Civic reception for Clare New York Association

THE 125th anniversary of the Clare New York Association was marked on Monday when members were accorded a civic reception by Clare County Council.

Emigration by Clare men, women and children to New York has been ongoing for over two centuries. Famous Clare citizens who established new lives for themselves in New York have included Pat McDonnell of Doonbeg, who became an Olympic champion and policeman on Times Square; Mike McTigue from Kilnamona, who became a world champion boxer and Ballyea man Paddy Markham, who has a Gaelic football field (Paddy’s Field) named after him in Woodlawn.

Other notable Clare-born citizens of New York include submarine inventor John Philip Holland and Daniel O’Day from Kildysart, who oversaw the laying of the first pipe to transport oil to the Big Apple.

Clare people contributed to all walks of New York life, including teaching, carpentry, medicine, labour, law and the army. Down through the years, many shared their rich culture of music and dance and cultivated a love of Irish customs and traditions amongst other members of the Irish Diaspora.

The civic reception concluded a three-day visit by association members to the county, organised as part of the Gathering Ireland initiative. Kilrush man Noel Kilkenny (Consul General of New York) and Cathy Hogan (Association President), whose father hails from Kilkee, were amongst the travelling group.

Events during the Home to Clare weekend included an anniversary banquet, a commemorative mass, visits to the Cliffs of Moher and Loop Head,and a heritage and genealogy talk by the Clare Roots Society for association members.

Members also attended a special exhibition at De Valera Library focusing on Clare people in New York. This exhibition will continue to run for a number of weeks.

The County Claremen’s Association of New York was formed in 1888 by a group of Claremen under the leadership of first oresident, John Clun. It was later renamed the County Clare Patriotic, Benevolent and Social Association of New York.

“People from all walks of life in New York met regularly to discuss the welfare of Clare people and they rolled up their sleeves to provide support and friendship for young people who had left Clare,” Mayor of Clare Joe Arkins said at the civic reception.

“Such supports continue today and, on behalf of the people of Clare, I am delighted to join members of the association in celebrating their special anniversary in Clare. I admire their continued loyalty to the association’s principles that were adopted 125 years ago – to be united in patriotism to their adopted country and loyal to their native homeland,” he added.

“I think it is important that we continue to nurture the sense of partnership and friendship that exists. Out of sight should not be out of mind and with the continuing improvement in connectivity between Shannon and New York, I think more opportunities will arise to sustain and grow the relationship which exists between Clare Local Authorities and the Clare Association,” county manager Tom Coughlan added.