October 7, 2023

Dear Members

Autumn Greetings! September marked our return to in-person events after the summer hiatus, kicked off by the first talk of our 22nd Annual Lecture Series, which featured renowned historian Dr. Christine Kinealy. Nearly 150 members and friends joined us on the 26th at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, with many more participating virtually via Zoom.

Professor Kinealy's excellent talk, "Forgotten Heroes of the Great Hunger" is now available for viewing via a link on our website's "Lectures" page.

We have a special treat in store for you October 16 with a talk by Dr. Mark Stickney, founder of Historic Music of Newport, titled "The Irish Musicians of Newport." If you plan to join us in person or via Zoom, please make your reservation now. Details and the reservation links are below.

Last but certainly not least, make your reservations NOW for the November 6 concert by Irish entertainer extraordinaire Cahal Dunne -- back by popular demand! The concert will make for a most enjoyable evening, and proceeds will benefit the Museum.

Be sure to scroll down all the way to be sure you don't miss any of our event news, including our two historic Irish cemetery tours this month (Sun. Oct. 8, Sun. Oct. 22)

I'll close by extending a welcome on behalf of the board and membership to our newest members, who joined since our September 24 update, including the 7,000th Visitor to our Interpretive Center. We hope to welcome you all in person this fall if we have not already had the opportunity.

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.

PPS - Photo above courtesy of Newport This Week, from their "Conversation" with me published in their Oct. 5 issue. Read here.

The Irish Musicians of Newport

Lecture made possible by a generous gift from

Larry Bartley, given in Honor of

Patrick F. Murphy, Museum Board Member Emeritus

We are delighted to announce that the second talk of our 2023-24 Lecture Series  — our 22nd Annual  — will be presented on Monday, October 16 at 6 p.m. at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, 240 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown, R.I., just over the Newport line, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Guest speaker, Dr. Mark A. Stickney, founder of Historic Music of Newport, will discuss the role first- and second-generation Irish musicians played in Newport's musical life from the early 1800s to the early 1900s.

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

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

Dr. Mark A. Stickney

Founder, Historic Music of Newport

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.

Maureen D. Brady

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

Monday, November 13, 6pm

In-Person & via Zoom

Made possible by a generous gift from Valarie & Dana Gelb

Details and links to reserve coming shortly.

Please save the date!

The 2023-2024 series will take a hiatus December-January.

We'll be back with an all-Zoom lecture in February,

then an in-person/Zoom talk in March to close out the

22nd Annual Lecture Series.

• Flyers announcing our lectures will be mailed to all members of record with an e-newsletter to follow. Details are also posted on our website.
• Talks will be hosted at the Wyndham Newport Hotel & live streamed via Zoom unless otherwise specified.
• 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 look forward to seeing you Monday, November 6 at 6 p.m. at the Wyndham Newport Hotel for the much-anticipated concert by Cahal Dunne, marking his return to Newport "by popular demand" of our members.

Cahal performed for a sold-out audience of Museum members and friends in November 2019, and we are delighted he has agreed to return to Newport for this concert, with proceeds to benefit the Museum.

Members of record recently received a flyer in the mail with a reply form to purchase by mail via check. Click HERE to access that form.

You may also reserve tickets NOW via our website "Events" page.

Please note:

• All reservations will be held at the door.
• No tickets will be mailed.
• Payment must be received by Friday, November 3.

Can't join us on November 6?

Please consider a fully tax-deductible donation in any amount to help ensure the success of this event. To make a gift via check, please use the reply form or mail a check payable to "MNIH" to Museum of Newport Irish History, PO Box 1378, Newport, RI 02840, with "Benefit Concert" in the Memo line. To make a gift online, please visit the "Donations" page on our website.

Questions or Assistance with Reservations:

Please contact Kathleen Papp by phone at (401) 236-2624 or via email to NewportIrishHistory@gmail.com

To Learn More about Cahal Dunne:

http://cahaldunne.com/

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

a number of members who have not yet submitted dues

for the current Membership Year, which

began April 1, 2023.

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.