Program Manager Sonja Nathan and Francine Atoofi || Monica Sager Residents had a lot of green to wear || Monica Sager Seniors gathered on Wednesday to learn about Irish music || Monica Sager Everyone came to the Senior Center dressed for St. Patrick’s Day. || Monica Sager The group listened to John Clark talk about music || Monica Sager 
Diane Buonanduci was decked out ||. Monica Sager The seniors analyzed music with John Clark. || Monica Sager
Even a day after St. Patrick’s Day, the Irish spirit lingered at the Senior Center.
More than 40 residents gathered for a lunch of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, turnips, and carrots, dressed in green outfits adorned with four-leaf clovers, rainbows, and pots of gold.
Census estimates suggest that around 20 to 25 percent of Swampscott residents have Irish ancestry, while roughly 27 percent of Massachusetts residents identify as being of Irish descent.
The high concentration of Irish immigrants in Massachusetts—particularly in Boston—stems from the 19th-century famine, job opportunities, and established community networks. The Irish have left a lasting mark on the region, from the name of the Boston Celtics to the founding of Boston College, as well as through prominent local politicians and heavily Irish-populated neighborhoods like South Boston.
On March 17, 1737, a group of Irish Protestants met in Boston to organize the Charitable Irish Society, which helped elderly and sick Irish immigrants. This gathering is considered the first known observance of St. Patrick’s Day in the American colonies.
South Boston still hosts an annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Music historian John Clark shared with the audience what he called a “treasure trove” of Irish music. The group sang along as they learned the history behind songs such as “The Irish Rover,” “Danny Boy,” “Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra,” and – Clark’s favorite – “Sweet Rosie O’Grady.”
