Commemoration for Irish Famine Ship Lost at Sea Takes Place on Sunday, October 8 in Cohasset, Massachusetts

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Illustration by Leonard Everett Fisher

The annual memorial mass to commemorate the Brig St. John takes place on Sunday, October 8, at 1 p.m., at St. Anthony's Parish Church in Cohasset, Massachusetts, followed by a wreath-laying and dedication ceremony at nearby Cohasset Central Cemetery. 

The event is organized by the Plymouth chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, which placed the original 16 foot Celtic Cross at the cemetery on May 30, 1914.   Dr. Catherine Shannon is giving the keynote speech, and Father Michael McNamara is celebrating the mass.  Music is being presented by bagpiper Paul Boyle and by Gaelic singer Mairin Ui Cheide. 

 
The event recalls the tragic ship wreck of the Brig St. John on October 7, 1849, off the coast of Cohasset as 127 Irish famine refugees, along with a crew of 16 sailors, were trying to come ashore in the middle of a violent storm.  The boat was destroyed on the rocks and the majority of people on board drowned. Read more about the incident here.


Illustration by Leonard Everett Fisher

The Celtic Cross at Cohasset Central Cemetery is part of the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail.

Learn more about the PlymouthAOH here.

For year round information on Irish cultural and historical activities in Massachusetts, visit IrishMassachusetts.com. 







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