Irish America

Irish America

Immigration Story

Two Grandfathers

By William Kennedy

March April 1993

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My grandfathers, George Kennedy and Peter McDonald, died before I was born. I came to know something of them through talks with my parents and other relatives, a few artifacts, death certificates and obituaries, and two photographs that defined them for me forever. Both photos are working-class portraits. The portrait of George Kennedy is with three other men who are, I … [Read more...] about Two Grandfathers

family album |  The Road to Bright City

Submitted by Thomas Hynes of Boston, MA

Fall 2025

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My grandfather John Bernard “Barney” Hynes and his brother, Thomas J. Hynes emigrated in their early teens from Lochrea, Galway, Ireland to Boston, Massachusetts in 1875. They were children of the famine – sent to America by their parents because there was no future for them in Ireland. Barney got a job with the Elevated Railroad Company, and Tom went to Harvard where he spent … [Read more...] about family album |  The Road to Bright City