Whatever could County Kerry, and the Dingle Peninsula, ever have in common with Western Mass? Quite a lot!

Irish immigration to New England reached a peak in the mid-19th century, when the Irish potato famine of the 1840’s created widespread loss of life and terrible hardship for countless families. Seeking new opportunity, they left Ireland – and County Kerry and its rocky Dingle Peninsula in particular - in huge waves, landing in ports up and down the American eastern seaboard. Many stayed on the coast, but others pressed westward, looking for work and the chance to build a new life.

Thousands found what they were looking for in Western Mass. The burgeoning industrial development of canals, factories and paper mills at Hadley Falls, upriver from Springfield, offered plentiful jobs for the immigrants. By 1855, the Irish constituted a third of the approximately 5,000 inhabitants of the newly-renamed city of Holyoke. Initially facing many hurdles, they endured and found their way as new Americans, becoming part of the vigorous fabric of the region.

Today, Western Mass still honors and celebrate all things Irish. One of the largest and most-cherished St. Patrick’s Day parades in the United States is held each March in Holyoke, drawing more than 400,000 spectators into this important bastion of Irish-American life. The celebrations run over several days and keep the Parade Committee busy all year planning events such as the Colleen Pageant, 10k Road Race, Bishop’s Mass and J.F.K. Award Dinner. Holyoke even has its own tartan!

In West Springfield, Irish culture, particularly on the Dingle Peninsula, is celebrated during The Big E. Throughout the 17-day festival, also known as New England’s State Fair, Dingle merchants are on-hand to sell their wares and promote this magnificent destination.
And of course, what could be more telling than the fact that both Holyoke and Springfield have named Tralee (in County Kerry, of course) as formal Sister Cities? The connections and history run deep.

In West Springfield, the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England is the year-round epicenter for those who love Ireland! The “ICC” is first and foremost a social organization, and it also presents Irish music, offers trips to the Auld Sod and so forth. The Irish Cultural Center builds on this foundation and offers Irish language classes from beginner to advanced levels and a special summer camp for kids.
Westfield has its own Sons of Erin. The Sons of Erin is a non-profit organization dedicated to the community and promoting Irish heritage. The Sons help a variety of groups and charities through service and contributions.

With direct service between Hartford/Springfield’s airport (Bradley International Airport) and Dublin/Kerry on Aer Lingus, it’s never been easier to travel between these ‘sister’ regions.

Ireland and Western Mass. Each appreciates the other fondly, and the richness of the latter owes a great deal to the resiliency of the former.

For more information on visiting the Western Mass region visit https://explorewesternmass.com/

March 28 2019 Update

The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB) and the Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance have announced a co-marketing program to promote the Dingle Peninsula in Western Massachusetts and the Western Mass region on the Dingle Peninsula and throughout County Kerry. Western Mass Website

Members of the Western Mass tourism community and officials from the Dingle Peninsula’s sister city, West Springfield, Massachusetts will travel to Dingle March 30th to April 2nd to participate in meetings with the Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance, the local business community and media. The delegation will be officially welcomed by Minister Brendan Griffin of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mayor of Kerry, Norma Moriarty and CE of Kerry County Council, Moira Murell, local officials, tourism and community representatives on Monday 1st April at the Dingle Tourist Information Office.

Several well-known tourist attractions will be traveling with the GSCVB tourism officials including:

Laurie McDonald - Director of Retail Marketing & Promotions, Home Fragrance/Newell Brands/Yankee Candle Company

Eugene Cassidy - President  & CEO, The Eastern States Exposition (Big E)

Judy Matt - President, The Spirit of Springfield & Bright Nights at Forest Park

Paul Lambert - Vice-President, Enshrinement Services & Community Engagement, The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Karen Fisk - Director of Marketing & Communication Strategy,Springfield Museums and Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum

Additionally, the group is promoting the ease of access into the United States via Aer Lingus’ direct service from Dublin to Hartford, Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport (BDL). Joining the tourism officials from Western Mass are West Springfield’s Mayor, William Reichelt and former Mayor Edward Sullivan.

The group is scheduled to tour the Dingle Peninsula including a guided tour of the Blasket Island Heritage Centre, visit the Pobail Scoil to speak with students who will be visiting West Springfield in April, attend the Official Rotary Luncheon, visit with local artisan crafters, shopkeepers and staff of Fáilte Ireland’s Dingle Tourist Information Office on April 1st from 2-5 p.m.

The public is invited to the Dingle Tourist Information Office during that time for travel information about Western Mass and gifts from participating Western Mass attractions.  

“We are delighted to work with the Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance and the officials of the Dingle Peninsula and County Kerry to co-market our regions,” Mary Kay Wydra, GSCVB President said.  “Throughout history, our parts of the world have been joined together with common heritage so it’s fitting that we get to know each other and that our residents benefit from travel to each other’s regions.  We think this will be the beginning of a long relationship.”

Following their visit to the Dingle Peninsula, the Western Mass delegation will travel to Dublin to meet with tour and travel companies and Irish travel media.

The GSCVB, an affiliate of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass, is a private non-profit destination marketing organization dedicated to promoting Western Mass for meetings and conventions, group tours, sports and leisure travel. For more information on the GSCVB, visit www.ExploreWesternMass.com or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/explorewesternmass and follow us on Twitter using handle @XploreWesternMA. Engage with us using #westernmass.

Comhaontas Turasóireachta Chorca Dhuibhne / Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance is a voluntary not for profit organisation, dedicated to the development and promotion of tourism on the Dingle Peninsula. It is the umbrella tourism organisation for the Dingle Peninsula supporting the immense work of local tourism and community groups, businesses, festivals and events committees and local communities. Visit www.dingle-peninsula.ie or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dingle.official and follow us on Instagram and Twitter using handle @DinglePeninsula. Engage with us using #DinglePeninsula.