Between 1845 and 1855, some 1.8 million left Ireland for Canada and the United States. Those who were lucky enough to survive the brutal journey to the New World were motivated by the hope of new possibilities, including the promise of employment. Ten thousand Micks They swung their picks To build the new canal But the choleray was stronger’n they And killed ’em all … [Read more...] about The Hands that Built America
June July 2010 Issue
Arriving in the New World
What we know from literature about what Irish Famine immigrants encountered upon their arrival in North America. If you ever spend the day at the Silver Lake golf course on the north shore of Staten Island, New York, pay attention. It’s not that the greens are particularly speedy or that the course is unusually challenging. What you should keep your eye out for, instead, is … [Read more...] about Arriving in the New World
The Ghosts of Gross Ile
One of the major ports of entry for Irish Famine immigrants, Grosse Île lies in the St. Lawrence River, just east of Quebec. It contains the largest Famine cemetery outside of Ireland. When the authorities in Quebec heard news of ships arriving with sick passengers, they quickly set up Grosse Île as a port of entry and quarantine station at which all ships were required to … [Read more...] about The Ghosts of Gross Ile
This Holy Ground
Hundreds of unmarked and forgotten mass graves scattered across the Irish countryside are a silent testimony to a human tragedy of appalling and unimaginable dimensions. In the late spring of 1985, I asked a local historian in Westport, Co. Mayo, if he knew of any burial places associated with the ‘Famine.’ He brought me to the outskirts of the town and pointed to what … [Read more...] about This Holy Ground
Reflections on the Great Hunger
The following commentaries, from writers, politicians, actors, activists, artists and business people, culled from 25 years in Irish America, offer unique, personal perspectives on the starvation of our forefathers. Peggy Noonan, author and political commentator, interview, July/August 1990 “The first time I ever went back to Ireland, I met a very old man named Paddy … [Read more...] about Reflections on the Great Hunger