National Famine Memorial Day

Reverend Clergy, everyone assembled.

 As part of a world wide effort the Irish Government has declared today, May 17,  as National Famine Memorial Day and throughout the world ceremonies will be held to commemorate those who died or were forced to leave Ireland during the Great Hunger of 1845-1850.

An appropriate subject to speak about this morning is An Gorta Mor, the Great Hunger, or as the English and the misinformed call it the Famine. First let me explain why the hunger of 1845-1850 was not a famine. At that time the United States and the whole of Europe had a blight on the potato crop yet none of those countries had a famine nor did anyone die from starvation. There was an abundance of other crops available to the Irish people but the absentee landlords would not permit the people to eat the grain which was grown in Ireland nor would they allow them to eat the meat from the animals which were raised there. The potato was the staple food of the Irish peasant because that was all the landlords would let them grow. They hired guards to protect the warehouses and the convoys going to the docks to make sure these peasants did not get any of the available food which in turn was shipped to England and the Continent. Historians say that there was enough food in Ireland to feed the whole nation and England itself but again the greed for money by selling these products to the rest of Europe by the British took precedent. Many people who tried to get a grain of food to save the lives of their loved ones were brutally beaten or killed for their attempt. At that time the Irish could not own anything of value, not even a simple rowboat where they could have survived on their fishing skills and besides that the Landlords owned the rights to the rivers where only the English Gentry could fish. This forced Famine was nothing less than genocide in which almost 2 Million people died and the same number forced to emigrate. Those who did survive and could afford the passage were forced to flee their own country for a far away land, so began the exodus of the Irish Race to the New World of America. With so many people leaving it became a familiar term to say that those who could afford to emigrants left through the “Golden Door” and their leaving was not a joyful event and became known as “The American Wake” because they knew they would never see Ireland again.

After traveling for weeks on these overcrowded, unsafe, diseases ridden ships with such horrible conditions that they became known as Coffin Ships. Many of you saw firsthand what these ships were like when the Jeanie Johnston was here a few years back at Penn’s Landing. Even as these ships docked the newly arrived immigrants soon found out that there was going to be a battle for survival. They soon found out that their position in America was one of shame and poverty and no group of immigrants were considered lower than an Irishman. All major cities had their Shanty Town or Irish Town and they stuck together. Ads in newspapers for employment were followed by “No Irish Need Apply” They were forced to live in these cellars and shanty towns where poverty, sickness and an early death were commonplace. It was estimated that 80% of all infants born to Irish Immigrants in New York City died.

No matter what was done to these immigrants they were prepared to make a go of their new Country and they stuck together. Solidarity was their strength and their faith was what kept them going. The Catholic Church played an integral part in their lives and it was this militant church that fought not only for their souls but also for their human rights. After the religious riots in Philadelphia where many churches were burned, the Mayor of New York asked Archbishop Hughes, “Do you fear that some of your Churches will be burned” the Archbishop answered “no sir, but I am afraid some of yours will be, we can protect our own” Later that same year some New York officials asked the Archbishop to restrain the New York Irish and he replied that “I have not the power but you must take care that they are not provoked” the result was that NO Catholic Church in NY was burned.

The Irish were persistent and kept fighting for better living conditions, working conditions, respect and acceptance and eventually all were achieved. They worked mostly heavy dangerous jobs, building bridges, canals, railroads and mines and these were the most dangerous but better paying jobs and a common railroad workers expression was that there was an Irishman buried under every tie. The Irish did the work which was more dangerous and the slaves did the easier safer work because they were more valuable than an Irishman and the slave hated the Irish because they were treated the same yet the Irish were free. The common sentiment at the time was “let Negroes be servants and if not Negroes let the Irish take their place. The women were also very good workers as chambermaids, cooks and caretakers of children and when one prominent hotel proprietor was asked why all his women servants were Irish he replied “The Irish girls are industrious, willing, cheerful and honest, they work hard and they are very strictly moral. I should say that is good enough reason”.

These early immigrants it was said became more American than Americans themselves yet never giving up their allegiance to Ireland while holding on to their hatred of England. Twice they tried to invade Canada believing that they could trade Canadian Land for Ireland’s freedom from Britain. They loved their adopted country so much so that they fought and died in all of her wars up to this present day. In the Civil War they fought valiantly forming many groups of Irish warriors such as the Irish Brigade and were always accompanied by a priest who prayed with them before going into battle even against insurmountable odds. Their faith guided them and they would say that the English may have had a better life on earth but that they would have a better life in Heaven.

Around the early 1870’s saw the influx of large numbers of Jews, Slavs and Italian Immigrants among others, which led Americans to not only, accept the Irish but to consider them an asset: their Americanization was now recognized and with their ingenuity for organization, they were able to gain power and acceptance. They turned the tables so to say and began to be a powerful force in the police departments of all the large cities, Politics on a local and National level, leaders of Labor Unions and successful business men. In 1850 Orestes Brownson, a convert to Catholicism, stated: Out of these narrow lanes, dirty streets, damp cellars and suffocating garrets, will come forth some of the noblest sons of our country, whom she will delight to own and honor. How true this was because in a little over a century, Irish America had moved from the position of the despised to the Oval Office and the rest is recent history.

The reason I chose this small bit of history today is to make sure that we never let anything like this ever happen again anywhere in the world if we can prevent it. You as Irish Americans, especially the Hibernians,  have done an outstanding job feeding and clothing the hungry and homeless of Philadelphia as well as the veterans, regardless of creed, color or National Origin and you ask nothing in return except that those who are not yet involved to get involved. Thank you and have a great day, and remember to say a prayer for our men and women in uniform that God keeps them out of harm’s way whether in our city, throughout our country or overseas.