September 16, 2023

Dear Members

We hope you've had a most enjoyable summer! Fall will be an an activity-filled season, and we look forward to seeing many of you at one or more of our happenings, in-person in Newport or "virtually" via Zoom.

The Board extends a special welcome to our newest members, who joined between March and now. We hope to be able to welcome you in person this fall if we have not already had the opportunity.

Please read on for all the latest news, including the kick-off to our 22nd Annual Lecture Series on September 26, featuring the renowned Dr. Christine Kinealy, two historic cemetery tours, and save the dates for our October and November lectures, plus a very special concert in November, to benefit the Museum.

Be sure to scroll down all the way to be sure you don't miss any of our news.

Thank you for keeping in mind that reservations are required for our events. If you have questions or need assistance, one of us will get back to you swiftly.

Best regards,

Deanna

Deanna J. Conheeny, President

Board of Directors

NewportIrishHistory@gmail.com

(401) 829-0098 - mobile

click here for complete Board list and contact info

PS -- Don't forget, our Interpretive Center at 648 Thames Street is open for the 2023 Season through the last Sunday in October. Our wonderful volunteer docents look forward to hosting your visit. Hours may be found on the home page of our website.

Forgotten Heroes of

Ireland's Great Hunger

Lecture made possible by a generous gift from

Virginia Pittsley, given in memory of Dr. Cheryl A. McCarthy

We are delighted to announce that the first talk of our 2023-24 Lecture Series  — our 22nd Annual  — will be presented on Tuesday, September 26 at 6 p.m. per the flyer our members recently received in the mail.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Light hors d'oeuvres and cash bar available before and after the talk.

Dr. Christine Kinealy, renowned historian, educator, author, and founding Director of Ireland's Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac University (Hamden, CT) will be joining us at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, 240 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown, R.I., just over the Newport line.

Dr. Kinealy's lecture will be live-streamed via Zoom for those who are unable to join us in person for the talk, Q&A, and reception.

Reservation are required and a $5 fee/donation will be requested for members attending the lecture and reception in person ($0 to Zoom).

Dr. Christine Kinealy

Director, Ireland's Great Hunger Institute

If you previously reserved and received your

e-confirmation, you are all set.  

Questions or need assistance with your registration?

Please reach out to Ann Arnold, Lecture Series Coordinator,

at tpm1@earthlink.net or (401) 841-5493,

and she'll get back to you as soon as possible.

This is a great time to invite your non-member family and friends to attend our talks and become a member!

Those who join to attend a lecture are not assessed the $5 per person lecture fee, just pay the 1-year Annual Membership fee of $20 Individual ($30 Family/Household). It's our "welcome" gift to them. Questions/Suggestions/Comments:  

Please contact Ann at tpm1@earthlink.net

Our Wyndham Newport Hotel hosts invite you to dine at their on-site restaurant, Johnny's, before or after the 6pm lecture.

Reservations are strongly encouraged

Click HERE for Johnny's website. When you click the "Menu" option, be sure to scroll all the way down to see each menu page graphic to click and view. Phone for reservations: (401) 847-2750.

Dr. Mark Stickney

"The Irish Musicians of Newport"

Monday, October 16, 6pm

Made possible by a generous gift from Larry Bartley,

given in Honor of Patrick F. Murphy, Museum Board Member Emeritus

Maureen D. Brady

"The Surprising U.S. Roots of Ireland's Tourism Industry, 1950s-60s"

Monday, November 13, 6pm

Made possible by a generous gift from Valarie & Dana Gelb

• Flyers will be mailed to all members of record with an e-newsletter to follow
• Talks will be hosted at the Wyndham Newport Hotel & live streamed via Zoom
• Thank you to all our generous lecture sponsors!
• If you are interested in sponsoring an upcoming lecture and would like to learn more, please contact Ann Arnold, Lecture Series Coordinator, at (401) 841-5493 or (917) 270-3372. Thank you for your interest.

Photo by Larry Bartley

A free tour of the historic Barney Street Cemetery will be offered on Sunday, October 8 at 1:00 pm, by local historian and guide, Steve Marino, a member of our board of directors and manager of our Interpretive Center. The cemetery is the final resting place of many of Newport's early Irish immigrants and site of Rhode Island's first Catholic church (1828). A place central to the history of the early Irish in Newport, the cemetery was restored by the Museum in 1998-1999, and we continue to maintain and beautify the site, thank to our dedicated team of member-volunteers.

The tour is approximately 30 minutes long and given weather-permitting. Light rain will not stop the tour, but it will be rescheduled in the event of heavy rain, high winds, and/or thunder and lightning.

Location: Corner of Barney & Mt. Vernon Streets, Newport, behind Newport Historical Society and a short stroll from Washington Square.

RESERVATIONS REQUESTED

(click below orange button)

Should you have questions regarding the cemetery tour or need assistance, please write NewportIrishHistory@gmail.com or phone Ann at (401) 841-5493 or (917)270-3372.

Steve Marino will give a 45-minute tour of the historic Mary's Cemetery on Sunday, October 22 at 1:00 p.m.

Explore the final resting place of well over 1,000 Newporters of the mid-1800s through the early 1900s, including countless immigrants from Ireland and first-generation Irish Americans. This cemetery was established to serve R.I.'s first Catholic parish which, in 1848-1852, constructed a new church to house its growing congregation, fueled by immigration from Ireland. That church, dedicated in 1852 to "The Holy Name of Mary, Our Lady of the Isle," stands today at Spring Street and Memorial Boulevard West. The St. Mary's Cemetery was in operation soon after the church was completed.

Meet at the gate on Kingston Ave. near the intersection with Warner Street, shown in the above photo.

Note: Please wear flat, comfortable footwear. You will be standing and walking for upwards of 45 minutes, and the ground may be uneven in spots. There is free on-street parking on Warner Street, Kingston Avenue, and nearby residential streets.

The tour will be given weather permitting. Light rain will not stop the tour, but it will be rescheduled in the event of heavy rain, high winds, and/or thunder and lightning.

RESERVATIONS REQUESTED

(click below orange button)

Should you have questions regarding the cemetery tour or need assistance, please write NewportIrishHistory@gmail.com or phone Ann at (401) 841-5493 or

 (917) 270-3372.

We are delighted to announce that on Monday, November 6 at 6pm a concert by singer, songwriter, and pianist Cahal Dunne will be presented at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, with proceeds to benefit the Museum of Newport Irish History. An invitation will be mailed to all members shortly, and the information and links to reserve and purchase tickets will be posted on our website's

"Events" page.

We hosted Cahal in November 2019 at Salve Regina University's

DiStefano Hall to a sold-out audience of 150 Museum members and friends. Capacity at the Wyndham is much higher, and we're looking forward to accommodating all who would like to enjoy an evening with "Ireland's Happy Man." Please SAVE THE DATE!

News you May Have Missed 

The below buttons link to our two most recent

Members' E-newsletters.

Museum of Newport Irish History

Established 1996

a 501c3 non-profit organization

Mailing Address:

PO Box 1378, Newport, RI 02840

Interpretive Center:

648 Lower Thames Street, Newport RI 02840

Email: NewportIrishHistory@gmail.com

Click Here for Museum Board of Directors Contact Info. and list of deceased board members, fondly remembered.

The MISSION of the Museum of Newport Irish History is to tell the story of the Irish immigrants and their descendants in Newport County and the surrounding area from the colonial era to the present. It also seeks to preserve artifacts and mementos relating to their experiences and facilitate

research on Irish history and heritage.

Thank You to all our members with Annual (vs. Life) Memberships who have paid their dues for the

2022-2023 Membership Year.

We are still anticipating payments from

approximately 150 of you, whose

memberships lapsed as of April 1.

Thank you submitting payment at your first opportunity.

 If you are unsure of your membership status — before making a payment — please email Ann Arnold at tpm1@earthlink.net or phone her at 401-841-5493 and she'll get right back to you.