As the July 4th holiday approaches, sadly as with many of our other holidays, the true meaning of the day is lost a midst ballgames, cookouts, and fireworks. We forget that on that hot July of 1776 fifty six men came together to pledge their “lives, fortunes and sacred honor” to form a new country where “all men are created equal” and entitled to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. We forget that, in an 18th century where aristocracy was the norm, what a radical statement this was, even if we are still working to fulfill its promises. We forget these men were publicly taking on the largest Empire in the world; prior history predicting they had little prospect of success and the risk of a hangman’s rope if they failed. Even among those that do remember the meaning of the day, very few remember that nine of the men who signed the document that is arguably the greatest statement of freedom ever penned were Irish Americans.
If that was not enough of an Irish connection:
RELATED LINKS:
America's Birthday and the Irish
Gilmore's Two Extraordinary July 4th Concerts, Six Years Apart
Gerry Regan
That is fascinating, Neil. I hadn't heard that before. Thank you.
Also, "MacGregor despite them") -- is there a link to this? I don't understand the reference.
Jul 7, 2015
Gerry Regan
Also, Neil, what do you think of the AMC series "Turn"? I'm really enjoying Season 2. I've got three episodes to left to watch on our DVR.
Jul 7, 2015
Brian Nolan
Lynch's Castle as it appeared on a late 18th century woodcut. Thomas Lynch who signed the Declaration of Independence likely never set foot in this castle, but it would be nice to think that he had some painting or otherwise of his family's alma mater 'hanging' in his house n America, perhaps even this exact image. Lynches castle still stands today and is well maintained. It houses a branch of Allied Irish Bank and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Galway. Ironically, the Lynch family did not just flee to America. They went all over the world, including to Argentina, where one branch of the family produced another revolutionary, the iconic Ernesto 'Che' Guevarra. As somebody once said, 'one man's terrorist, is another man's freedom fighter.'
Jul 4, 2016