May 21, 2025

Dear Members,

All of us on your Board of Directors are especially excited about the 2025 reopening of our Interpretive Center, which has operated seasonally, from late May through late October, since 2011, thanks to the support of our members.

Opening day is Friday, May 23, and regular season hours are 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, through Sunday, October 26, 2025.

The "star" of our 2025 reopening will be our first interactive digital display, an exhibit made possible by the generosity of our members, a grant from the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston under the Emigrant Support Programme, and the hard work of board members and student interns over the last nine months.

The grant enabled us to hire a consulting firm specializing in developing media-based experiences that tap into our collections that are not currently on exhibit and showcase them in an interactive media-driven display.

The new display, which we've named "Tracing the Tides," allows Interpretive Center visitors to delve deeper into the lives of Newport's Irish immigrants and learn their stories through a rich, multi-layered narrative, illustrated by historic photos, maps, newspaper articles and other images, mined from our rich archive of digitized resources, including many that have not been previously available to the public.

We'll share a preview of this and other exciting new initiatives at our 2025 Annual Meeting on June 22 (see below article). In the meantime, please stop by the Interpretive Center at 648 Thames Street when your schedule allows. The Center public hours and other details may be found on the home page of our website, NewportIrishHistory.org.

Of course, the Interpretive Center could not operate without our wonderful volunteer docents who hail from among our longtime and new members, along with our Salve Regina University summer intern. Scroll down and learn about opportunities to join our docent ranks and share your love of local history — especially the rich history of the Irish in Newport!

Sláinte,

Deanna

Deanna J. Conheeny

President, Board of Directors

djconheeny@gmail.com

(401) 829-0098- mobile



Our 2025 Annual Meeting and supper, to which all members are warmly invited, will be held on Sunday, June 22 at 4:00 p.m. at Hibernian Hall in Newport. Please note: this date is different than the "tentative" date previously shared.

As in the past, you may register for the business meeting only (no fee) or the meeting plus supper (fee will apply).

An invitation with details and registration instructions will be mailed and emailed to all members of record and posted on our website's Annual Meeting page.

If you have questions in the meantime, please reach write NewportIrishHistory@gmail.com

The Museum's Interpretive Center on Lower Thames Street will open for the 2025 Season on Friday, May 23. Hours are 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, through Sunday, October 26.

Please consider joining the ranks of our volunteer docents!

If you have just a few hours to spare each month, please consider donating your time and talent to be an ambassador at the Museum. Shifts are short and enjoyable, and training will be provided.

Members with a love of local history and interest in hosting visitors from near and far, eager to learn about Newport's rich Irish history and share their stories, are a perfect fit to the position.

If you'd like to learn more, please contact Interpretive Center Manager, Steve Marino. He'd love to chat with you!

You can reach Steve by emailing enzoteach@aol.com or calling (860) 995-7367. Thank you for your interest!

THANK YOU to all who have paid their dues for the

2025-26 Membership Cycle!

Those who have not yet renewed will receive a reminder in the mail shortly.

You can renew online NOW by clicking the below "Membership Renewal" button

Have questions about your membership status?

Please contact Ann at tpm1@earthlink.net or (401) 841-5493 before making a payment, and she'll get right back to you.

Please do not send payments or other correspondence to our seasonal Thames Street Interpretive Center address.

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.