Family and friends are the reason we included Boston in our trip. I was particularly interested in visiting The James pub & restaurant in Needham, a short train journey from Boston.
Spirit Airlines brought us from New Orleans to Boston - about a three hour flight.
We stayed with my nephew Stuart Henry and his wife Jen. Stuart, from Galway, co-owns The James with Cormac Dowling from Bray, Co Wicklow.
The James is a popular spot with locals and visitors. The train from Boston stops right outside.
We ate there on two separate nights and the atmosphere was electric. Our first visit was on a Monday which is a 'fish & chips' night - just what we needed to recover after our trip up from New Orleans. Jazz night was on Wed - music by The C.R.A.F.T. club - Kim Maria Araiza Piano and amazing vocals, Richard Hale Shaw, Bass and Howard Rubenstein, Sax. John Philip just happened to have his sticks and sat in for a few numbers raising the temperature all round!
The C.R.A.F.T. club - Kim Maria Araiza Piano/vocals, Richard Hale Shaw, Bass and Howard Rubenstein, Sax
The C.R.A.F.T. club - with John Philip Murray playing drums.
We enjoyed our time at The James - the food, staff, craic and music but to get a non biased view read the article by Devra First
in The Boston Globe
'But what makes it a real Irish pub is the way everyone comes and is welcomed: friends, sweethearts, grandparents, babies, the commuters who walk off the train and directly into the stone building beside the tracks, all mingling together. It’s the spirit of the place.' Devra First
We enjoyed spending time with Stuart, Jen, Dubh, Annette, Tony and Miley. We had a run on one of the many off road trails around Boston and Cape Cod. An intimate poetry reading is a memory I will treasure.
So proud of The James logo which has a photo of my dad, Stuart's grandfather John Gallagher (John John Jimmy)
The James - train stop at Needham
We stayed with my nephew Stuart Henry and his wife Jen. Stuart, from Galway, co-owns The James with Cormac Dowling from Bray, Co Wicklow.
The James is a popular spot with locals and visitors. The train from Boston stops right outside.
Our train conductor, John Slymon - his mother is from Derreen, outside Athenry
We ate there on two separate nights and the atmosphere was electric. Our first visit was on a Monday which is a 'fish & chips' night - just what we needed to recover after our trip up from New Orleans. Jazz night was on Wed - music by The C.R.A.F.T. club - Kim Maria Araiza Piano and amazing vocals, Richard Hale Shaw, Bass and Howard Rubenstein, Sax. John Philip just happened to have his sticks and sat in for a few numbers raising the temperature all round!
Catching up with other Boston based friends, Annette and Tony Payne
We enjoyed our time at The James - the food, staff, craic and music but to get a non biased view read the article by Devra First
in The Boston Globe
'But what makes it a real Irish pub is the way everyone comes and is welcomed: friends, sweethearts, grandparents, babies, the commuters who walk off the train and directly into the stone building beside the tracks, all mingling together. It’s the spirit of the place.' Devra First
We enjoyed spending time with Stuart, Jen, Dubh, Annette, Tony and Miley. We had a run on one of the many off road trails around Boston and Cape Cod. An intimate poetry reading is a memory I will treasure.
Dubh
Miley
One of the many trails around Boston
Great to meet up with Stuart and Jen
Sunset at Cape Cod
