March 2014 Boston’s hometown VOL. 25 #3 journal of Irish culture. $1.50 Worldwide at All contents copyright © 2014 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. bostonirish.com The senator is preparing breakfast History in the making: Dorcena Forry to host St. Patrick’s Day fete By peteR F. StevenS BiR StaFF On Sun., March 16, the date of this year’s traditional St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast in South Boston, state Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry will make history. Her first turn as the host of the much-ballyhooed event will provide a political, cultural, and gender “hat trick” at a venue in South Boston that has always been where the Boston Irish “boyos” ruled the podium. As a Hai- tian American woman, a resident of Dorchester, and the first non-Irish-American host, Dorcena Forry will turn three stereotypes of the breakfast on their heads. Dorcena Forry, who has been planning the pro- gram for her debut while working to raise the tens of thousands of dollars necessary to fund the event, said Congressman Stephen F. Lynch and Rep. Nick Collins joined State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry and recently that Jack Hart, a former state senator from Dorchester’s Donna Gittens, left, at Castle Island in South Boston on Sunday as the elected officials South Boston, and Congressman Stephen Lynch, also of filmed video in preparation for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast. Forry will host the event on South Boston, both of whom have been breakfast hosts, March 16. Photo courtesy Sen. Forry’s office have been helpful to her in setting up the breakfast. “They have been key advisers and their teams have been stepping up to help my committee. So has Nick Collins as well,” she said, referring to the South Boston state representative who was her rival last year in the election for the state Senate seat. Like past hosts, Dorcena Forry has remained coy about details big and small ahead of the breakfast, a big one being the name or names of guests from outside the Massachusetts political world who will be attend- ing, and a small one being the nature of the planned skits. “We’re having fun, that’s all I can say,” she said, adding, “The set is going to change a little bit. Every host puts their own stamp on it.” Asked about the historic nature of her hosting, Dorcena Forry said, “This event has always embraced the idea that everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.” Yesteryear: Stephen Lynch, former Senate Presi- She and her husband, Bill Forry, the editor of the dent Robert Travaglini, and former House Speaker Dorchester Reporter and associate editor with the Tom Finneran share a yuk. Right, time to dance outside the convention center last year. (Continued on page 8) ‘A relaxed, easy-going St. Patrick’s Day party’ By Sean Smith Special to the BiR Presenting “A St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn” Alan Kelly, one of Ire- in Worcester (March 14), Cambridge (March 15-16) land’s most celebrated piano accordionists, will Keith Murphy, who has True to form – and you’ll hear the pure-drop bring his “gang” to appear been the show’s music di- much like its “Christmas traditional kind of Irish at this year’s “A St. Pat- rector since 2012. Celtic Sojourn” cousin music, as well as other rick’s Day Celtic Sojourn” WGBH-FM’s Brian – the “St. Patrick’s Day kinds that bring in more concert, which will also O’Donovan will host the Celtic Sojourn” explores modern-day influences feature Celtic/world mu- event, which takes its name Irish traditional mu- and styles – and then we sic piper Carlos Nuñez, and ethos from his weekly sic in a broad context, reach farther outwards to and concertina-fiddle duo radio show “A Celtic So- reaching even beyond other lands and cultures Caitlín Nic Gabhann and journ,” with performances Ireland itself. “Everyone’s to show the common ties Ciarán Ó Maonaigh. at Worcester’s Hanover heard the saying that ‘the they have with Ireland. Rita O’Shea-Chaplin is celebrating 60 years of In addition, the concert Theater (March 14) and the whole world is Irish on “The other thing we’ve teaching Irish dance in the Boston area. Says will showcase the musical Harvard University Sand- St. Patrick’s Day,’” says always made a point of her daughter Lisa, “she’s not just a teacher, but and organizational talents ers Theater in Cambridge O’Donovan. “We take that a mentor and a friend.” Story, Page 19. of guitarist-pianist-vocalist (Continued on page 21) Sean Smith photo (March 15 and 16). to heart in this show. So When you need a mortgage... Your dream home... you need Mt. Washington Bank. We’ve made our home nancing process so smooth, our applications is in the palm of your hand so easy and our turnaround so quick, the only thing you need to worry about is what mover to hire. Contact our Loan Center Today at 617.268.0379 Oces conveniently located in South Boston, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury, South End, and Allston. Partners In Com munity Banking Member FDIC www.mtwashingtonbank.com Member DIF Page 2 March 2014 BOSTON IRISH RePORTeR Worldwide at www.bostonirish.com Bridgewater State to host tribute to Seamus Heaney On Aug. 30 last year, of the local community. friendship with Heaney will follow featuring live Cullen, UMass Boston the world lost one of its He was a popular figure dated back to the 1970s Irish music, Irish-themed English professor Shaun greatest literary figures, at many area universities, and continued until his food and drinks and an O’Connell, former Boston the poet, writer, and including Bridgewater passing. She introduced exhibit of Heaney items firefighter Bobby Breen, a Nobel Laureate Seamus State and Boston State, him to numerous people from BSU’s own special Heaney friend whom He- Heaney. Although he where he developed close who became friends and collection and from items aney immortalized in his hailed from Ireland, He- and lasting friendships admirers. owned privately. In keep- poem Helmet. Members of aney spent many years with students and faculty. On Sunday afternoon, ing with the warm and the audience who knew or in the Boston/Cambridge Recently Bridgewater April 13, which would generous spirit of the shared a friendship with area, a number of them State University received have been Heaney’s 75th honoree, all are invited to the poet will be invited to as Harvard University’s a generous collection of birthday, Bridgewater attend this free event and participate in this round- Boylston Professor. He Heaney’s personal cor- State will host a tribute share in his life and work table style event prior to made many friends in his respondence and memo- to him in the university’s as recalled by his friends. the reception. years here, doing poetry rabilia from retired BSU Conant Science Building Speakers will include For more information, readings and participat- English professor Mau- auditorium from 1:30 Boston Globe colum- call 508-531-1389. ing as a valued member reen Connelly, whose to 3:30 p.m. A reception nist and author Kevin 64 years later, Irish American Art and Music ‘Sister Evelyn’ Foundation launches tour says goodby to the sounds of Uncle Bing By ed FoRRy BiR puBliSheR to St. Brigid’s The historic M. Stein- ert & Sons piano retail By JoRdan FRiaS Nazareth in South Boston showroom at 162 Boylston Special to the BiR that first set up shop in a Street across from Boston After 64 years of service convent on M Street and Common was the setting to the St. Brigid’s Parish East Broadway 102 years of a private musical con- neighborhood in South ago. Asked why she is cert last month to mark Boston, Sister Evelyn retiring now, she said, “It the Boston launch of the Hurley will say goodby to is the right time. There’s a Irish American Art and the community on St. Pat- time for everything,” she Music Foundation. rick’s Day, March 17, her said. “Although I have The foundation was 99th birthday, and retire great health, thank God, established in 2011 by Howard Crosby, nephew of the late Irish American to the Sisters of Charity of at age 99, a lot of people Sister evelyn Hurley: Howard Crosby, a nephew crooner Bing Crosby, is flanked by Boston attorney Nazareth’s motherhouse that age don’t have the of the late Irish American Aidan Browne (left) and his brother Terry Browne health I have.” After 64 years, a fond in Kentucky where she adieu crooner Bing Crosby, and following a February 6 performance at M. Steinert began her journey into The oldest of four girls, Ireland’s Terence Browne, & Sons Boston offices. convent life 82 years ago. Evelyn was born in South are the only surviving the brother of Boston Boston, but moved around members of their original attorney Aidan Browne. ing John McCormack sing singing in a church choir with her family during family. Sr. Evelyn said her The two men sang and ‘The Rose of Tralee’ on when I was in my mid-20s, “When I see them her childhood, living in sister regrets that she will played in the first half of his father’s gramaphone and the next thing you or hear their names, Quincy and Roxbury, be leaving South Boston a 75-minute concert, with at the start of the 20th know they had made a so- among other places. After after retirement, but un- Crosby singing some Irish century,” Howard Crosby loist out of me and pretty I can still picture how entering the convent at derstands why she is doing American treasures from explained in an accompa- soon after that I was sing- they looked at their first age 17, completing the it.