Ellen Newbold       April 5

Centelle Hardison  April 19

Barbara Lewis      April 23

Candis Smith        April 28


REMINDER:  Next month's meeting will be the third Tuesday. Mark your calendar - April 21st

Irish Patriots in the American Revolution

By Mary H. Forhan

(taken from March's Newsletter)

The American Revolution was the subject chosen by Michael Doheny when asked to contribute a volume to the Irish Library which was to be compiled in Dublin. Gavan Duffy and Thomas Davis were about to undertake this task nearly a century ago and sought the co- operation of Mr. Doheny in the work. Ireland’s contribution to the success of the Colonies in their terrific struggle for liberty should never be forgotten. “One half of the rebel army was Irish,” according to the testimony of Lord Galloway, Lord George Germain (the British Minister of War), Lord Cornwallis, Sir Henry Clinton, Major General Grey, Major General Anderson and others, given before a Parliamentary inquiry in the British House of Commons. The great number of Irish names on the Muster roll of the American army and navy is amazing.

Long before John Paul Jones was heard of in British waters the name of Captain Gustavus Conyngham, an Irishman, sailing under the American flag as a commissioned officer of the United States, was a terror to the naval authorities and the merchant marine of England. As early as 1777, and for over a year, Captain Conyngham ranged the Irish and English seas as if there were no British Navy, and enriched the treasury of the Colonial government by the capture of English ships, more than any American of his time.

In conclusion the words of George Washington Park Custis, adopted son of George Washington, may be quoted: “The aid we received from the Irish was essential to our ultimate success. In the War of Independence Ireland furnished one hundred men for every single man furnished by any other foreign nation. We should bear eternal gratitude to Irishmen.” Then honored be the good services of the sons of Erin in the War of Independence. Let the shamrock be entwined with the laurels of the Revolution. And with truth and justice guiding the pen of history shall be inscribed on the tablets of America’s remembrance, “Eternal gratitude to Irishmen”.