Irish heritage and culture run deep in Boston, with early settlers dating back to Colonial times and a big wave in the early 19th century. During the Great Irish Famine (1845–1852), the Port of Boston was a major immigration hub. By 1850, the Irish were the largest ethnic group in Boston and still are today.
In fact, the US Census designated Boston as the most Irish city. You may have heard of notable Irish Bostonians like the Kennedy Family, Conan O’Brien and Ben Affleck. The spirit of the Irish community in Boston is reflected in the city’s colorful Irish neighborhoods, like South Boston or Southie, architecture, events, and of course its pubs.
South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Bostonians were the first to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in North America. On March 17, 1737, as a sign of solidarity among the city’s Irish immigrants, Boston’s Irish community came together to celebrate their homeland and the Patron Saint of Ireland. The St. Paddy’s Day Parade in South Boston, sadly cancelled in 2021, is the largest Irish celebration in the country. While the drums and pipes will not sound down Broadway or through Andrew Square this year, Boston’s proud Irish people will be raising pints in honor of their rich legacy and influence in America’s oldest city.
Best Irish Pubs in Boston
As Bostonians celebrate their Irish heritage this month, the local Irish pubs and watering holes will be hopping. If you’re looking for pint of Guinness, traditional Irish music and comfort food, check out classics like J.J. Foley’s, the Druid, and Murphy’s Law – the best dive bar in Southie. Our favorite Irish pubs in Boston also include Flann O’Brien’s, The Banshee, The Black Rose, Mr. Dooley’s Tavern, and the L Street Tavern, where the movie Good Will Hunting was filmed. Across the Charles River in Cambridge, Plough & Stars has been a true Irish neighborhood bar since 1969 and has hosted celebrities like musician Bonnie Raitt and the poet Seamus Heaney.
Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail
Discover the legacy of Boston’s Irish immigrants and their descendants along the Irish Heritage Trail. Learn about Irish-American poets, artists, veterans and politicians, such as John F. Kennedy, as you walk Boston from the Fens to historic Faneuil Hall. Boston’s Irish American Trail offers a self-guided walking tour to 20 significant landmarks, memorials, and historic sites, such as the Rose Kennedy Greenway, Bostin City Hall, Boston Irish Famine Memorial, Massachusetts State House, John S. Copley Statue, Boston Public Library and Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. A Boston Hotel with A Rebellious Spirit With its bold, rebellious spirit and local South End vibe, Revere Hotel Boston Common is the place to embrace your Irish roots. Located in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, our luxury boutique hotel puts you near famous Irish neighborhoods, restaurants and attractions, including Fenway
Park and the Boston Irish Heritage Trail.
Relax in beautifully decorated rooms and suites after a day exploring. Then rouse your spirits with an Irish whiskey at Rebel’s Guild, our bar serving playful pub fare in a space that is uniquely Bostonian. Book one of our Boston hotel specials for a March getaway and discover Boston’s Irish side. Like the Irish people, Revere Hotel is part of the rich tapestry of Boston history. And we like it that way. Cheers.