Irish Revolution leader's mother was from Rochester
On Friday, March 16, St. John Fisher College hosted an Irish Studies Conference to help Irish men and woman could celebrate their heritage, as well as teach others about their culture. Throughout the different sections of the celebration, guest speakers who spoke about different topics related to Irish culture.
One of the speakers was Patricia Carey, a Rochester woman who enjoys Irish music and studying Irish history. She spoke about a historical Rochester woman named Catherine Wheelwright, who lived from 1858 to 1932. Carey described her life, introducing her children and multiple husbands. While living in New York and married to a Cuban man she became the mother of Éamon de Valera, who became a prominent political figure in Ireland. He also led the fight for Ireland’s independence from Britain from 1919 to 1921.
Although not born in the United States, Catherine (by now Wheelwright) and her family became Rochesterians, and members of Blessed Sacrament Church. As Irish Catholics, she and her family established their lives in Rochester, and their house on Brighton Street can still be seen today.
The purpose of Carey’s speech was to inform her audience about the Irish roots in Rochester. Although the Irish culture may not be the most represented heritage in this city, there are still strong symbols and pieces of heavy Irish culture that are still a part of the community.
- Ben Bostick
Couple describes their work with Irish Children's Program
Suzanne and Gary Roscoe took the stage during the second session of the St. John Fisher Irish Studies Conference on Friday March 16 to speak about the Irish Children’s Program.
Gary began by summing up the program, which brings children ages 10-14 to Rochester from Belfast, Northern Ireland each summer. The Irish Children’s Program is a non-profit organization that started in 1982. Since then it has brought more than 600 children from Ireland through various donations and fundraising.
The program aims to break the barrier between Catholic and Protestant children, who wouldn’t have the opportunity to ever meet in Ireland due to religious tension. Gary explained the program by saying that they aim to “just let the kids be kids.”
He described three things that he loved about the program: the bravery of the kids who come to stay with complete strangers, the support given since the program is 100 percent volunteer run, and the people that it attracts. He and Suzanne have been very active in the program and it was clear that they are very passionate about it.
Suzanne followed up by sharing their experience of hosting one of the children. Suzanne, Gary, and their two children were graced with the presence of 12-year-old Nicole. They became quite attached to Nicole and ended up footing the bill for her to visit for the next five summers. Suzanne described the hosting as “rewarding and eye opening.”
It was clear that the Irish Children’s Program has found a place in the couple’s hearts and home. To learn more about the Irish Children’s Program, donate, or become a host visit www.irishchildrensprogram.com.
- Krista Pilla
History professor explores Irish American experience in Rochester
Another guest speaker at the Irish Studies program at St. John Fisher College was the college’s own professor Carolyn Vacca, who also is Monroe County historian. She used her time to speak about how courses can be used to teach students more about immigration.
She touched at the heart strings of her audience by explain how hard it is for immigrants to leave everything that he or she knows to live in an unknown place, and not be able to communicate very well with the others that he or she is around. She spoke about the history of Irish immigration to the United States, and how immigration was a vital part of the culture, growth, and economy of the United States. Irish immigration to the United States was heavily influenced by the potato famine, as well as other pull factors from America such as the hope for a better job in the growing job market.
Vacca hopes that by studying topics such as these, students will overcome discrimination towards immigrants. She hopes to relay the message that, “we can use our past experiences to impact our future.” These future courses are sure to open eyes to our changing world, and will be one step closer to becoming one human race..
- Ben Bostick
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