Cumann na Gaeilge i mBoston was founded in 1973 by Dr. Frederick Rosenheim, a noted psychiatrist, and Fr. Seán Sweeney, an S.M.A. priest from Claremorris in County Mayo. Rosenheim's interest in Irish was sparked by what he claimed was St. Patrick's appearance to him in a dream--an event which inspired his conversion to Christianity. As an act of gratitude, he undertook the study of the language.
Fr. Sweeney's love of Irish derived from a less dramatic though perhaps more useful source: his grandmother was a native speaker, and she taught him the sounds and rhythms of the language. As a teenager, he attended courses in Spiddal, Camus, and Rosmuc, all three areas in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht. He was ordained a priest in 1934, and was an avid student and teacher his whole life.
When Cardinal Cushing, Archbishop of Boston, inivted the S.M.A. to establish a branch in the city, Fr. Sweeney was chosen to direct it. He and Henry Weldon started an Irish class in Boston in 1968. Then in 1969, John McGrail, the Massachusetts Secretary of Education authorized a class at Harvard University provided that there were twenty students. Fr. Seán was the teacher and some of his students would be the founding members of Cumann na Gaeilge i mBoston.
After a Mass in Irish at Notre Dame des Victoires Church on St. Patrick's Day 1973, a group met at 57 Carver St. in Bay Village to start the Cumann. Academics and professionals with interesting Irish connections, comprised the early membership. One was a Boston lawyer named Tadhg O' Sullivan, the son of immigrants from Cúl Aodha in Cork who was related to the poet An Suibhneach Meán, Pádraig Mac Suibhne. Another pioneer, Seán Brougham, headmaster of the Jeremiah Burke School in Boston, traced his ancestry to the birthplace of the Callanan poets (with whom Raftery had verbal duels) in South Galway. Dr. Ken Nilsen from New York, became a member and taught classes, as did Dr. Liam Mahon who is now a professor in Wales. Ken still participates in the Cumann's activities, travelling from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, to give a superb seminar every Summer on teaching methods and language acquisition.
The heart of the Cumann became a monthly meeting which always included the Mass in Irish. Afterwards, there was music, singing, dancing, and conversation--recreational activities in Irish which revealed the beauty of the language, encouraged the social aspect, and promoted a general sense of enthusiasm and spirit. The fun part of learning was emphasized, and the students proceeded at their own pace. As interest grew, classes were conducted in various locations throughout the state.
Naturally, the organization had strong religious underpinnings. Fr. Sweeney believed that there was a strong link between Gaelachas (Irishness), and Creideamh (Faith). They were, he said, fite fuaite (interwoven)--a wonderful metaphor from the weaving process. Nevertheless, it was not a "church" organization, but a broad American language and culture society. Membership was open to all for a nominal fee, and the environment was friendly and encouraging. In time, the make-up changed, and many native speakers--mainly from Connemara--joined, and passed on their Irish to those eager to learn it.
Nowadays, there are many Irish language groups in different parts of the country. But Cumann na Gaeilge i mBoston was one of the first, and has endured through the tireless efforts of people such as John McGrath, Máirín Ní Choinceannain, Ken Nilsen, Jim West, Bridie Maye, Henry Varian, Fr. John McGlaughlin, Mary Carty and Cáit Graca. The Cumann has also benefitted from the vision and leadership of its presidents including, in chronological order, Margaret O' Connor, Tadhg O' Súilleabháin, Henry Weldon, Walter O' Reagan, Michael Quinn, and the current President, Peggy Cloherty, who was recently recognized by Oideas Gael for her work promoting Irish in Boston.
