Massachusetts House Passes Resolution Honoring Irish Fenian, Civil War Hero and Lawrence Native Timothy Deasy

On July 21, 1971, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring Captain Timothy Deasy for his contributions to Irish freedom, his military service with the Massachusetts Irish 9th Regiment during the Civil War, and for his political career in Lawrence, where he was elected to the City Council and also represented the city in the House of Representatives.

The resolution was submitted by Representatives William H. Ryan of Haverhill and Thomas W. McGee of Lynn. Read the full resolution from the State House Library.

Born in Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland between 1839-41, Timothy Deasy emigrated to Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1847 with his family. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Deasy enlisted in the Ninth Massachusetts Regiment, composed of Irish immigrants and Irish-Americans from several towns in the Bay State. "He was promoted from the ranks for conspicuous gallantry and bravery to the rank of First Lieutenant, fighting through 32 engagements during the Civil War," according to the Resolution.

After the war, Deasy joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1864, and two years later led a 200 man cavalry detachment in the Fenian Invasion of Canada by Irish troops.

In 1872 Deasy was elected to the Lawrence City Council and in 1877 was elected from Lawrence to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

He died in Lawrence at age 39 in December 1880, and is buried at St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence/Andover. In 1990 the Irish National Graves Association designated Deasy's grave a national grave. In November 1992, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 8, placed a memorial tombstone on Deasy's grave.

AOH Director David R. Burke said at the time, "Deasy became a leading citizen of Lawrence, serving on the City Council and later in the State Legislature. But his historical contribution to Irish freedom and human rights is significant and deserves our appreciation.

US Ambassador to the Vatican Raymond L. Flynn, whose ancestors came from Clonakilty, praised the AOH for its keeping Deasy's memory alive, saying, "Our greatest task as Irish-Americans is to learn about our history."

Learn more about Irish history in Boston and Massachusetts by visiting irishheritagetrail.com

Comments

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 designer i

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 mayor was James

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 th

Irish Boston History & Heritage

Search This Blog