Irish Heritage Trail
| Irish Heritage Trail | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 mi (4.8 km) |
| Location | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Established | 1994 |
| Trailheads | Rose Kennedy Garden to Fenway Park |
| Use | Walking, History |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Sights | 20 historical sites |
| Website | www |
The Irish Heritage Trail, a heritage trail in Boston, Massachusetts, was created in June 1994 as a way of highlighting the history of Irish Americans in Boston through its landmarks.[1]
The trail contains 20 sites in Boston, and the Back Bay,[2] and an additional 20 sites in Boston's neighborhoods.[3] The trail is managed by Boston Irish Tourism Association.
The self-guided walk in Boston and Back Bay is approximately 3 miles (5 km). It starts at the Rose Kennedy Garden on Boston's waterfront and ends at Fenway Park in the Fens.[4]
The Irish Heritage Trail was featured on the nightly New England show on WCVB.[5]
In 2019, the Irish Echo newspaper in New York ran a story on the 25th anniversary of the Irish Heritage Trail.[6]
In 2025, Boston Irish Tourism Association officials [7] announced it was adding five new landmarks to the Irish Heritage Trail, including the iconic Swan Boats [8] in the Public Garden, launched in 1877 by Irish immigrants.
The Worcester Telegram [9] also announced that an Irish Heritage Trail was being developed in Central Massachusetts.
In August, 2025, the tourism association announced it was adding the new Tom Brady statue to the Irish Heritage Trail in the months ahead. Tom Brady's ancestors emigrated from Ireland to Boston during the famine years of the 19th century, and lived in Boston a few years before moving out west to California.
Trail sites
Points on the trail include:[10]
- Rose Kennedy Garden
- Kevin White Statue
- James Michael Curley Statues
- Boston City Hall
- Boston Irish Famine Memorial
- Granary Burying Ground
- Colonel Shaw Memorial
- Massachusetts State House
- Soldiers & Sailors Memorial
- Commodore John Barry Memorial
- Boston Massacre Memorial
- Central Burying Grounds
- Colonel Thomas Cass Statue
- David I. Walsh Statue
- Maurice Tobin Statue
- Patrick Collins Memorial
- John S, Copley Statue
- Boston Public Library
- John Boyle O'Reilly Memorial
- Fenway Park
References
- ^ Scott Alarik. "Couple Chronicles Diversity of New England's Irish".
- ^ "Irish Heritage Trail - Boston".
- ^ "Irish Heritage Trail - Neighborhoods".
- ^ "Irish Heritage Trail Pays Tribute to Boston's Largest Ethnic Group". March 2, 2022.
- ^ Brett, Bill (March 14, 2018). "Airing of the Green: Irish Heritage Walking Tour". WCVB.
- ^ Quinlin, Michael (November 19, 2019). "Boston Irish Heritage Trail Marks 25 Years". Irish Echo Newspaper.
- ^ "Boston Irish Tourism Association announced". March 12, 2025.
- ^ "Swan Boats - Operatic Grandeur". April 20, 2025.
- ^ "Boston Irish Heritage Trail expands across Central Massachusetts". March 11, 2025.
- ^ "Lead your own parade down Boston's Irish Heritage Trail". March 11, 2020.