By William J. Sullivan
Hibernians from across Massachusetts and New Hampshire gathered on Sunday, May 3 to commemorate the Great Hunger at the An Gorta Mor Memorial on the grounds of the Saint Mary – Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence, MA.
The Memorial Service was attended by a large gathering of AOH and LAOH National, County, State, Division officers and members, civic and local leaders, as well as family and friends of the AOH and LAOH.
During the prayer service, the Rev. William Lohan, of Saint Monica Parish and Saint Lucy Parish in Methuen, remembered the Irish immigrants who perished in the Hunger in Ireland from 1845 – 1851, as well as the Irish immigrants, who came to the United States and made many great contributions to the City of Lawrence, and the nation as a whole.
Among those who spoke at the commemorative ceremony were: Mary R. Ryan, LAOH Past National President of Marlboro, MA, who brought the greetings from the AOH and LAOH National Boards; Paul Hogan, AOH State Vice President of Holyoke, MA, who brought the greetings from the AOH and LAOH State Boards; Kevin Buckley, Essex County Board Vice President of Derry, NH, who brought the greetings from both the AOH and LAOH Essex County Boards and Dr. Joseph Downs, Mass AOH State Historian of Lowell, MA, who was the guest speaker.
Dr. Downs spoke of the horrific times and sufferings that the Irish people in Ireland went through during this period. As a result of this tragic event many Irish men and women perished, while others immigrated to new lands in hopes of a better life.
Tens of thousands of these immigrants arrived in the United States, many of whom settled in Lawrence and the Merrimack Valley region. At the conclusion of the ceremony, a tricolor wreath of green, white and orange carnations was placed at the memorial by Division 8 LAOH Vice President Carol Calderone and Division 8 AOH Recording Secretary, Keith Murphy.
Anne Collins, of Division 8 LAOH, recited prayers in Irish for the deceased at the conclusion of the commemoration service. Bill Sullivan, President of Division 8 AOH, served as Master of Ceremonies.
A reception followed the ceremony.
