City of Lawrence Begins Irish Heritage Month with City Hall Flag Raising

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AOH Div 8 President Billy Sullivan

The Irish community of Lawrence, Massachusetts is kicking of its annual Irish Heritage Month in the city with a flag raising ceremony on Common Street across from Lawrence City Hall at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 1, 2019. 

Sponsored by Division 8 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Irish Heritage Month includes a full month of music and dance, lectures, film screenings and exhibits as well as luncheons and dinners to celebrate the city's distinct Irish heritage. 

Here is a complete schedule of Irish Heritage Month activities. 

Read this profile on Billy Sullivan, President of Division 8 and long time leader in the Irish community both in Massachusetts and across the United States. 

Lawrence has a proud Irish heritage dating back to the founding of the city in the 1840s, when Irish immigrants fleeing Ireland's famine arrived in the city to work in the mills.  Lawrence is proudly referred to as an Immigrant City because of the successive waves of new immigrant groups that continue to replenish the city.

Lawrence has had many Irish leaders since the city was founded in the 19th century, but perhaps one of the most illustrious figures was David R. Burke (1940-2009), who with his colleagues helped start an Irish Collection at Lawrence Public Library,  create a memorial to the Irish Famine generation, and worked for peace, justice and unity in Northern Ireland throughout his life. 

For year round information on the Irish cultural community in New England, visit IrishMassachusetts.com. 

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