• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Irish America

Irish America

Irish America

  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
    • ABOUT US
    • IRISH AMERICA TEAM
  • IN THIS ISSUE
  • HALL OF FAME
  • THE LISTS
    • BUSINESS 100
    • HALL OF FAME
    • HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES 50
    • WALL STREET 50
  • LIBRARY
  • TRAVEL
  • EVENTS

Jim Killen

Photo Album: My Grandfather, the Diver

Submitted by George Kelnhofer, Doylestown, PA
March / April 2019

March 1, 2019 by 2 Comments

Patrick Killen with his daughter, Margaret, and son, Joseph Patrick, 1934.

My grandfather, Patrick Joseph Killen, (“Pop”), was born in Downpatrick, County Down, in 1897. He sailed with his sister Margaret for America in 1911, and arrived in New York on his 14th birthday. Many of his family were already here, but, sadly for him, his older sister Mary stayed behind, and he would not see her again for 57 years. In 1920, Patrick received his Certificate … [Read more...] about Photo Album: My Grandfather, the Diver

Primary Sidebar

Featured Video

Featured Podcast

News from the Irish Post

  • Gloria Hunniford to receive major Irish Post award

    Broadcasting legend to be honoured at star-studded ceremony in London GLORIA HUNNIFORD is to rece...

  • Woman and baby found dead in Co. Tipperary

    THE BODIES of a woman and a baby have been found at a property in Co. Tipperary. The discovery wa...

  • 'They all had names': Belfast City Council unveils plaque at workhouse Famine grave where 10,000 were buried

    BELFAST CITY COUNCIL has unveiled a plaque marking the spot of the city's last Famine grave, wher...

  • Fire causes extensive caused to commercial premises in Waterford city

    A LARGE fire has caused extensive damage to a commercial premises in Waterford city. Fire brigade...

May 10, 1869

The Transcontinental Railroad was completed. The first spikes were driven in 1863 during the Civil War, and over the following 6 year period, over 2,000 miles of track was laid entirely by hand over rugged terrain including the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Central Pacific Company built East from Sacramento, while the Union Pacific built West from Omaha, Nebraska. Both teams tried to beat the other’s record for track laying. The Central Pacific concocted a plan to lay 10 miles in a day. Eight Irish tracklayers put down 3,520 rails, while other workers laid 25,800 ties and drove 28,160 spikes in a single day. On May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah, a golden spike was hammered into the final tie.

Footer

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift
  • Newsletter

Additional

  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2026 · IrishAmerica Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in