Irish Connections to the USS Constitution in Boston's Charlestown Navy Yard

-

 

Battle between USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere, 19 August 1812, by Michel Felice Corne 

Courtesy U.S. Navy - Naval History and Heritage Command, 80-G-K-26254


America's oldest commissioned ship, the USS Constitution, was first launched on October 21, 1797, and is  berthed in the Charlestown Navy Yard.  The USS Constitution is operated by the US Navy, a partner of the National Historic Parks of Boston.

Known as Old Ironsides for its durability during battle, the USS Constitution was commanded in the War of 1812 by Commodore Charles Stewart, who was awarded a congressional gold medal for his leadership. Commodore Stewart was the grandfather of Ireland’s famous Home Rule leader, Charles Stewart Parnell and poet Fanny Parnell.

Of the many Irish sailors served on the Constitution, Irish-born Daniel Hogan was perhaps the most famous, according to the USS Constitution Museum. During a heated battle with the British frigate Guerriere, the American flag was shot from the masthead. Hogan climbed the rigging and amid gunfire he tied the flag back in place, so the battle could continue. In 1919, the US Navy named a ship, the USS Hogan, in Hogan's honor.

On January 21, 2022, Commander Billie J. Farrell became the USS Constitution’s 77th Commanding Officer, the first woman to serve in this illustrious role in the ship’s 224-year history.

The USS Constitution is part of Boston's Irish Heritage Trail.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Blazing the Trail" depicts early Irish filmmaking, showing on November 23 in Brookline

-
Image
The Boston Irish Film Festival is presenting a fresh new look at early Irish filmmaking with the presentation of Blazing the Trail: The Story of the Kalem Film Company in Ireland. The multimedia event takes place on Monday, November 23, 2009, at the historic Coolidge Corner Theater at 290 Harvard Street in Brookline, MA, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The project was created by film scholar and director Peter Flynn, founder of the Boston Irish Film Festival , and produced by Dawn Morrissey. They will show a selection of rarely-seen films from the early 20th century, as well as several short films that put the historical film in retrospect and modern context. Live music will be interspersed between the films to create an old-time Nickelodeon atmosphere. Musicians are pianist Peter Freisinger and vocalists Victoria Hayes and Liz Hayes. There is also a chance to win free tickets to this premier event through the Boston Irish Tourism Association . Tickets to the show are $9.75 and are availa
Read more

General Edward L. Logan, Namesake of Boston's Logan International Airport

-
Image
General Edward L. Logan (1875-1939), namesake of Boston’s Logan International Airport , died on July 6 1939 from a sudden 'heart ailment.'  His brother, Reverend Leo J. Logan, presided over the funeral mass at the Gate of Heaven Church in South Boston, with tributes by leading politicians like Senator David I. Walsh , former Massachusetts Governor and Boston Mayor James M. Curley and former Mayor John F. Fitzgerald .  Logan is buried at the Calvary Cemetery in West Roxbury.  A first generation Irish-American, military leader, civic leader and municipal judge with family roots in Galway and South Boston,  Edward was the oldest of nine children of Lawrence and Catherine (O’Connor), according to Michael Cummings of Milton, an expert on the Logan Family. Edward’s father Lawrence immigrated to Boston from Ballygar, County Galway, in 1858, and became a successful businessman at a young age when he became president of the Boston Brewing Company in South Boston.  The family resided a
Read more

Damian McGinty, former Celtic Thunder Star, Performs in Hartford and Providence this Fall

-
Image
Damian McGinty , the young singing star from Derry, Northern Ireland who performed with Celtic Thunder , is returning to New England in October as part of a national tour with  Ethan Bortnick . They will be performing in Hartford, CT on October 5, followed by two shows in Providence, RI on October 12, 2014. Find details here. McGinty was part of the original Celtic Thunder ensemble for several years, and left the band in 2012 when he won a coveted spot on the television show Glee .  Since then he has embarked on a solo career that has taken him around the world.  In 2013 McGinty was Cultural Ambassador for his home city of Derry, Northern Ireland . Find year round details on Celtic and Irish cultural activities at IrishMassachusetts.com .
Read more