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

-


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. 







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Declan Crowley is new Cultural Programming Manager at the Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston

-
Image
The Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston (ICC) has announced the appointment of Declan Crowley as its new Cultural Programming Manager. Declan's primary role will be to curate a diverse lineup of Irish, Irish-American, and Celtic artists to perform at the Centre throughout the year, from musicians, singers and dancers to writers, filmmakers, historians and artists, while catering to a wide audience of people who cherish Irish culture. Crowley brings a wealth of experience and artistic vision to his new role.  Originally from Burnt Hills, NY, he is an eight-time Regional, two- time National, and All-Ireland Champion Irish dancer, as well as a two-time silver and bronze medal holder at the World Championships and a NFAA youngArts™️ Silver Medalist in World Dance, Crowley began touring internationally with Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance” in 2009, where he played the principal role of ‘Don Dorcha, the Dark Lord’ until 2013. While completing his B.A. in English at the College ...
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 ...
Read more

Boston's Irish International Immigrant Center now called Rian Immigrant Center

-
Image
The Irish International Immigrant Center, one of Boston’s leading immigrant advocacy groups for over three decades, has changed its name to  Rian Immigrant Center . Rian (Ree-Ann), the Irish word for path, honors the groups Irish roots while reflecting its inclusive mission of empowering immigrant and refugee families on the path to opportunity, safety and a better future for all. The Center’s new logo is inspired by the Giant's Causeway on the north coast of Ireland, natural hexagonal stones formed 60 million years ago by cooling lava. The symbol represents how the Rian Immigrant Center provides the support to chart a pathway forward. “Our work has never been in higher demand,” said  Ronnie Millar,  executive director of the Rian Immigrant Center. “In recent years that path has grown more difficult. Legal obstacles, bureaucratic thickets, even physical barriers obstruct the path to legal status and citizenship. Together with our public and private par...
Read more