Irish American Museum

09/03/2026

Batter up! ⚾️☘️

The votes are in, and the Heritage Pages Book Club is tackling The Emerald Diamond: How the Irish Transformed America’s Greatest Pastime by Charley Rosen this September! From sandlot scuffles to major league glory, dive into the wild, spirited story of how Irish grit helped shape the game we know today.

Knock your monthly reading out of the park and join the discussion on Sunday, September 27th at 5:30 PM on Zoom.

Grab your copy, settle into your favorite spot, and head over to https://givebutter.com/e2k1bi to register and secure your virtual seat! 📚🎟️

08/31/2026

Before the days of corner grocery stores and delivery apps, Baltimore's neighborhoods ran on the rhythmic clip-clop of horses and the calls of pushcart hucksters navigating the cobblestones. 🥕🐎

In our August edition of I Am America: An Irish Chronicle, we take a look at the colorful roots of the city's street trade. From historical ward ledgers to family-run routes across town, discover how immigrant communities helped build and sustain a tradition that still uniquely defines Baltimore today.

Step into the history of the route and catch the full story on the blog: https://www.irishamericanmuseum.org/big-pivot-posts/i-am-america-the-streets-the-scales-and-the-cart

08/30/2026

Dust off your dancing shoes and grab your sweater—autumn is officially here, and we’ve got a month full of good tunes, great company, and plenty of excuses to get together! ☘️🎻

From taking our pop-up booth on the road to kicking up our heels right here in the museum backyard, September is overflowing with fun ways to connect. Whether you're coming out to learn a dance step, sip a pint while listening to a live session, or explore local history, there’s a spot saved just for you.

Swipe through to check out the full lineup and save our calendar to your phone! ➡️

A few highlights to look forward to:

Sept 5–6: Defenders’ Day Festival (Come say hi at our Fort Howard booth!)

Sept 12: The Clash of the Ash & the Irish Diamond (Sports history right here at IAM)

Sept 19–20: Women’s Work Festival (Catch our history booth down at London Town!)

Sept 26: Backyard Céilí (Live music, social dancing, and open-air fun at the museum!)

We’ve also got weekly Monday set dancing, pub sessions at Mick O'Shea's, and the Banjo Summit and more waiting for you.

08/28/2026

Join us this weekend for the Harford County Celtic Festival!

Stop by the Irish American Museum tent to browse our upcoming fall events and try your hand at 1860s working-class jobs with our interactive packing and rug beating stations.

You can also catch our Museum Director at the lace station, demonstrating the intricate work of crochet!

Festival Hours:
Friday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
For more details, visit the Harford County Celtic Charities Website. We'd love to see you there! ☘️🧺🧶✨

08/15/2026

Join us next Saturday, August 22, for a special presentation with Cassie Kilroy-Thompson exploring the rich history of Texas, Maryland (now part of Cockeysville)—a quarry town settled by Irish immigrants where her family lived! ☘️

Drawing on her dedicated community history project, Cassie will discuss the local labor history and the lasting impact of the families who worked the stone.

📅 Date: Saturday, August 22 @ 11:30am

📍 Location: Irish American Museum

🎟️ Reserve Your Tickets: https://givebutter.com/irish-labor-in-texas-maryland-nghaqk

Don't miss this deep dive into local heritage—space is limited, so secure your spot today!

08/13/2026

Sneak Peek Alert! 🎧

Want a preview of the history we'll be exploring on this Saturday's Echoes of Rails and Threads Walking Tour?

Our museum director, Sammie Samuels, recently joined Bill Barry on the MD Labor 250 Podcast to discuss the stories, struggles, and neighborhood history of local Irish immigrant workers—giving a taste of what we’ll be covering on the walk!

🎧 Listen to the podcast preview:

https://www.md250laborhistory.org/podcast/ep18-irish-immigrant-workers-with-sammie-samuels

Come walk the neighborhood with us this Saturday and experience these stories brought to life in person.

🎟️ Get your tour tickets here:

https://givebutter.com/echoes-of-the-rails-threads-frdouz

A Baltimore Labor History Walking Tour

08/10/2026

Fall in love with the language of Éire this September! 🇮🇪🍂

We are thrilled to announce the return of our Fall 2026 Irish Language Classes, presented in partnership with Irish Language Learners!

Whether you are a complete beginner (New Beginner 0-1) or looking to continue your journey, we have a section for you. Join our supportive community of learners and dive into the beauty of Gaeilge.

🗓️ Program Details:

12-Week Classes (Mon–Wed): See schedule for specific times.

10-Week Specialized Sessions (Thursdays): Two Beginner 0-1 options available.

💻 All classes are held live via Zoom.

📝 Registration is Open Now!
You can register at the link below or simply scan the QR code on the graphic.

🔗 Register Here: https://www.irishamericanmuseum.org/visit/virtual-events

Please Note: An active annual membership to Irish Language Learners ($40) is required to participate and can be purchased directly through the Irish Language Learners website.

Sláinte! 🍻

08/09/2026

Big changes are underway at the museum! Our beloved pub exhibit is closing its current space to expand into a brand-new building—with hopes of reopening by the end of the year 🍻. As one chapter moves, another begins: we are officially transforming the old footprint into our brand-new museum library 📚!

This massive transition wouldn't be possible without wonderful community support. A huge thank you to the team at Racicot Removal Services for expertly handling the heavy lifting of our bar and stove, and to our dedicated volunteers for painting the new space, moving items, and rolling up their sleeves to catalog our books ❤️.

Stay tuned for more updates as we grow and build our next chapter!

08/08/2026

History wasn’t built on blueprints; it’s built by calloused hands, heavy iron, and the people who fought tooth and nail on the shop floor.

One week from today—August 15th at 11:30 AM—we’re hitting the historic pavement around Hollins Market for Echoes of the Rails & Threads.

This isn't your average dry history stroll. We’re digging into the real, raw industrial roots right here around Hollins Market: the sweat, the skill, the trade shops, and the worker movements that shaped our local landscape. You're going to stand right where it happened and see the neighborhood through the eyes of the people who built it from the ground up.

Can't make it to the sidewalk? No problem. Tune in live from wherever you are.

When: August 15th at 11:30 AM

How: Truly hybrid—join us live in person or catch the stream virtually.

Tickets: $10

Don't just read about the past—grab a ticket, meet us on the route (or online), and see the hidden stories etched into the Hollins Market streets. Scan the QR code or visit our website to grab your spot before next Saturday.

08/01/2026

The votes are officially in, and our August Heritage Pages Book Club winner is locked in! 👑📚

Under our theme "Working Hands, Resilient Spirit," we are pulling back the curtain on a massive, often-overlooked piece of labor history. This month, we're diving into The Irish Bridget by Margaret Lynch-Brennan to uncover the true stories, grit, and enduring legacy of Irish women in America.

Far beyond private households, these women formed the backbone of institutional labor, shaping public hospitals, grand hotels, and industries across the nation. What were their lives really like? How did they navigate a new world while fueling the American economy? We’re tackling all of it, and we want you at the table with us.

Grab your copy, start reading, and get ready for a fantastic discussion!

🗓️ When: Sunday, August 23rd at 5:30 PM

👉 Register now to secure your spot: https://givebutter.com/e2k1bi ☘️📖