July 2, 2026

Dear Members,

Our nation will soon celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence. As a Newport-based historical organization, we are fortunate to share in this milestone while also celebrating our own special anniversary in 2026.

There are many opportunities for residents and visitors to celebrate the 250th, and a great place to find events and commemorations is this page on the Discover Newport webpage:
https://www.discovernewport.org/250th

As our members are aware, Newport played an important role in the Revolutionary War. The Irish, too, played a role in the Revolution, as many Irish-born and Irish-Americans fought in George Washington's Army. I'm sure many of us would be eager to learn more about the Irish role in the fight for independence.

Those who are local to Newport will be very interested to learn about the 250th lecture to be presented at Fort Adams in the late afternoon on Sunday, August 16 ---presented by Fort Adams Trust in partnership with the Museum of Newport Irish History.

"From Revolution to Ramparts” will explore the critical and often overlooked role of Irish and Irish-American individuals in the American Revolution, with a unique focus on Rhode Island and Fort Adams.

The August 16 featured speaker, Christian McBurney, is a historian and author of 10 books, including 6 focused on the American Revolution, including Rhode Island's role. He is the publisher and editor-in-chief of "Small State, Big History," the online review of Rhode Island's rich history. 

The event is free and open to the public and was made possible with support from a grant from the Rhode Island Semiquincentennial Commission (RI250). 

More information may be found on this Fort Adams Trust webpage: https://fortadams.org/events-summer-lecture/ 

Be sure to mark your calendars and don't forget to make a reservation if you plan to attend, as space is limited. The link to reserve will soon be live on the Trust's above webpage.

Thank you for being part of our membership community as we celebrate 250 years of our nation's independence and 30 years of preserving and sharing Newport’s Irish history!

(Be sure to scroll all the way down for more Museum news).

Sláinte,

Deanna

Deanna J. Conheeny

President, Board of Directors

djconheeny@gmail.com

(401) 829-0098- mobile

A member of the Artillery Company of Newport in Revolutionary War era uniform
 fires a cannon at Fort Adams. Photo used courtesy of Fort Adams Trust

Our 24th Annual Lecture Series wrapped up on March 23, 2026. Over the course of the series, we reached upwards of 1,000 people in person, via live stream on the night of the talk, and through those who subsequently watched the archived lecture recording. If you missed any of the five talks, you can access the recordings below or on the “Lectures” page of our website, where you can also enjoy recording of dozens of past talks.

Below, click the "Lecture Overview & Speaker Bio" line to review the subject matter and the guest speaker's background. Then click the link to the recording to watch the lecture and Q&A.

Below the list of talks are the names of our 2025-2026 Lecture Series sponsors, whose support makes the series possible.

March 23, 2026

Echoing Ancient Voices: 
The Literary & Cultural Legacy of Ireland’s Blasket Islands

Guest Speaker: Dr. Sean O'Callaghan

Lecture Overview & Speaker Bio

Link to Recording: HERE


Feb. 25, 2026

James Hoban:

The Irish Immigrant Who Built the White House

Guest Speaker: Maureen D. Brady

Lecture overview & Speaker Bio

Link to Recording: HERE


Nov. 19, 2025

The Artistic Legacy of Helen Hooker O’Malley (1905-1993): 
Capturing Ireland in Camera, Sculpture, Painting, and Cloth

Guest Speaker: Cormac K.H. O’Malley, B.A., J.D.

Lecture overview & Speaker Bio

Link to Recording: HERE


Oct. 24, 2025

Irish American Identity in Transition:

A Tale of Two Waves of Immigration, 1880s-1920s

Guest Speaker: Timothy J. Meagher, PhD

Lecture overview & Speaker Bio
Link to Recording HERE

Sept. 22, 2025

Toil & Trouble:
The Irish in the Rhode Island Labor Movement, 830s-1930s

Guest Speaker: Scott Molloy, PhD

Lecture overview & Speaker Bio

Link to Recording HERE

WITH GRATITUDE 
 2025-2026 LECTURE SERIES SPONSORS:

Larry Bartley


Francis J. Furtado 
 In Memory of Barbara Carr Furtado

Margaret Armstrong Murray

In Memory of Vincent J. Murray


Virginia Pittsley

In Memory of Bill Pittsley & Jay Pittsley


Don't forget to stop down and visit the Museum's Interpretive Center on at 648 Thames Street this season. Thanks to our wonderful volunteer docents and Salve Regina University interns, we're open 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, through Sunday, October 25.

Please consider joining the ranks of our volunteer docents!

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 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.

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!

The shot was taken June 24, a few days after the volunteers met for the second work session of the season.
(photo by Ann Arnold)

On June 19, eight members and friends of the Museum met at the Barney Street Cemetery for the second work session of the season, under the direction of Cemetery Committee Chair, Jack McCormack. 

We are grateful to all those who volunteered for one or more work session so far this season:


• Larry Bartley • Steve Marino

• Mary Ellen Bronson • John Quinn

• John Carroll • Ann Arnold 
• Joan Galvin • Rick O'Neill

• Deanna Conheeny • Larry Davis
• Mark Thompson • Ben Smith
 Jack McCormack


On June 19, team members met for about an hour to remove weeds, just in time for the blooming of the day lilies, a highlight of the season.

Please contact Jack if you'd like to learn more or to request to be added to the distribution list for this rewarding and enjoyable volunteer activity. Team members gather several times
 over the spring to late-fall time frame. 
Whether you have an hour to spare or several, we'd love to have you!
 JohnRMcCormack@cox.net or (401) 835-3243

April 1 marked the start of the Museum's new Fiscal Year, so members with Annual (vs. Life) Memberships are due for renewal at this time, if they had not prepaid their dues for 2026-27.

THANK YOU to all who have already paid their dues for the

new membership cycle!


Those who had not yet renewed received 
this reminder in the U.S. Mail in May, followed by an
 e-reminder in June.

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

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.



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.