Author: Donal Conlon

Irish Network Boston (IN Boston) has worked tirelessly to promote the enduring link between Ireland and the United States. Buoyed by unique events, member to member networking opportunities, partnerships and information sharing with local and national sister Irish organizations, IN Boston exemplifies a sincere commitment to engaging the Irish
diaspora – including Irish born, Irish Americans and friends of Ireland. Our goal is to celebrate
our mutual interests in Irish culture, business, education, and social/community initiatives by
providing opportunities and experiences for all of our members. Our network was one of the first chapters to be founded under our umbrella organization, Irish Network USA (IN USA), which is now 22 chapters strong and continues to grow. Celebrating our fifth anniversary in 2015, we were honoured to host the Irish Network USA (IN USA) annual conference which brought together representatives of local Irish Network chapters from across the United States. We are particularly thrilled to yet again be involved with this year’s Belfast Homecoming conference to further the strong links with our sister city. Under the leadership of Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and former Belfast Lord Mayor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, Boston and Belfast signed a formal sister city agreement in 2014 and we could not be prouder of this partnership to enhance the links between our cities.
Our two cities have made significant strides to build upon this relationship which included a
visit in 2014 by Mayor Walsh to Belfast to launch and participate in the Boston Homecoming Conference which included visits to Boston companies doing business in the two cities, cultural centres, and educational institutions. Further, in 2015 we saw the realization of the inaugural Friendly Four hockey tournament at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast between the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Northeastern University, Brown University, and Colgate University. This tournament was far from only a sporting event, as it provided opportunities for university representatives and business leaders to meet, collaborate and formulate partnerships going forward. We look forward to participation in this year’s conference to build upon our work and make additional lasting connections. IN Boston is committed to engaging all of the Irish diaspora and we welcome the unique opportunity to grow our business, educational and cultural links with the entire island of Ireland.

Former President of Irish Network Boston and
Vice President of Irish Network USA

On May 9th, 1916, Thomas Kent, was executed for his involvement in the rising. See After the Rising for more information.

Kent lived in Castlelyons, Co. Cork and planned to travel to Dublin to participate in the Rising. However, when the mobilization order for the Irish Volunteers was cancelled on Easter Sunday he stayed at home, assuming the Rising had been postponed. Kent was arrested at his home in Castlelyons, Co. Cork following a raid by the Royal Irish Constabulary on 22 April 1916. His brother Richard was fatally wounded during the raid. Thomas Kent was executed at Cork Detention Barracks on 9 May 1916 following a court martial. In 1966 the railway station in Cork was renamed Kent Station in his honor. He was 51 years of age.

After the Rising

On May 3rd, 1916 the first leaders of the rising, Padraig Pearse, Thomas James Clarke and Thomas MacDonagh were executed for their involvement in the rising. See After the Rising for more information.

After the Rising