Honors Efforts In Construction Of Erie Canal
Assemblywoman Margaret Markey and the Board of Directors of Maspeth Town Hall will host a reception tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 12, to open a two-week public exhibition that spotlights the contributions of Irish Americans in building New York’s legendary Erie Canal.
Irish Counsel General Noel Kilkenny and his wife, Hanora O’Dea Kilkenny, will be special guests at the reception for the twoweek long exhibit, “The Irish and the Erie Canal.” Kilkenny, a native of County Clare, took up his post as a representative of the Republic of Ireland in 2010.
“I am pleased to join with Maspeth Town Hall in raising the awareness of our neighbors about the contributions of Irish-Americans to the development of New York and the Nation,” said Markey. “The historical exhibit is a fascinating look into New York’s history and is a won- derful educational resource for school groups and senior and civic organizations.”
Created by the Irish American Heritage Museum, this exhibit is cosponsored by the American-Irish Legislators Society. It chronicles the historical contributions of the Irish in planning, designing and building the famed Canal that helped transform New York City into a world economic power by linking the Great Lakes and the interior of America to NYC, the Atlantic Ocean and the world beyond.
The exhibit will be on public view on weekday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. through Sunday, Oct. 21. School, senior organizations and civic groups may schedule daytime visits by calling 1-718-651- 3185. Maspeth Town Hall is located at 53-37 72nd St. in Maspeth.
Markey added, “I am proud to have provided State support for the work of the Museum that created this traveling exhibit. The Museum does important work in telling the story of the contribu tions of the Irish people and their culture to America, a group that numbers some 40 million people.”
Find more information about the museum and its work on line at www.irishamericanheritagemuseum.org.
