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ABOUT US

IRISH NETWORK BOSTON IS YOUR CONNECTION TO IRELAND

WE ENGAGE through professional cultural and social events

WE PROMOTE Irish Arts, Culture, Heritage, Sport, and Business in Greater Boston.

WE SUPPORT local Irish and irish-american organizations and we welcome Irish immigrants to our vibrant community.

Our Mission

Irish Network Boston (IN Boston) is a dynamic, inclusive organization dedicated to fostering connections between Ireland and the Greater Boston area. Our mission is to engage, promote, and support the Irish and Irish-American community by providing meaningful opportunities for professional networking, cultural enrichment, and social connection.

We ENGAGE individuals of all backgrounds who share an interest in Ireland, offering a diverse range of professional, cultural, and social events that strengthen ties between Ireland and Boston.

We PROMOTE Irish arts, culture, heritage, sports, and business by creating platforms for collaboration, visibility, and growth. Through partnerships with artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations, we celebrate and amplify the Irish presence in Boston’s vibrant community.

We SUPPORT Irish and Irish-American organizations, businesses, and initiatives, fostering a spirit of collaboration and mentorship. We provide resources and connections to new Irish immigrants, ensuring a welcoming environment where they can build their professional and social networks.

With a commitment to inclusivity and innovation, Irish Network Boston is the leading organization for those looking to stay connected to Ireland through networking while making meaningful contributions to Boston’s diverse cultural and economic landscape.

Board of Directors

Aoife Griffin

Chairwoman

Aoife Griffin is a passionate advocate for Irish culture, hailing from Co. Roscommon, Ireland. With a first-class honors B.A in Irish Music and Dance from the Irish World Academy, University of Limerick, she has spent her life immersed in the world of traditional Irish music. In 2021, Aoife's journey led her to Boston, Massachusetts, where she assumed the role of Cultural and Marketing Manager at the renowned Irish Cultural Centre.

Aoife's expertise, combined with her genuine love for Irish traditions, makes her an invaluable figure in promoting cultural awareness and enriching the lives of those around her. Her vision is to continue to grow the Boston Irish community, forging lasting connections across borders.

John Shiels

Director

John joined the board of the Irish Network Boston in July 2024. Originally from Co. Limerick, he has been living in the Boston Area since 2021. After graduating from the University of Limerick, John moved over to Boston and has spent the past 4 years becoming more and more involved in the Irish communities throughout the Greater Boston area. When not skiing or singing and playing guitar, John is a security consultant in Boston. He and his team work alongside a wide spectrum of industrial, commercial and public entities with improving and increasing every aspect of their physical security. John’s passion for the Irish and Irish-American Community in Boston make him a great addition to the Irish Network Boston to continue to engage, promote, and support the Irish community throughout Boston.

Darren McGurran

Director

Darren McGurran joined the board of the Irish Network Boston in June of 2022. Darren is a 30 year software industry veteran in the general Boston area. He has worked at Tableau/Salesforce for the past 9 years as a data architect. Darren has experience with enterprise software, data visualisation software and general IT infrastructure. He was a member of the board at St. Brendan’s Minor GAA club for 5 years and a member of the Boston Minor GAA board for 3 years. Darren grew up in Ballisodare, Co. Sligo where his family still resides. In 1991, he graduated with BComm from UCD. He has lived in the Boston area since 1996, progressing south from Somerville to Weymouth via Southie. He has lived in in Weymouth for over 10 years with his family. In the past, he has volunteered on boards and cycled from Boston to Providence in the PanMass and MS Bike rides..

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Greg Shanahan

Director

Greg Shanahan, a lifelong resident of Weymouth, MA, is a dedicated public servant committed to his community and Irish heritage.

He holds a B.A. in Political Science and an M.P.A. from UMASS Boston, where he authored a capstone on government performance management. He has also earned graduate certificates in Government Performance Management and Human Resource Management and is currently pursuing an MBA at UMASS Amherst.

Shanahan has held key roles in Massachusetts state and county government, focusing on administration, public performance, and innovation. A longtime Weymouth Town Councilor, he has chaired multiple committees, including Budget Management and Economic Development.

Olivia O'Regan

Director

Olivia O'Regan joined the board of the Irish Network Boston in February of 2023. As a graduate of Bates College, Olivia has taken her career to the legal field working as a practice development specialist for the Asset Management group at Ropes & Gray, LLP. With previous understanding and professional exposure in data management, legal financial reporting and general management of private investment funds, Olivia retains experience in business development focused initiatives from an analytical perspective. As a younger member of our board, Olivia is working diligently to gain and build support with our younger community members. Olivia is an Irish American with family from Milltown, County Kerry and Skibbereen, County Cork

Kevin Coveney

Treasurer

Kevin Coveney, CPA, has a long history of supporting Irish cultural and political causes, going back to the 1990s and the Irish Immigration Reform Movement. Mr. Coveney is a former audit partner. He is currently the CFO of a publicly traded biotech company. He has been the CFO of public and private biotech companies for 10 plus years. Mr. Coveney earned his BS in management from the University of Massachusetts and was a non-commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard.

Mark Coughlan

Director

Mark joined the board of the Irish Network Boston in September 2023. Mark hails from Co. Clare, Ireland, and has resided in Boston since 2019. He graduated from University of Galway with a BSc in physics and applied physics, along with a PhD in physics. Mark currently holds a faculty position at Harvard Medical School, where he carries out life science research and teaches graduate students. Mark is active in many of the Irish organizations based in Boston, and has been a lifelong member of the GAA community.

Grace Gardiner

Director

Grace joined the Irish Network Boston Board in September 2023. Grace serves as Development Officer at the Irish American Partnership, an educational nonprofit connecting Irish students, schools, and organizations with supporters eager to make a difference. Having studied and lived in the US, Belgium, and Ireland, Grace is passionate about helping people stay connected with the places and communities that are meaningful to them. She holds a BA in History and Political Science from Trinity College Dublin and spent a year studying abroad at the University of Notre Dame. Grace serves as Secretary on the Board of Irish Network Boston.

Thomas Bartley

Director

Thomas Bartley joined the Board of Directors of the Irish Network Boston in January 2025. A Massachusetts native, he currently resides in Dorchester.With a B.A. in English from UMASS and an MBA focused on innovation and entrepreneurship from Bay Path University, Tom has over 20 years’ experience in business development and sales across various industries. He is currently the Vice President of Business Development at Invest Northern Ireland.Deeply connected to his Irish heritage, Tom has ancestral roots in Roscommon and Inishkea and has been visiting Ireland for more than 20 years. He is also active in the local community, serving on the Young Professionals Board for the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester.An avid runner and snowboarder, Tom has completed five marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2023. He is passionate about traveling and cooking, always looking for new places to explore and new recipes to try.