This year, the Irish government has selected Boston as the official overseas site for the 2012 Irish Famine Commemoration. Irish President Michael D. Higgins will come to Boston to officially launch the year-long famine commemoration program with an address at historic Faneuil Hall on Saturday, May 5th at 11:15 a.m. The program will also include some musical presentations suitable to the occasion.

Members are cordially invited to attend this special event. In order to satisfy security needs and to guarantee seating, it is necessary to contact by May 1st, the Irish Consulate at 617.267.9330 or by email at bostoncongen@dfa.ie to register your name for this very special occasion.

Immediately following the Faneuil Hall program, President Higgins will lay a wreath at the Boston Irish Famine Memorial at the corner of School Street and Washington Street.

On Sunday May 6th, the Charitable Irish Society, the Eire Society and the Forbes House Museum will host a special program that will highlight the little known but significant humanitarian efforts which two New Englanders, Asneath Nicholson and Captain Robert Bennet Forbes made to bring help and aid to Ireland during the dark years of the Irish famine.

The program will begin at 2pm at Fontbonne Academy, 303 Adams Street, Milton, with presentations by Professor Maureen Murphy of Hofstra University and Professor Emerita Catherine B. Shannon of Westfield State University. A wine and cheese reception at Forbes House Museum will immediately follow the presentations beginning at 3:30pm. Local Irish musicians will provide entertainment and guests will be treated to special tours of the Museum.

Pre registration is required. Call the Charitable Irish Society at 617.330.l737 or e-mail charitableirishsociety@gmail.com, or call Barbara Fitzgerald of the Eire Society at 617. 698.8758 or e-mail her at barbara.s.fitzgerald@gmail.com. Tickets are $15 per person. Reservations deadline is 1 May. More>