The book, first in a series, features an array of photos and stories on Irish immigrants and their descendants.
At right, standing, is Kevin O'Hara, taken at his family's home in Pittsfield in 1993. O'Hara was the 2012 John F. Kennedy Award winner for the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade. Author of "Last of the Donkey Pilgrims" and "A Lucky Irish Lad," he will lead a trip to Ireland on May 22-31, 2013, in conjunction with The Republican's publication of "The Irish Legacy: A History of the Irish in Western Massachusetts." From left, seated, is his sister, Mary, his Irish-born parents, James and Lella, and brother Dermot. Back row, from left, his other siblings, Kieran, Eileen, Michael, Anne, Marie, and Jimmy.In the market for a holiday gift for a local history buff in your family?
The Republican's "The Irish Legacy: A History of the Irish in Western Massachusetts" is scheduled for publication at the end of November and can be ordered on discount through Oct. 11 at sprish.pictorialbook.com
The hardcover publication, featuring several dozen stories and and photos, both submitted and from archives, is the first in a series The Republican is doing on ethnic groups in Western Massachusetts.
The second, "The Struggle for Freedom," is on African Americans.
The Irish book includes chapters on the history of Irish immigration and settlement in the Pioneer Valley as well as in Berkshire County, their election of such nationally significant politicians as the late U.S. Rep.Edward Boland, the son of Irish immigrants, and the culture's dance, music and sport traditions.
Here is one of the stories from the forthcoming book:
Patrick 'Irish Pat' Kelly
By MIKE BURKE
A native of County Derry, Ireland, who made a name for himself in the boxing world in America, a popular sport with many Irish, came to live in Holyoke in 1950.
It was the same year Patrick “Irish Pat” Kelly retired as a pro boxer after 48 professional fights. He won 41 of those bouts, a figure he was quite proud of.
Kelly first moved with his family to Ontario, Canada, from Ireland. He was a welder by trade but loved boxing from a young age.
He learned to box in Ontario and was an amateur champion in Canada several times before turning professional in the 1940s.
He started his pro career in the Syracuse, N.Y., area, and became fast friends with future boxing champion Carmen Basilio. He fought all over the United States and he headlined boxing cards in Chicago, at Yankee Stadium, in Detroit, and other areas. He came to Holyoke after World War II, where he served in the U.S. Army.
Kelly had several fights at the old Valley Arena in Holyoke. He settled in Holyoke after meeting and marrying his wife, Mary B. Cassidy, a lifelong Holyoke resident who was a member of the first colleen court of the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade in 1953.
Kelly always said he loved boxing at the Valley Arena because it was a such a small venue and the fans “were right in there with you.”
Kelly found a job at Package Machinery in East Longmeadow and worked there for 25 years before his retirement.
After retirement, he became a boxing trainer at the Holyoke Boys’ Club, getting fighters ready for the Western Massachusetts Golden Gloves.
While at the Boys’ Club, he worked with trainers such as Pat Bartlett, Gerry Hickey, Stan Bergeron and others, and trained a number of boxers, including his son Brian P. Kelly, who had an excellent amateur career and later became a Holyoke police officer and detective.
Pat Kelly was dedicated to his craft of boxing and was a fine trainer.
He was also a good family man, raising his son and two daughters, Margaret “Peggy” Kelly and Maureen Kelly Ferriter, with his wife, who died in 2005.
He was a dedicated veteran and loved his adopted country, all the while being proud of his Irish roots.
Patrick T. Kelly passed away in 1993 at the age of 67.
Related:
http://www.masslive.com/living/index.ssf/2012/08/republican-heritage-book-series.html