Irish Boston: A Lively Look at Boston's Colorful Irish Past

The fascinating story of the Irish in Boston unfolds in this engagingly written history. Full of heroism and romance, politics and brawls, it tells the stories behind the well-known history and vividly portrays what life was like for the Harrigans, Gallaghers, Kelleys, Finnegans, and others who made their home in Boston over the past three centuries. From the days of  "No Irish Need Apply" in the 1850s to the inauguration in 1960 of the first Irish Catholic president, the Boston Irish have molded the history of the city -- and the nation -- in all areas of culture and society, and their spirited tale is told in these pages, completely updated with new information on Ted Kennedy’s death, closing the Camelot Era for the Kennedy Family; the recent Hollywood focus on Irish history and South Boston; and the demise of Ireland’s Celtic Tiger, changing the way Irish Americans think about Ireland

Michael Quinlin is author of Irish Boston (Globe Pequot Press) and editor of Classic Irish Stories (Lyons Press). He has published several books about the New England Irish, and his essays have appeared in the PBS book, The Irish in America and the New England Encyclopedia.  He is a regular contributor to Irish America Magazine and Irish Echo newspaper.

From 2000-2012, Quinlin was president of the Boston Irish Tourism Association, which promotes travel between New England, Canada and Ireland, and operates four websites and blogs on Irish-American culture and heritage. He also created Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail, a walking tour of historical landmarks in Boston’s downtown and Back Bay.

Quinlin lives in Milton, Massachusetts, with his wife Colette and son Devin.