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Worcester Hibernians Unveil Celtic Cross in 1977 to Mark 150th Anniversary of the Irish Settling Here to Build the Canal

 

Worcester Celtic Cross in Summer, 2024. Photo credit: Devin Quinlin

On Sunday, September 18, 1977, the Irish community of Worcester and Central Massachusetts unveiled a 15 foot Celtic Cross at City Hall, to mark the 150th anniversary of the Irish settlement in Worcester, which took place in 1826.

A  series of events took place the weekend of September 16-18, starting with a Memorial Ball on Friday night at the Sheraton Lincoln Inn, featuring the Paddy Noonan Irish Dance Band of New York.

On Saturday, a Memorial Mass was held at St. John's Church on Temple Street, with principal celebrant Bernard J. Flanagan, Bishop of Worcester, and Reverend Edward T. Connors.  Music was provided by the Blessed Sacrament Church Choir and the Worcester State College Community Orchestra. 


Program Book for the September 18, 1977 Celtic Cross Unveiling

At the dedication ceremony on Sunday, an Irish Dance exhibition started the proceedings with the Jug of Punch folk group, then an invocation by Reverend Thomas J. McKeon of Aldersgate Methodist Church.  Welcoming remarks were made by Worcester Mayor Thomas J.Early and US Congressman Joseph D. Early, and Irish Ambassador to the U.S. John G. Molloy  brought greetings from Ireland.  

The Celtic Cross itself measured 4' 6" x 3' 10" x 15' high, and was made by the Milton Monument Company in Randolph, MA.  Detail design was made by Joseph Calgagni of the Barre Granite Corporation in Barre, VT. 

The principle speaker of the day was Professor Vincent E. Powers of Worcester State College, who gave a summary of the Irish settling in Worcester as early as 1718, when a group of Ulster Scots landed in Boston and were sent beyond the pale by skittish Puritans who were suspicious of the Irish.

On July 4, 1826, the first wave of Irish immigrants came here, under the employ of Tobias Boland, to build the Blackstone Canal.  Many of them had just completed work on the Eire Canal and were expert builders and laborers.  The Blackstone Canal was completed in 1828.

"This memorial is meant to be for all those who came to our city from Ireland, regardless of their ethnic background, religious beliefs, district or province of origin, socio-economic status, or even whether they were literate or skilled or not.  In a sense, all the people of Worcester are part of this sage of the people from Ireland for by their coming and subsequent actions these ethnic pioneers have altered and shaped our Sicily.  This is a most human saga - indeed, one to be memorialized," Powers said in closing. 

Today, the Worcester Irish community remains vibrant, and holds a number of year-round activities for Irish music and dance, language courses and Gaelic games.  Read about the Worcester Hibernian Cultural Centre on Temple Street, run by the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Read the story on the Irish in Central Massachusetts in the spring 2024 issue of BITA's Travel + Culture magazine. 

- Research + Text, Michael Quinlin

 

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