Assemblywoman Margaret Markey and the board of directors of Maspeth Town Hall will host a reception on October 12th to open a two week public exhibition that spotlights the contributions of Irish Americans in building New York’s legendary Erie Canal.

Irish Consul General Noel Kilkenny and his wife, Hanora O’Dea Kilkenny, will be special guests at the reception for the two-week long exhibit, “The Irish and the Erie Canal.”

“I am pleased to join with Maspeth Town Hall in raising the awareness of our neighbors about the contributions of Irish-Americans to the development of New York and the Nation,” said Assemblywoman Markey. “The historical exhibit is a fascinating look into New York’s history and is a wonderful educational resource for school groups and senior and civic organizations.”

Created by the Irish American Heritage Museum, this exhibit is co-sponsored by the American-Irish Legislators Society. It chronicles the historical contributions of the Irish in planning, designing and building the famed Canal that helped transform New York City into a world economic power by linking the Great Lakes and the interior of America to NYC, the Atlantic Ocean and the world beyond.

Markey added, “I am proud to have provided State support for the work of the Museum that created this traveling exhibit. The Museum does important work in telling the story of the contribu¬tions of the Irish people and their culture to America, a group that numbers some 40 million people.”

The exhibit will be on public view, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on weekday evenings and from 10am-2pm on weekends through October 21. School, senior organizations and civic groups may schedule day-time visits by calling 718-651-3185. Maspeth Town Hall is located at 53-37 72nd Street in Maspeth

Find more information about the museum and its work online at www.irishamericanheritagemuseum.org.