July 4th

Photo Album: Nanna’s First Fourth

Submitted by Lori Cassels
June / July 2018

May 9, 2018 by 4 Comments

“Kate, be careful when you get to America, the streets are full of gangsters!” That is what my grandmother, we called her Nanna, heard before she boarded the ship to America in the 1920s. It was advice from her brother, Jim Connolly, who bonded her and paid for her third class (steerage) passage. As the story goes, Kate Connolly arrived in New York in the … [Read more...] about Photo Album: Nanna’s First Fourth

June 1, 1866

Renegade Irish American Fenians invade Ontario, Canada from the U.S. and successfully capture Fort Erie. Their purpose was to disrupt the transportation network in Canada until Britain would recognize Ireland’s freedom. Approximately 1,000 Fenian brothers, under the command of Colonel John O’Neill, crossed the Niagara River. They defeated the inexperienced Canadian militia at Ridgeway. U.S. forces intervened a few days later, forcing a surrender. Authorities arrested the men and confiscated their weapons, however, it is believed that the U.S. government had prior knowledge of plans for a Fenian invasion and instead of intervening immediately, waited to act due to anger at the British for aiding the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Photo Album: Nanna’s First Fourth

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