By Paddy McCarthy
I presume that everyone had a good Halloween as again it was on a weekend and I am sure all the kids enjoyed their trick or treating dressed up in their Halloween costumes. It is a sad time always at this time of the year and here in my Out&About I want to mention some of the historical events that mark their anniversaries.
Did you know that for many years the exact background story of Annie Moore remained uncertain, with the Cork girl’s tale long confused with that of an Annie Moore who died in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas in 1923. In 2006 it was however discovered that the shy, rosy-cheeked young girl from the north side of Cork city, now immortalized in immigrant circles, took a different path.
Nowadays Annie Moore is honored by two statues, one at her port of departure in Cobh and another at Ellis Island, New York, her port of arrival. Between 1892 and 1954, twelve million people passed through Ellis Island, and Annie was the first. Her image represents all those people leaving Ireland in search of the American dream. There is a house in the shadow of Cork’s Shandon Steeple, 2 Rowland’s Lane, at the top of John Redmond Street Cork City. This house has a plaque on the wall stating that Annie Moore, the first person to disembark at the newly-opened landing station on Ellis Island, once lived there. The lane itself was named after Samuel Rowland, who was the first mayor of Cork (June 6, 1787) to wear the chain of office. This same chain was later worn by martyrs, Tomás MacCurtain and Terrence MacSwiney, and is still worn by modern day Cork lord mayors.
Annie Moore’s birth certificate shows she was born in May 1874 at 154 Old Youghal Road near Collin’s Barracks on the city’s north side. Parish records indicate she was baptized, received first communion, and was later confirmed at St. Patrick’s Church, Lower Glanmire Road. Cork City. Her parents, Julie and Matthew, later headed to New York with two of their other children. Annie was left in charge of her two young brothers, Phillip and Anthony, and the trio departed Cobh on the SS Nevada bound for New York on December 20, 1891.
I am sure you have seen the coverage that we also gave to you on another legend Christy Ring, also marking a centenary and now we have a late great legend who died one hundred years ago. Kevin Gerard Barry (20 January 1902 – 1 November 1920) was an Irish republican paramilitary who was executed by the British Government during the Irish War of Independence. He was sentenced to death for his part in an attack upon a British Army supply lorry which resulted in the deaths of three British soldiers.
His execution inflamed nationalist public opinion in Ireland, largely because of his age. The timing of the execution, only days after the death by hunger strike of Terence MacSwiney, the republican Lord Mayor of Cork, brought public opinion to a fever-pitch. His death attracted international attention, and attempts were made by US and Vatican officials to secure a reprieve. His execution and MacSwiney’s death precipitated an escalation in violence as the Irish War of Independence entered its bloodiest phase, and Barry became an Irish republican martyr. Let’s hope we will never see the likes of this again in our lifetime.
Now to put a smile back on your face as I was supposed to watch “A Touch of the Poet” produced by The Irish Repertory Theatre last Wednesday, which I did mind yea. The problem I had was I could not find my way to Zoom for about the first 20 minutes, I know what you are saying, what a dingbat, but I got it. What can I say? Only that Ciaran O’Reilly has done it again, his direction was fabulous?
There is a follow up show that again you should not miss and that is “A Beggar upon Horseback/A Beggar on Foot” with John Douglas Thompson which will be aired on November 9 at 7 pm and November 10 at 2 pm EDT. Reservations are free but required to access this digital event. A donation of $25 per viewer is suggested for those who can afford to give. For more information phone (212) 727-2737 or buy tickets online at irishrep.org.
Here is some new on the United Irish Counties 2020 Essay Contest: Students who are Seniors in High School and Freshman in College and who are sons, daughters, grandchild, niece or nephews of members in good standing of an organization affiliated with the UIC in 2020 are eligible to enter the contest.
The High School essay is on “The attributes of John Hume & his influence on Good Friday Agreement” and the College essay is on “The legacy of Terence MacSwiney & the power of hunger strikes as a political weapon”.
All entries must be received no later than December 15, 2020. Entry forms and requirements Reach out to Mae O’Driscoll (maeodriscoll@aol.com) for information regarding College essay or Kathleen Mattessich (kvmattessich@gmail.com) for the High School essay.
See you all next week when I am hopefully Out&About again…