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Rose Kennedy Garden

Christopher Columbus Park
along Rose F. Kennedy Greenway

Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on July 22, 1890 in Boston's North End. Her parents were John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, who later became mayor of Boston, and Mary Josephine Hannon. In 1914 Rose married Joseph P. Kennedy and they raised nine children, including President John F. Kennedy.

In 1987 city officials unveiled the Rose Kennedy Garden to honor Rose "for her contributions to this country, and to the inspiration she has given to us all." Rose died in1995 at age 105. In 2004, Boston's Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway was officially dedicated in her honor.

Kevin White Statue

Faneuil Hall @ Congress Street

Kevin Hagan White, Boston's 45th mayor from1968 to 1983, presided over the city's downtown renewal and brought basic city services directly to residents with Little City Halls in outlying neighborhoods. He presided over the difficult years of school desegregation, while uplifting Boston's profile during America's bi-centennial in 1976. After government, White he taught a popular course on politics and the press at BU.

In 2006 the statue of Kevin White, created by sculptor Pablo Eduardo, was unveiled on a sunny fall morning, attended by Mayor White, his wife Kathryn and 600 family and friends.

James Michael Curley Statues

Union Street @ Congress Street

Known as the Purple Shamrock, Rascal King, or simply Curley - James Michael Curley was a legendary Boston politician. The son of immigrants, he served in elected office from 1900 to 1949. He was mayor four times in four different decades, and was governor and US Congressman too. His critics accused him of patronage while others loved him for his largesse. Spencer Tracy played Curley in the movie, The Last Hurrah.

In 1980, twin bronze statues of Curley, created by artist Lloyd Lillie, were unveiled by Mayor Kevin White along Congress Street.

Boston City Hall

Congress Street @ Government Center

In the 19th century, Boston City Hall represented the unfulfilled hopes of Irish immigrants seeking equality and opportunity. Their wish was ful-filled, when Hugh O'Brien, born in County Cork, became Boston's first Irishmayor (1885-88). O'Brien was followed by Patrick Collins, also of Cork (1902-05). In the 20th century Irish-American politicians held the mayor's seat for 85 out of 100 years; and continuously from 1930 to 1993.

In 2002, John McCormack's sculpture of Mayor John F. Collins (1960-68) was unveiled on City Hall's south wall.

Boston Irish Famine Memorial

School Street and Washington Street

Between 1845 and 1849, 100,000 Irish refugees arrived in Boston, fleeing starvation and pestilence wrought by Ireland's potato famine. They transformed Boston into a distinctly Irish city in America.

As part of the 150th anniversary of Ireland's famine, Boston businessman Thomas J. Flatley and others raised $1 million to create a lasting tribute to the Famine Irish generation. The memorial, by noted sculptor Robert Shure, was officially unveiled on June 28, 1998, before 7,000 people. Eight narrative plaques recount the Famine story, and twin statues represent the heartache and the hope of the Famine generation.

Granary Burying Grounds

Tremont Street

Established in 1660, the Granary is resting place for Boston's early settlers. Catholics could not be buried in the Granary, but there are numerous Protestant Irish and Ulster-Scots, including Governor James Sullivan, whose parents were Irish immigrants. Two signers of the Declaration of Independence are here: Robert Treat Paine, descended from the O'Neills of Tyrone, and John Hancock, whose ancestors came from Newry, County Down. Irishman Patrick Carr, shot by the British soldiers in 1770, is one of the five Boston Massacre victims buried here. William Hall, a president of the Charitable Irish Society, is buried in the Granary.

Colonel Robert Shaw Memorial

Beacon Hill @ Park Street

Boston's most prized public art - the Shaw Memorial - was created by Augustus Saint Gaudens. Born in 1848 in Dublin to a French father and Irish mother (Mary McGuinness of County Longford), the family sailed for Boston when Augustus was six months old. They settled in New York City, and Augustus later studied in Parish and Rome. The Shaw Memorial, which took fourteen years to complete, depicts the state's 54th Black Infantry Regiment which fought valiantly in the Civil War. Saint Gauden's work is also displayed at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, Trinity Church, and Harvard's Fogg Museum.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Flagstaff Hill, Boston Common

Dedicated to "the men of Boston who died in the Civil War," the Soldiers and Sailors Monument was unveiled with fanfare in 1876 before 25,000 people, many of them veterans. The memorial was created by Martin Milmore and his brothers James and Joseph, who came from County Sligo to Boston with their mother in 1851. Unlike other war memorials that praised generals and admirals, Milmore's work focused on foot soldiers and sailors.

The Milmores created numerous Civil War statues in Charlestown, Jamaica Plain, Cambridge, and Framingham and their classical work is found at the State House, Boston Athenaeum and Boston Public Library.

Commodore John Barry Plaque

Boston Common, along Tremont Street

Born in County Wexford, John Barry (1745-1803) was a naval hero in the Revolutionary War, winning the first and last battle of the war against the British. George Washington named him to create the first US Navy, and Barry is widely considered the Father of the American Navy.

This memorial, by sculptor John Paramino, was unveiled by Mayor James Curley in 1949. Vandals stole the bronze plaque in the 1970's and a granite replacement replaced it The original plaque was later retrieved by members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and is now at the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Boston Massacre Memorial

Boston Common along Tremont Street

This monument to the five Boston Massacre victims of 1770 was created by sculptor Robert Kraus. The monument was opposed by some Bostonians, who considered the victims as rabble rousers. But John Boyle O'Reilly led the effort for the memorial, then wrote and recited a poem for the dedication in 1888. One of the five martyrs was an Irishman, Patrick Carr, who was the last to die. He is buried at the Granary Burying Ground. A cobblestone marker of the actual site of the Massacre is located in front of the Old State House on State Street.

Central Burying Grounds

Boston Common along Boylston Street

Established in 1756, Central Burying Ground was Boston's fourth burial grounds. Located on Boston Common, it was where a variety of 'strangers' were buried, including Irish Catholics and Freemasons, as well as British soldiers who died during the Revolutionary War. The Parks Dept. notes this is the city's only historical burying ground with Celtic crosses carved into the slate headstones, including one of James Landrigan (d. 1807) from Tipperary. The cemetery is locked to protect it but visitors can readily see the tombstones and grounds through the wrought-iron fencing.

Colonel Thomas Cass Statue

Public Garden along Boylston Street

Born in Queen's County (Laois), Cass moved to Boston and became a local businessman and School Committee member. When the Civil War broke out, Governor Andrew asked Cass to form a regiment of Irish immigrants - the 9th Massachusetts Volunteers. Cass led his men into battle, and was himself fatally wounded at the Battle of Malvern Hill. He returned to Boston and died in 1862. A granite memorial of Cass was initially unveiled, but was then replaced by this bronze memorial created by artist Richard E. Brooks. It was dedicated in 1899 at a ceremony attended by Cass' family and soldiers.

David I. Walsh Statue

Charles River Esplanade at Hatch Shell

A native of Clinton, MA, David I. Walsh (1872-1947) was the first Irish Catholic to be elected Governor of Massachusetts (1914-16). He was Lieutenant Governor (1913-14) and a US Senator for over 20 years, and the state's first Irish Catholic senator. In 1919 Walsh was keynote speaker at a Fenway Park rally for Irish leader Eamon DeValera, which was attended by 60,000 people.

The Walsh statue was created by artist Joseph A. Coletti in 1954. Above the figure of Walsh is the inscription Non Sibi Sed Patriae, which translates Not for himself but for his country.

Maurice Tobin Statue

Charles River Esplanade at Hatch Shell

Born in Roxbury's Mission Hill, Maurice Tobin (1901-53) was the son of immigrants from Clogheen, Tipperary. He became the youngest state representative at age 25, and was viewed as a liberal crusader in an era of conservative State House politics. In 1937 he made a surprise run for mayor against his mentor, James Michael Curley, and won. Tobin defeated Curley again in 1941 and in 1944 successfully won his bid to become Governor of Massachusetts (1944-46).

Sculptor Emilius R. Ciampa created the Tobin Memorial Sculptor in 1958.