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New York City's top 10 Irish historical sites

By
DARA MCBRIDE
,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Friday, November 6, 2009, 3:01 PM
Updated Friday, November 6, 2009, 3:15 PM

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New York City's top 10 Irish historical sites | Ireland Vacations | IrishCentral




Read more: Ellis Island, New York City, United States, Cultural Institutions and Parks, Parks and Historic Sites, Culture and Lifestyle, History, U.S. History, World History
McSorely’s Old Ale House, the legendary Irish bar first opened its doors in 1854 and women were not allowed in until 1970
McSorely’s Old Ale House, the legendary Irish bar first opened its doors in 1854 and women were not allowed in until 1970

There’s an old joke that asks what’s the biggest difference between Ireland and the United States? The answer is that more Irish people live here.

Joking aside, the truth is the Irish have made their mark on Manhattan for centuries, building the skyscrapers, policing the streets and eventually running city hall.

That’s why when you visit the Big Apple you won’t be short of fascinating historical sites of enduring importance to the Irish.

Here’s a list of New York’s top 10 Irish historical sites.

1. Ellis Island

Ellis Island, located at the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor was from January 1, 1892, until November 12, 1954 the main entry facility for immigrants entering the United States. Its importance to the story of the United States is inestimable.

More than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954 but the very first immigrant to pass through Ellis Island was Annie Moore who arrived here from County Cork aboard the steamship Nevada on January 1, 1892, her fifteenth birthday. As the first person to be processed at the newly opened facility she was presented with an American $10 gold coin.

http://www.ellisisland.org/

 

2. Irish Hunger Memorial

One and a half million people died between 1846 and 1850 in the famine in Ireland. New York’s new Irish Hunger Memorial, located at is located on a one-half acre site at the corner of Vesey Street and North End Avenue in Manhattan, is a monument to those who perished during An Gorta Mor (The Great Hunger), and is a symbol to highlight areas of the world affected by hunger today.

Comprising in part a quarter-acre of land, arrayed with barren potato furrows, flora from County Mayo, the memorial features rocks from each of Ireland’s 32 counties.

http://www.batteryparkcity.org/page/page4_6.html

 

3. The Five Points

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Posted by CaliforniaShamrock on Dec 09, 2009, 02:17 PM EST
What about South Street Seaport? Before Castle Island and Ellis Island a lot of Irish landed there. My ancestors arrived there August 29, 1853
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Posted by pkeoughan on Nov 10, 2009, 07:20 PM EST
My Irish "penpal", really now one of my oldest, dearest friends, of 48 years and I are celebrating our retirements during the last year with a Christmas trip to NYC. This will help me plan a more meaningful visit. So interesting! Don't live in NY now, but remember going to McSorley's as a young adult and loving it. Thanks for the memory.
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Posted by Richard1 on Nov 09, 2009, 07:49 PM EST
Great article. I am proud to be able to say I was a good friend of Father Judge's. It is also important to remenber that he was a gay Franciscian Friar.
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Posted by manhattan on Nov 09, 2009, 01:38 PM EST
Calvary cemetery in Queens where the early Irish immigrants are buried along with soldiers of the Irish Brigade who were killed in the civil war. St. James church in what is now china town, where Gov. Al Smith served as an alter boy has shamrocks in its stained glass windows. The tombs under Old St. Pats that has irish men and women buried beneath the church with dates from 1845 on. The parochial schools were started in NYC because of the anti catholic and especially anti Irish that ran the public schools. There is so much Irish history in New York that there isn't enough space to tell it all.
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Posted by KMcSinger on Nov 09, 2009, 12:42 PM EST
I must be "truly" Irish, because the only landmark from this article that I've visited is McSorley's! Guess I better check out the rest next time I'm in NYC.
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Posted by slainte9 on Nov 09, 2009, 11:23 AM EST
The "Fresh" Irish are at it again. Where for "Irealand's sake" are a few of our real achievements in New York City: * St. Vincent's Hospital * Fordham University, whose alumni, among other things, gave us Franklin Roosevelt * The 69th Regiment Armory * Duffy Square and the little known nearby school that owes so much to Dennis Hart Mahan and its other Irish: * West Point, the United States Military Academy


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