According to the 1786-1796 census, the first Irish name to appear in the town was Jane Sullivan, who moved here pre-revolution as a nursemaid and a servant to an affluent British family. After that, the biggest boom of Irish came around 1847 during the Potato Famine exodus to Boston. Many Irish who came to Kingston at that time were still supporting families who remained in Ireland.
A large number of those Irish, however, came to the town of Kingston with a Kingston resident. Corn was transported from Kingston to Ireland during the famine by Captain Edward Holmes. Holmes was using his own vessel built in his own shipyard on the Jones River. This shipyard was started by his father, Joseph Holmes. When Holmes landed in Ireland, he saw the streets full of emigrants waiting for passage to America. It was at that point he decided to transport Irish emigrants back to Kingston on his own. Some of these people paid for passage but many could not. Those who could not pay in advance agreed to work on the farms, shipyards, and kitchens to pay. They worked under skilled American people, descendants of English settlers, on the Holmes estate. Boys learned to farm, and girls learned to cook and keep house, while skilled workers went to the grist mill and the shipyard, most being employed by Holmes himself. The first Irish births in Kingston came on March 5, 1849. Dancing was the most popular recreation, and was done at Fuller's Hall. Today, there are two major Irish restaurants in town, Finna's Tavern and Waxy's. The Irish restaurants both participate heavily on St. Patrick's Day, hosting dinners, parties, and other events. The Kingston Knights of Columbus also throws a St. Patrick's Day Dinner Dance. At this event there is Irish food, Irish music, step dancers, poetry, fiddle playing and dancing. Waxy's keeps their roots alive with authentic Irish cuisine, the only place you can find it in town. They also host live music, pool tournaments, and viewings for sports events like Ultimate Fighting Championship, as well as working with local communities and charities to raise funds and support local communities. Unfortunately, however, there appear to be no ethnicity oriented music or dance events in the actual town outside of St. Patrick's Day. Nearby, however, there is Kenny Academy of Irish Dance. This competitive dance school is in the next town over in Pembroke, Massachusetts. The Academy performs regularly in the area, and competes globally. They have a long legacy of not just competing globally, but winning. Their most recent accomplishments include the 2015 New England Oireachtas, 2016 Worlds in Glasgow, Scotland, and the 2016 North American Irish Dance Championship Orlando. Many kids from Kingston who are seeking the traditions of their heritage don’t have to go far to find it, though their town is too small to sponsor their own Irish step practices. |