September 2017 Boston’s hometown VOL. 28 #9 journal of Irish culture. $2.00 Worldwide at All contents copyright © 2017 bostonirish.com Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. Grace Cotter Regan to lead BC High By RepoRteR Staff board of trustees, said that Regan was would be a possibility to be the president Grace Cotter Regan will be the next “unanimously supported” by the board, of BC High. I never thought honestly president of Boston College High School, adding, “She brings a wealth of educa- that they would consider a woman,” she the school’s board of trustees announced tional experience grounded in the Jesuit told the radio station. She added: “I’m on Aug. 24. The new head of the 154-year- and Catholic tradition.” the product of single sex education, and old Jesuit institution has most recently Cotter Regan has deep connections my boys are as well — both of my sons, served as head of school at St. Mary’s in to the campus on Morrissey Boulevard. my husband. I really like single-sex Lynn and was previously the executive Her son Bartley was a student-athlete education.” director of advancement for the New at the high school and is a graduate of Cotter Regan is an alumna of Boston England Province of Jesuits and the the class of 2012. Her late father— Jim College and as director of the alumni Boston College Alumni Association. Cotter, a native of Dorchester’s Savin Hill association she managed an elected She succeeds longtime President Wil- section— was the longtime head football board of directors and 22 staff members. liam Kemeza, who retired after a 30- coach and athletic director at BC High. She has also served as vice president of year-career at the school earlier this year. In an interview with WBUR last week, the Boston Public Library Association, In a statement issued to the BC High Cotter acknowledged that she was sur- where she was charged with raising community announcing the news, Fr. prised to be offered the top post at the funds for the restoration of the historic Old pals: Boston’s Cardinal O’Malley Brian Conley SJ, chairman of BC High’s Dorchester school. “I never thought it (Continued on page 8) and Grace Cotter Regan. ICC to host A Makem and a Clancy … ‘DNA Day’ … honor music on Sept. 9 Coming this month, the Irish Cultural Centre past while they of New England, in part- nership with the Maine Gaeltacht DNA Project, frame music present will host a ‘DNA Day’ on its Canton site on Sept. 9, By Sean Smith addition of Mickey and Liam Spain – became the beginning at 1 p.m., and Special to the BiR everyone, of Irish descent Yes, they’re called Makem and Spain Broth- or not, is welcome. “Makem and Clancy,” but ers, and is now the trio Staff and historians they’re not that Makem Makem and Spain. Clancy from the Maine Project and Clancy. Not exactly, was a founding member of will be on hand to talk anyway. Rory Makem and the band Danú, has played about Autosomal testing Donal Clancy – the sons with The Chieftains and and about what we can of, respectively, Tommy fiddler Eileen Ivers, col- learn about our history Makem and Liam Clancy laborated with numerous from having our DNA ana- – are justifiably proud other musicians and sing- lyzed. of their families’ storied ers, and released three Rory Makem (right) and Donal Clancy performing at the Burren Backroom The ICCNE will pres- place in Irish music, and solo albums. series last month. Sean Smith photo ent two registrants with both had the opportunity But throughout their an Autosomal Test Kit to perform with their fa- individual pursuits, the legacies of The Clancy out classics like “Bren- appreciative, enthusias- as a gift. mous fathers over the latter-day Makem and Brothers and the origi- nan on the Moor,” “Whis- tic audience that happily Registration is $30 a years. They’ve also forged Clancy have always sung nal Makem and Clancy. tling Gypsy Rover,” “Wild sang along on practically person, with space limited their own musical paths: the praises – literally – of Last month, they came to Mountain Thyme” and every song. to 75 guests. An applicant Makem played in a band their forebears, and last Somerville to perform at many more, and shared Prior to the show, the can register by emailing with brothers Shane and year finally joined forces The Burren’s Backroom plenty of stories and two talked about life as [email protected]. Conor that – with the as a duo to carry on the series, where they belted reminiscences with an (Continued on page 13) From two Neponset boys, a vote for ROTC and the value of a military life By Rowan walRath ger to carry on the family After working with the RepoRteR coRReSpondent tradition. Massachusetts State Po- Michael and Patrick “I’ve wanted to do it lice, he now is employed Murray are cut from the pretty much as long as I by the Department of same cloth: The brothers can remember,” Michael Homeland Security. live in Neponset, they play said. “I have a lot of fam- The elder Murray said hockey, they are Harvard ily members who served his sons are just two men, and they both joined in the Marine Corps in Neponset residents who the Reserve Officer Train- particular, but some Army share close military ties. ing Corps (ROTC) on the as well. My dad was a Ma- All individuals inter- campus in Cambridge. rine. He was active duty viewed for this article With full-tuition ROTC before I was born, but I just by the Reporter spoke for scholarships for Ivy always had that influence themselves and not the US League educations, and around.” Armed Forces. an upcoming four-year- Tim Murray, Michael “I was enlisted in the minimum service com- and Patrick’s father, was Marine Corps, [and] my mitment, both young men, a Marine corporal, then father was in the Marine Patrick Murray, right, offered his brother Michael Murray his first salute at his the latest in a long line of a sergeant in the Marine Corps,” Tim said. “One Commisioning Ceremony this May. It is a tradition for commissioning officers military Murrays, are ea- Corps Reserves until 1994. (Continued on page 8) to receive their first salute from someone important to them.Tim Burke photo I work in Hollywood but I keep my money in my hometown-Kevin Chapman Check out City of Boston Credit Union - visit CityofBostonCU.com Page 2 September 2017 BOSTON IRISH RePORTeR bostonirish.com Kennedy Library Forum In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America Tuesday, october 10, 2017 6-7:30 Pm JFK Presidential Library, Columbia Point, boston Free Parking – accessible by T - JFK/umass (red Line) Reservations for this free program are strongly recommended and guarantee a seat in the building, but not in the main hall. To make a reservation, please call Join filmmaker Maurice Fitzpatrick, who will screen his new documentary “In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America”. A discussion 617-514-1643 or register online at on the work and legacy of John Hume, who shared a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in peacebuilding in Northern Ireland, follows. www.jfklibrary.org/forums bostonirish.com September 2017 BOSTON IRISH RePORTeR Page 3 Martin’s Park, due to open next fall, called place of ‘light, hope, positivity’ By Jonathan innocent er, all my brothers and I for peace and unity. An RepoRteR coRReSpondent wanted to do was go to enduring image of Mar- The family of eight- the park,” she told the tin shows him holding a year-old Martin Richard, crowd of officials, park poster bearing the mes- the youngest Boston sponsors, and hard- sage “No more hurting Marathon bombing vic- hatted children grasping people - peace.” tim, offered heartfelt shovels. “We loved it so Bill Richard, Martin remarks alongside May- much, we would go in the and Jane’s father, said or Martin Walsh and rain, snow, and probably the park will be “a place Gov. Charlie Baker at even hail. But when I got where all kids will have a groundbreaking cer- hurt, it was hard for me the opportunity to learn emony for Martin’s Park because I wasn’t used to and play together with- on the South Boston wa- my new leg. I couldn’t out prejudice.” terfront last Wednesday even climb a simple Martin’s Park will be afternoon (Aug. 17). The thing like a tree. It was converted from green park is scheduled to be hard watching other kids space previously owned completed in the fall of while I was stuck sitting by the MBTA, along 2018. on the sidelines.” with a parking lot space Jane Richard, who The $10 million park owned by the Boston is named in the honor Children’s Museum to Children joined in the groundbreaking for Martin’s Park last Thursday after- lost her left leg in the noon on Congress Street near the Boston Children’s Museum. Also on hand were explosion that claimed of the young Martin. His create the freshly de- members of the Richard family, Gov. Charlie Baker and Mayor Martin Walsh. her brother’s life, said, family, with the support signed play area at the Jonathan Innocent photo “This park is going to and organization of the Smith Family Water- include everything that Martin Richard Founda- front. This transition and Recreation Depart- and accessible to all. and positivity and future I wished for.” tion, has celebrated Mar- has been overseen by the ment.