100th Anniversary of Ireland's Easter Rising: Rockland Remembers

Rockland County Legislators have joined this week’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Ireland’s Easter Rising by formally recognizing the history-changing event.

Local Irish-American organizations have planned several Sunday events, including a Mass of Remembrance at 10:30 a.m., a parade at noon, and a ceremony at 12:45 p.m. A lunch is to follow at 2 p.m.

Sunday’s local commemoration will take place at the Rockland GAA Fields, 1 3rd Ave. in Orangeburg. The organizers of the event are the Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians, Rockland Irish Northern Aid MacBride Chapter, the Rockland GAA and the Council of Irish Associations of Greater Bergen County.

Click here for more information or to make lunch reservations.

Additionally, legislators have adopted a resolution that honors the sacrifices of those involved in the Rising, and Legislature Chairman Alden H. Wolfe has issued a Proclamation to specifically honor the 100th anniversary this Sunday.

“I am proud to honor these patriots,” Legislator Patrick Moroney said in a prepared statement. “They stood up to injustices that stretched back hundreds of years. They paid a high price, but as we have seen time and again, freedom is never free.”

The County Legislature voted 17-0 Tuesday to commemorate the “brave patriots of Ireland (who) gave their lives in pursuit of a free Ireland.” Their actions set Ireland on a course toward independence. Moroney (R-Pearl River) was the main sponsor of the resolution.

Pearl River was named the Most Irish Place in New York last year.

Legislator Vincent D. Tyer (R-Pearl River) pointed out that the Proclamation of the Irish Republic contained ideas that extended beyond Irish borders and that recognized those forced to flee.

“The proclamation was really a remarkable document,” Tyer said. “It begins, ‘Irish men and Irish women,’ and it was one of the first documents to ever recognize women as equals, and was well ahead of its time in so doing. It also mentioned ‘supported by her exiled children in America,’ all the people from Ireland that were forced to immigrate to the United States because of policies and starvation in Ireland.”

In attendance for the vote were guests Dermot Moore, president of Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians’ Division 3; James Clarke, treasurer for AOH Division 1, and Rich Lenihan, a member of AOH Division 3.

Moore served as Grand Marshal for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Pearl River, and has a special connection to the Easter Rising. His grandmother’s cousin, Sean MacDiarmada was one of the Proclamation signers. The English version of MacDiarmada is McDermott, and Dermot Moore is named for his relative.

In addition to MacDiarmada, the Proclamation of the Irish Republic was signed on behalf of the provisional government by Thomas J. Clarke, Thomas MacDonagh, Padraic Pearse, Eamonn Ceannt, James Connolly and Joseph Plunkett. All were executed for their roles in the Rising.

Wolfe said he was honored to formally recognize the Easter Rising and its patriots.

“One only need read the Proclamation of the Irish Republic to understand that these patriots were looking for the same things Americans hold so dear – religious and civil liberty, equal rights, and equal opportunities for all citizens,” Wolfe said. “It is clear to see why they believed that this pursuit of happiness and prosperity could only be achieved through complete independence.”

Although the Rising was unsuccessful, a spark had been ignited and soon led to the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The Republic of Ireland became a reality in 1949. The six counties of Northern Ireland remain part of the United Kingdom.

Caption: (Left to right) Rich Lenihan, a member of AOH Division 3, Legislator Vincent D. Tyer, Legislator Patrick Moroney, James Clarke, treasurer for AOH Division 1, and Dermot Moore, president of Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians’ Division 3/contributed