Video: Irish Night on the Prado with excerpts of the music, step-dancing, history reading and full speeches/songs by John J. Somers and Ambassador Ray Flynn. (Ed: Don’t miss the Boston Police bagpipes with the Irish Rock Band, Dervy, near the end of the video.)
The tourists checked their maps and the residents checked their wine as the sound of Irish bagpipes pervaded the North End streets on Thursday night, July 28, 2011. It was Irish Night on the Paul Revere Mall (Prado) as part of the Unity Festival Celebration organized by the Saint Joseph Society to celebrate various ethnic groups that immigrated through the North End of Boston.
In addition to the Irish music and step-dancing, Ambassador Ray Flynn and John J. Somers were honored for their contributions to the Irish community in Boston.
Raymond L. Flynn was Mayor of Boston from 1984 to 1993 and was later appointed as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See by President Bill Clinton. (Read more at Wikipedia.)
John J. Somers is a businessman and philanthropist, having established Somers Irish Pubs in Boston, including the Green Dragon Tavern, Durty Nelly’s, Hennessy’s, Hooley House, Mr. Dooley’s and Paddy O’s. (More at SomersIrishPubs.com)
The event was moderated by John Fitzgerald and P.J. Quinn with performances by the Kevin Barry Pipes & Drums, childrens’ step dancers, singer Pauline Wells, Irish Rock Band Dervy and the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes & Drums. A history reading about Irish immigration through the North End was given by Irish music radio host, Seamus Mulligan.
The Historic Unity Celebration was organized as part of the annual Italian feast by the Saint Joseph Society. Find out more about the society at StJosephsBoston.org.
