Immerse yourself in Irish culture without stepping outside the borders of the United States. Whether you want to taste an authentic ale, take in community events with an Irish flair or pay tribute to Ireland’s past, these five ideas—all of which are located in the East—offer an eye into the Emerald Isle’s culture.
Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail
Organized by the Boston Irish Tourism Association, this trail features not one but 20 unique sites, all of which have played a role in Irish history or pay homage to the culture. Set in a city that is known for its numerous Irish roots and connections, the trail is a simple way to soak up the sights, including the Irish Famine Memorial, Fenway Park, the Rose Kennedy Garden, and many others. Learn more at irishheritagetrail.com.
Chicago’s Gaelic Park
What was originally organized as a park for athletes who were looking for a playing field for Irish sport, is now a thriving community center for many things Irish. Whether you want to see or take part in native dancing and music, further your Irish education, or participate in sports, this is the place to be with fellow Irish men and women—whether you live in Chicago or are visiting the city. The Carraig Pub is also a popular onsite venue. Don’t miss their annual “Ireland on Parade” 10-day celebration of Irish culture in March. Learn more at chicagogaelicpark.org.
Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Touted as the world’s third largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration (Dublin and NYC lead the way), residents of this charming Georgia city throw a supreme party and celebration of Irish heritage each March. The Fountain in Forsyth Park will run with green water throughout the month, while dancing, music and festivities can be found at numerous venues in the city, along with the much-anticipated parade and festival.
New York’s McSorley’s Old Ale House
Operating as NYC’s “oldest continuously operating saloon,” McSorley’s is an authentic Irish Tavern. Since 1854, the watering hole has served everyone from U.S. presidents to writers and, of course, lovers of Irish culture. The best way to take in the culture-rich atmosphere is to soak in the history-filled walls with a pint of McSorley’s Ale. If you visit, be sure to follow the pub’s golden rule: “Be Good or Be Gone.” Visit mcsorleysoldalehouse.nyc to learn more.
Isles of Shoals
While there are no concrete landmarks on this grouping of islands that lie just off the coast of New Hampshire and Maine, it is steeped in Irish history. When merchants from the Emerald Isle traded with the early settlers of the colonies in the 1600s, they created a settlement of their own on these islands. While the islands were abandoned during the American Revolution, a day trip still conjures up images of the way of life of these early settlers.
What favorite Irish-influenced landmark or city do you enjoy visiting in America?
1) The Black Rose Pub, Boston; 2) the I2K (Irish 2000) festival held in Saratoga, N.Y. every September; 3) Ellis Island
Sorry, I hit the send button before finished, so here’s the rest: 4) Gettysburg National Cemetery, Pa where there is great history of Irishmen and many monuments dedicated to the 100s of Irish soldiers who fought in the civil war. 5) Robert Emmett Statue, Washington, DC. All Irish should read his oration. A true Irish patriot.
How about the St. Patrick’s day parade in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania? I’ve heard it also is one of the biggest and dates back quite a few years/decades
In Cohasset, MA, there is a harbor side graveyard where many Irish emmigrants were buried, after the 1849 wreck of the brig, St. John. Annually, the AOH has a Mass to commemorate the tragic event where the brig crashed upon the rocks, just yards off the coast of Cohasset.
I loved, loved, Ireland and it’s history and my heritage but there is nothing like NYC’s St Patrick’s Day Parade and a visit to St Patrick’s cathedral on Fifth Ave. It is sooo GREAT TO BE IRISH!? ????☘️
I was born and raised in New York City and my Dad worked in midtown on 49th Street off Fifth Avenue, a block from the beautiful St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Dad’s maternal grandfather came from County Cork so we always celebrated our Irish heritage, especially on St. Patrick’s Day. He used to take us kids to the parade on Fifth Avenue and bought us Irish and American flags to wave, and pins that said “Erin Go Bragh”. Back home, our Italian Mom always made sure we had something green to wear and made the corned beef and cabbage dinner and soda bread from Grandma Callahan’s (for whom I am named) recipes (which I use to this day). My biggest dream as a little kid was to march in the Big Parade, and when I got to high school, named after the-then Archbishop of New York, I got the chance – I was a banner bearer and our contingent always won the “Cardinal’s Trophy”. Any time Mom and/or Dad took us into the city, usually on St. Patrick’s Day and at Easter and Christmas, a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral was always on our itinerary, and we often attended Midnight Mass there on Christmas Eve. St. Patrick’s is a stunning and inspiring tribute to the Irish who helped build, populate and care for (including my relatives who were or are firemen & policemen,) the great City of New York. Down the street from my Dad’s workplace was a Patricia Murphy’s Candlelight Restaurant. Here, my Dad & I had lunch when I’d visit him at work. When my son was 15, the horrific attacks of 9/11 occurred, not far from our northern NJ home. The following St. Patrick’s Day, we attended NYC’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, to be in my hometown as the city healed, to mourn the losses, and to cheer, along with the other thousands of marchers and spectators, the heroes – emergency responders -who marched past St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Nowadays, whenever we go into the city, the beautiful Cathedral is still on our itinerary. And our Irish heritage (my husband’s Mom had an ancestor from County Galway) is something we continue to celebrate every year. Our son, while in the Marine Corps, actually got to visit Ireland for a very short stopover on his way to Iraq. Knowing how it would please me, he actually called me from the Shannon Airport to tell me he was there, doing the very thing I’d hoped we’d do together someday, drink Guinness in Ireland! My hope is to visit Ireland myself, someday soon. Meanwhile, I celebrate our Irish heritage here with visits to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and with the food and music I’ve grown to love as an Irish-American from New York City!
Butte Montana is steeped in Irish history, and they put on a huge St. Patrick’s Day celebration! Many Irish immigrants came to Butte to work the copper mines.
Not that it’s a cheerful site, the statue honoring Irish immigrants, located in a riverside park in Philadelphia, is my favorite in that subject.
“Milwaukee Irish Fest, the world’s largest celebration of Irish music and culture, is held annually on the third weekend in August on the shores of Lake Michigan. More than 130,000 people attend the Fest each year to take in nearly 250 acts on 17 stages. The four-day festival in downtown Milwaukee started in 1981. Irish Fest is the largest of the ethnic festivals held at the Summerfest grounds and holds claim to the largest celebration of Irish Culture in the world. Irish people the world over come to see the festival from as far off as England, Scotland, Egypt, Pakistan and Ireland itself. Many of Ireland’s news stations will send reporters over to cover the festival. In 2005, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, attended the festival.” from Wikipedia
Would it be possible to share about the the Irish history of Baltimore, MD? There is a rich history of the Irish in that city though I have not been able to get there myself. My grandfather was raised in the Irish immigrant community within that city as first generation American. I have read that are some areas in/around Baltimore, MD that has been studied by anthropologist/sociologists where certain Irish traditions have been strictly adhered to culturally. I have also read about the Irish village that bears the same name that was decimated by the Muslim pirates and how only 2 ever lived to return there. So that is significant to the Irish communities on both sides of the Atlantic.
I was surprised this wasn’t on the list. My FIRST thought was the Irish Hunger Memorial in NYC – http://bpcparks.org/whats-here/parks/irish-hunger-memorial/