By Paddy McCarthy
On Presidents’ Day Irish America 250 launched its New York City Commemorations highlighting the Irish role in building the city and the nation starting with a wreath-laying ceremony at the gravesite of Hercules Mulligan, an Irish-born New Yorker whose covert intelligence network operated from Manhattan during the Revolutionary War. Mulligan’s actions helped protect General George Washington and advance the Patriot cause, making him one of the city’s earliest—and least known—heroes of American independence.
At 1 pm they held an Irish and US flag raising ceremony at New York City’s oldest public space, Bowling Green. Hosted by Irish America 250 and The Bowling Green Association, the flag-raising ceremony featured the National Anthems of Ireland and the United States. Bowling Green—New York City’s oldest public park—sits at the crossroads of immigration, commerce, and protest, which made it a powerful setting to reflect on shared democratic values and the Irish immigrant journey in New York.
In the evening they gathered for an event honoring Irish influence on the American presidency at the American Irish Historical Society (991 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan). The evening program honored the 23 Presidents of the United States with Irish heritage, underscoring the impact of Irish immigrants and their descendants on American leadership. Highlights included a first reading of the poem “Irish America” by Micheal O’Siadhail and a presentation by Niall O’Dowd examining the Irish connections of George Washington and the Revolutionary generation.
The day’s events brought together public officials, historians, cultural leaders, veterans’ organizations, musicians, pipers, and community representatives—reflecting the continuing role of Irish Americans in New York’s civic and cultural life. Attendees included elected officials, representatives of the Irish government, leaders of historic New York Irish organizations, scholars, performers, and descendants of those who shaped the city across generations. These events marked the official launch of New York City’s Irish America 250 commemorations, setting the stage for a year of programs that will explore how Irish immigrants and their descendants helped build New York—and, through New York, helped shape the United States.
The Irish America 250 is a non-partisan, nationwide initiative dedicated to commemorating the enduring legacy of the Irish in America as the nation prepares for its semi quincentennial this year. The initiative is supported entirely by volunteer leadership and private contributions of time and expertise, with a mission to educate, commemorate, and strengthen the historic bond between Ireland and the United States—beginning in cities like New York, where that bond is most visible.
I was so glad that I had our Arts Editor, Brad Balfour, available to cover the whole event because reasons beyond my control meant I could not attend. Thanks to Hilary Beirne for the invite.
In a joint venture with Irish America 250, Hibernians across Metropolitan New York gathered this President’s Weekend to honor two US presidents with Irish roots. On Saturday, members of the Nassau County Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) paid tribute to President Theodore Roosevelt with a wreath-laying ceremony at his family home, Sagamore Hill National Park. The ceremony, led by AOH Nassau County Board President Joe McDonald and Pipe Major Robert Lynch, included a wreath presentation by New York State Veterans Affairs Officer Sean Hood and AOH National Immigration Chair Dan Dennehy. Nassau County members in attendance included Patsy Furlong, Bill Doherty, Jim Henry, Mike Byrne, Tom Scanlon, Victor Sackett, Sean Hood, Sean Fallon, Andy Stafford and Robert Lynch (piper).
On Sunday, New York County AOH President James Hamilton and the NYPD Pipes and Drums piper Pat McClintock led a ceremony honoring President Ulysses S Grant and his Irish heritage. The event included a wreath-laying by New York State AOH President Thomas Beirne and National Immigration Chair Dan Dennehy, alongside County Board Officers Bill Lee, Brian FitzPatrick, Pete Dennehy, Chris Smith and Tristan Betts.
A Tipperary man has been selected as Grand Marshal for the St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York on March 17th. Martin Quinn was nominated by the County Tipperary N&B Association of New York – he will also be Grand Marshall for the Yonkers Day Parade on Saturday March 21st. As well as being a strong community activist the Bansha native is probably best known for his work with the Tipperary International Peace Award which has honored the likes of the New York City Fire Department in 2001 after 9/11; US Secretary of State John Kerry in 2015 and the late Tipperary historian and advisor Dr Martin Mansergh in 1995. Martin said that the honor came as a huge surprise: “It was completely unexpected and I’m absolutely thrilled. I think it is a huge honor for me and I want to particularly thank Norbert Hennessy who nominated me and the members of the association for selecting me. I’m the first outside of New York to be selected as Grand Marshal.” Martin is a Community Activist at Local and National level, a stroke survivor and was Tipperary Person of the Year in 2012.
That is all I have for this week’s Out&About; I hope to see you all again next week when I am Out&About again…