Skip to main content

Unveiled in 2016, the Garden of Remembrance in Springfield, Massachusetts Commemorates the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin

Garden of Remembrance, Springfield, MA. Courtesy of Springfield.gov
The Garden of Remembrance commemorating Ireland's uprising of 1916 was officially unveiled at Forest Park in Springfield, MA on Sunday, May 15, 2016. It was the first memorial in the United States to recognize the 100th anniversary of Ireland's Easter Rising of April, 1916, where Irish rebels attempted to overthrow British forces occupying Ireland.  Congressman Richard E. Neal and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno presided over the event and were joined by officials from the Irish community,

Garden of Remembrance, Springfield, MA. Courtesy of Springfield.gov
"The Easter Rising was a seminal moment in Irish history and it helped transform cities like Springfield and Boston," said Congressman Neal. "The Garden of Remembrance is a direct call to Ireland's exiled children in America, and the Proclamation is one of the few declarations of independence in the world that references both men and women equally. The Rising of 1916 led to the creation of the modern Irish state and it was heavily influenced many families who settled here in the City of Springfield and the surrounding communities. I strongly encourage everyone to take part in this weekend's exciting commemoration ceremonies. This is the first Garden of Remembrance to be completed in America, and its dedication will help strengthen the bonds between the western Massachusetts and Ireland."

The centerpiece of the Garden of Remembrance is a copy of the 1916 Proclamation calling for the establishment of an Irish Republic free from British rule.
Garden of Remembrance, Springfield, MA. Courtesy of Springfield.gov
"We are proud to be the first in the United States to construct the 1916 Gardens of Remembrance," said Mayor Domenic Sarno. "This garden represents the fabric of our community and the Pioneer Valley as the support for this garden has been tremendous. We encourage all of our citizens to join in the planned programs this weekend. We are honored to showcase our local talent, “Billy Egan and the Rising” and “Dee Reilly” who will provide a memorable evening. I look forward to honoring the local Irish organizations Saturday night; it is for their stewardship that has ensured their faith and family traditions have been passed through the generations. The Sunday commemoration ceremony will be a time to pay our respect to those who sacrificed to meet the aims of the Irish proclamation.”

As part of the centenary commemoration in 2016, a number of events were held in Massachusetts and through the United States. The Irish Government issued a 2016 Programme summarizing all of the activities.


Easter Rising Monument in Scituate, MA, Courtesy of SSIHT

In 2020, the Irish community in Scituate also unveiled a monument to the 1916 Irish Rising, with a repica of the 1916 proclamation. The plaque is part of the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail. 

For a historical perspective on Massachusetts' activities during the 1916 Uprising, read Michael Quinlin's story, Boston and the Irish Rising, in Irish America Magazine.

Research + Text, Michael Quinlin

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Boston Celtics : The Story Behind Their Irish Green Theme

Bill Russell played for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1959 (This story was updated in March 2024) Many people wonder why the  Boston Celtics  wear shamrocks on their green uniforms and have a giant leprechaun smoking a cigar as their team logo. And why is the team mascot a guy named Lucky who looks like he stepped out of a box of Lucky Charms? According to the Boston Celtic’s official web site, the name came about in 1946 when owner Walter Brown started the team. He and his public relations guy, Howie McHugh, were throwing out potential nicknames, including the Whirlwinds, Unicorns and Olympics. It was Brown who had the epiphany, saying, “Wait, I’ve got it – the Celtics. The name has a great basketball tradition from the old Original Celtics in New York (1920s). And Boston is full of Irishman. We’ll put them in green uniforms and call them the Boston Celtics.” Red Auerbach , the now legendary coach of the early Celtics, then commissioned his brother Zang, a graphic d...
Post a Comment
Read more

Boston Mayors of Irish Descent, 1885-2021

(Originally published in 2013, this post was updated in 2021) Here are the Mayors of Boston Claiming Irish Heritage:  Hugh O’Brien 1885–88 Patrick Collins 1902–05 John F. Fitzgerald 1906–07, 1910–13 James M. Curley 1914–17, 1922–25, 1930–33, 1946–49 Frederick W. Mansfield 1934–37 Maurice Tobin 1938–41, 1941-44 John Kerrigan 1945 John B. Hynes 1950–59 John Collins 1960–68 Kevin H. White 1968–83 Raymond L. Flynn 1984–93 Martin J. Walsh   2014- 2021 The lineage of Boston mayors with Irish ancestry dates back to 1885, when Irish immigrant Hugh O'Brien of County Cork assumed office and became the first Irish-born mayor elected in Boston, serving four one-year terms (1885-88).   O'Brien was followed by Irish-born Patrick Collins (1902-05), also of County Cork, who died in office in 1905. He was replaced by John F. Fitzgerald, who became the first American-born mayor of Irish descent, serving two terms.  A noteworthy...
Post a Comment
Read more

Visit these Public Memorials to John Boyle O'Reilly throughout Massachusetts

  Born 180 years ago on June 28, 1844, John Boyle O’Reilly helped shape the history or Ireland and America in the late 19th century in powerful ways. Today, O'Reilly’s stature as a seminal figure in Irish and Irish-American history is particularly evident in his beloved birthplace of Dowth, County Meath; in Freemantle, Australia where he was imprisoned; and indeed, throughout the Irish Diaspora.  O'REILLY LANDMARKS IN MASSACHUSETTS O’Reilly remains popular in Boston, New Bedford, Hull and Springfield where there is a selection of memorials and plaques, parks and city squares, library collections and Irish organizations honoring O’Reilly’s memory. In Boston, the John Boyle O’Reilly Memorial at the corner of Boylston Street and The Fens, not far from Fenway Park, was unveiled in 1896 by famed Concord sculptor Daniel French. The Memorial is part of Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail. In Charlestown, O’Reilly lived at 34 Winthrop Street, where there is a plaque in his honor. In 1988 t...
Post a Comment
Read more