Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on March 5, 2017

By Cheryl A. Cuddahy, ccuddahy@sentinelandenterprise.com

Meredith Marcinkiewicz shows a shillelagh that will be on display. (SUN/JOHN LOVE)

SHIRLEY -- When reading through the 19th-century census reports for Shirley, Meredith Marcinkewicz, curator of the Shirley Historical Society Museum, realized how many people immigrated to Shirley from Ireland.

"Some of my ancestors came from Ireland at the same time, and I wanted to find out more about why they left Ireland and why they came to Shirley," said Marcinkewicz.

And in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, Marcinkewicz said, "The month of March seemed to be the perfect time for an exhibit -- titled 'The Irish in Shirley' -- to honor the Shirley people with an Irish heritage."

"When I began to research this, I found out how terrible living conditions were for the poor people in Ireland, particularly during the potato famines when one quarter of the population died and another one quarter emigrated," she said.

"I believe that our exhibit explains the causes and effects of this tragedy," she added.

Through her research, Marcinkewicz found there were originally 90 first- and second-generation Irish immigrants here in 1850. The Shirley Irish population grew and reached its peak in the town at a high of 259 in 1870.

"The early immigrants worked in the mills and worked as domestic servants," she said. "They had large families, who were mostly Catholic, but it took 50 years before a Catholic church was built in Shirley.

"Later generations branched out into other occupations or moved into larger cities where there were more industrial and social opportunities," she said.

Several charts are on display explaining the changes in numbers and occupations.

Some of the Irish families who have lived in Shirley for 150 years include descendants of the Flynn, Gately and Daley families.

Now, Marcinkewicz said, there are just a few Shirley people who can trace their ancestry to Ireland, but, one of them -- second-generation Irish-American Pat O'Malley Wood, has graciously lent the society a collection of Irish china and linen for the display.

"Among the displayed items, visitors will also find a collection of reference books about the Great Hunger and the lifestyle of the new Irish-Americans -- "Out of Ireland, Across the Western Ocean," and "A Lucky Irish Lad."

An opening reception and program will be held at 2 p.m. today and will feature an illustrated lecture on the Irish immigrant experience by Christopher Daley.

Daley is a history teacher in the Silver Lake Regional School System in Kingston, a published author and experienced lecturer.

He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Bridgewater State College.

His illustrated lecture, titled "Irish Need Not Apply: The History of the Irish in Boston," is being funded by a grant from the Shirley Cultural Council.

The exhibit will remain up through the first week in May and can be seen on Mondays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Shirley Historical Society Museum is at 182 Center Road in Shirley and is fully handicapped-accessible.

For more information, call 978-425-9328 or email mail@shirleyhistory.org.

Go here to see the original:
Program reveals strong Ireland-Shirley connection - Lowell Sun

Category: Jewish American Heritage Month
Tags: