the charming trolleys operated by Viking Tours of Newport
To kick off Newport Irish Heritage Month, we will host our annual Trolley Tour of “Irish Newport” on Sat.Mar. 5. Two tours will be offered. The first departs Ancient Order of Hibernian Hall, 2 Wellington Avenue, Newport at 10:00 am sharp, and complimentary coffee and Danish will be available at 9:30 a.m. The second tour departs the Hall at 12:30 pm.
The 2-hour tours, narrated by Mike Slein, include stops at various sites connected to the history of the Irish in Newport, including the Forty Steps on Cliff Walk and the Barney Street Cemetery. The tours include an introductory visit inside the Museum’s Interpretive Center.
Please contact Larry Bartley at (401) 965-7276 or ljbjr@cox.net
INTERPRETIVE CENTER OPEN 9 DAYS IN MARCH
The Museum’s Interpretive Center, which operates seasonally between late-May and the end of October,will be open nine days during March, Newport Irish Heritage Month. Located at
648 Lower Thames Street, just south of Narragansett Avenue, the Center also welcomes private and group tours, by appointment.
The special March 2022 public hours are 12:00–4:00 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the first three weekends in March (Fri. Mar. 4 is the first day). The list of days, parking info., map and directions, and covid protocols, may be viewed at the bottom of the Home page of our website:https://newportirishhistory.org/
Learn about Irish immigration to the Newport area and of the contributions to the community by individuals of Irish descent from the 1600s to the present through various exhibits, including photographs, artifacts and more.
Admission to the Center is FREE for Museum members and by donation for non-members. For more information, please contact Interpretive Center Manager, Steve Marino, at (860) 995-7367 or at NewportIrishHistory@gmail.com
NEW! HISTORIC CEMETERY SITE TOURS
Tours of the historic Barney Street Cemetery, the final resting place of many of Newport’s early Irish immigrants, will be offered in March on three Sunday afternoons at 12:30 pm, weather permitting. The tours of approximately 30 minutes will be given by local historian and guide, Steve Marino. No fee, but Reservations are requested.
-Sun. March 6 – Sun. March 20 -Sun. March 27
To reserve, please click the below button for the “Historic Cemetery Tours” page on our website. There, you will find links to reserve for each of the three tours along with interesting historical information about the cemetery site, including links to videos.
Fifth Program of the 2021-2022 Series ~ Our 20th Annual
The Life and Times of
Patrick J. Boyle,
Newport’s first Irish Mayor
Guest Speaker: Steve Marino
Wednesday, March 23, 6:00 p.m.
The Wayfinder Hotel
Newport, R.I.
and Live-Streamed via Zoom
made possible by a generous gift from:
Patrick J. Boyle (1860-1923)
Photo courtesy of the Newport Historical Society
When Patrick Boyle became mayor in 1895, many were surprised and few could imagine it was the start of a political career in Newport that would span over twenty years. How did the son of Irish Catholic immigrants, a Democrat in a solidly Republican town, manage this political feat? Join us as we explore the Gilded Age in Newport through the Irish eyes of Patrick J. Boyle.
STEVE MARINO taught history in Connecticut for 35 years and retired to Newport. He has been giving tours at Fort Adams since 2008. He is also on the Board of the Museum of Newport Irish History. Steve holds degrees from Williams College, Brown University, and the Hartford Seminary. This is Steve’s fourth presentation to our membership.
Reservations required. Click a link below to sign up.
In-person guests at the lecture and reception to follow at the Wayfinder Hotel must be fully vaccinated, and a $5 per person fee/donation applies. No fee to participate via Zoom.
Please hope and/or pray for some “Luck of the Irish” that we enjoy favorable weather on Sun. March 27 for this much-loved, family-friendly community event. The outdoor gathering is held weather-permitting, and updates will be posted on our Facebook page and on this webpage: https://newportirishhistory.org/events-calendar/dancing-at-the-forty-steps/
Learn more about this commemorative event and view videos of recent past “Dancing at the Forty Steps” gatherings by visiting the above webpage.
Questions? Please contact event coordinator, Rick O’Neill at
Newport Irish Heritage Month, a month-long celebration of “all things Irish,” was established by the former Newport Irish Heritage Association (NIHA) 45 years ago. Founders included Rick O’Neill, Rick Kelly and the late Paul Crowley. The Museum of Newport Irish History was proud to pick up the reins and continue to compile the March calendar of events of Irish interest when NIHA disbanded several years ago.
The March 2022 Newport Irish Heritage Month calendar includes events submitted by the Newport Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, Fort Adams Trust, The Ancient Order of Hibernians, The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, The Museum of Newport Irish History, WADK, and others.
Questions, or to submit an event for the calendar, please write to us at NewportIrishHistory@gmail.com with “Irish Heritage Month” in the subject line.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
As March 31 marks the end of the Museum’s current Fiscal Year, the month of March also kicks off Membership Renewal Season. Nearly 70% of our memberships are Annual Membership (vs. Life), and these are due for renewal at this time of the year. The annual fee for an Individual membership remains $20, and a Family/Household membership $30 (applies to all those living at the same address).
Please, help us defray printing and postage expense by taking a moment to RENEW NOW online, by clicking the “Membership Renewal” button at the bottom of this e-newsletter.
If you are not sure of your membership status, please email Ann at tpm1@earthlink.net before making a payment and she’ll get right back to you.
If you prefer to pay by check, please send payable to “MNIH” with “Membership” in the Memo line to us at PO Box 1378, Newport, RI, 02840
Note: please do not send payments or other correspondence to our seasonal Thames Street Interpretive Center address.
Click Here for Museum Board of Directors Contact Info. and list of deceased board members, fondly remembered.
The MISSION of the Museum of Newport Irish History is to tell the story of the Irish immigrants and their descendants in Newport County and the surrounding area from the Colonial era to the present. It also seeks to preserve artifacts and mementos relating to their experiences and facilitate
