This past May, I attended an Irish America 250 Meeting that was hosted by former Representative Joseph Crowley and the America 250 Commission Executive Vice President Julie Herr. The purpose of the meeting was to engaged the Irish Government, the Northern Irish Bureau, Irish Studies Programs at Universities in the United States, Universities in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and along with National Irish Organizations the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, in highlighting the role of Irish America in the celebration of our country’s 250 Birthday.
In 2016, the United States Congress established the U.S. Semi quincentennial Commission to plan the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This is a nonpartisan group consisting of members of the House and Senate, Ex Officio members of all branches of the Federal Government, and private citizens. America 250 will host events in Boston, Philadelphia, District of Columbia and Charleston. This past April in Massachusetts, the 250th Anniversary of Paul Revere’s Ride was commemorated in Lexington and Concord. On June 14, the United States Army will be commemorating their distinguished service with a parade in Washington D.C.
Irish Signers of the Declaration of Independence
On July 4, let us remember the fifty-six men who risked their lives for us by signing this important document. John Dunlap was born in Strabane, County Tyrone. He printed the first copies of the declaration.
Another one of the signers was Ulsterman James Smith, whose family was forced to leave their native land by the actions of abusive landlords. Another signer was George Taylor, who at the age of twenty, left Antrim for America. Matthew Thornton, another signer, was born in the Bann Valley in County Limerick.
The only Catholic to sign the document was Charles Carroll of Maryland. His family has connections to County Offaly. He also has the distinction of being the longest signer to live, dying at the age of 95.
Other signers of Irish heritage include Thomas Lynch Jr., Thomas McKeon, George Read, and Edward Rutledge. Thomas Lynch Jr.’s grandfather, from Galway, was exiled after the defeats of the Jacobite’s at Aughrim and the Boyne. He replaced his father as a signature due to his father’s illness.
Thomas McKeon’s father was from County Antrim. He later served as Governor of Pennsylvania.
George Read was one of two statesmen to sign the Declaration of Independence and the petition from the Congress in 1774 to the King of England and the Constitution of the United States. The youngest signer was Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, who was of Scots Irish heritage. Let us remember this proud Irish American history and encourage your children to learn about all the role of the Irish at the founding of our country.
National Irish History Contest
The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc (LAOH) sponsors a National Irish History Contest for students in Grades 6 through 12. The contest is comprised of two (2) Levels: Level 1 is for students in Grades 6, 7, or 8 and Level 2 is for students in Grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Students enrolled in parochial, private, public schools or who are home-schooled are eligible to participate. Students do not need to be Irish.
This year’s topic is The Irish and the American Revolution: How the Irish Affected the Outcome of the American Revolution. For more information, please the website www.ladiesaoh.com.
It is our responsibility as Irish Americans to share the many contributions made to this country by all those Irish men and women who went before us. The Ancient Order of Hibernians were honored and blessed to have a member, Jack O’Brien, who was dedicated to have monuments commissioned at Antietam for the Irish Brigade, the Robert Emmett Statue and Park in DC. and the Monument and Gate to John Barry at the U.S. Naval Academy.
His passion for recognizing the contributions of Irish America was an inspiration to me. Jack helped the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in making the Wayside Marker at the Nuns of the Battlefield Monument a reality.
He was willing to share and help make connections with the National Park Service for me. His guidance was irreplaceable. Last September, I was blessed to have Jack at my side when seeing my dream of the Wayside Marker for the first time, telling the story of the Nuns of the Battlefield and the woman, Ellen Ryan Jolly, who made the monument possible. America has a long proud history and the Irish were and remain an important ethnic group in that story. Irish Americans have made an impact in the Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the Irish Brigades on both sides of the American Civil War, and in military service throughout our history.
Hidden Aspects of Irish American History
There are many hidden aspects of Irish American history, it is time for us to find them and share. If you go to Washington D.C., visit the Nuns of the Battlefield Monument. Another place to visit is the Congressional Cemetery, where the graves of the Irish women killed in the Armory Fire during the Civil War is memorialized. The Ancient Order of Hibernians and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians had gravestones made before those women’s names were lost due to elements of the weather.
We in Cleveland are honored to have the Irish American Archives, and iIrish’s own archives, where our stories are preserved. Let us find, share and preserve our proud Irish American history for generations to come.
