History Cemetery Tour & Dancing at the Forty Steps
March 25 , 2022
Dear Fellow Members,
It was a pleasure to see so many of you in person at the Wayfinder Hotel and virtually, via Zoom, this past Wednesday evening for Steve Marino’s wonderful lecture regarding Patrick J. Boyle, Newport’s first Irish mayor. Steve’s talk was a most engaging, informative and memorable close to our 20th Annual Michael F. Crowley Lecture Series. We are grateful to Steve for researching the “Life and Times” of P.J. Boyle, to Boyle descendants for joining us, in person and “virtually,” and to BankNewport for its generous gift to support the event. If you missed Steve’s talk, please be sure to view the video, which will be posted shortly on the “Lectures” page of our website.
To close out the 45th Annual Newport Irish Heritage Month, the Museum will host two outdoor events this Sunday, Mar. 27. The 12:30 pm tour of the Barney Street Cemetery and Dancing at the Forty Steps at 3:00 pm were previously announced via U.S. Mail and e-newsletter, and we’re sharing the information again, below. The weather looks favorable for these happenings and we hope many of you can attend.
As a reminder, our Interpretive Center is now closed, but will re-open for the 2022 Season Memorial Day weekend. Also coming up this spring is our Annual Meeting, to which all members will be invited and at which we’ll thank our Center docent volunteers for their service. Dates and details to come.
Finally, if you did not catch the news, we’re delighted to announce our new self-guided “Irish Newport ” walking tour brochures. Click HERE for details and how to obtain copies.
The Sun. March 20 cemetery tour, attended by upwards of 40
(photo by Larry Bartley)
Rain did not detour the 15 hearty and enthusiastic folks who joined
the March 6 tour.
(photo by Jack McCormack)
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. Approximately 30 minutes in length, tours will be hosted 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.
It looks as though we’ll have some “Luck of the Irish” and 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
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 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
If you are not sure of your membership status, please email Ann at tpm1@earthlink.netbefore making a payment and she’ll get right back to you.
Note:
Please do not send payments or other correspondence to our seasonal Thames Street Interpretive Center address. Thank you!
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
