Irish America

Irish America

Rockaway Beach

Rockaway 1953: The Irish Riviera

Rosemary Rogers
October 2, 2021 Newsletter

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The image above was taken at Rockaway Beach on 115th Street, what was then the heart of the Irish Riviera. Irish immigrants flocked to Rockaway for a day at the beach, followed by Playland and an evening on the boardwalk. Lucky Irish families came here to spend their summer vacations, staying in boarding houses, usually in one room sharing a communal kitchen, bathroom and … [Read more...] about Rockaway 1953: The Irish Riviera

Another Tragedy for Rockaway

By Patricia Daly, Contributor
February / March 2002

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When American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in Rockaway Beach, Queens, it hit a tight-knit community already reeling from numerous losses suffered in the World Trade Center tragedy. After taking off only two minutes earlier from Kennedy Airport, located across Jamaica Bay, flight 587 broke apart and nose-dived directly into a heavily populated area of Rockaway known as Belle … [Read more...] about Another Tragedy for Rockaway