Stack Honors Irish-American Heritage Month in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, MARCH 13, 2009 — State Sen. Mike Stack this week introduced a resolution honoring the month of March as Irish-American History Month in Pennsylvania, which the Senate unanimously voted for.

“St. Patrick’s Day is a great opportunity to honor the patron saint of Ireland and celebrate the holiday with friends,” Stack said. “This Sunday, the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Philadelphia, which has been a tradition since 1771.”

However, through Irish-American Heritage Month, Pennsylvanians can take this entire month to honor the contributions that Irish Americans made to Pennsylvania and to our country.

“The Irish emigrated to Pennsylvania looking for new opportunities. They worked in our coal mines and factories, formed communities, and built churches and schools,” Stack said. “Today, we can find Pennsylvanians of Irish heritage in all aspects of our society.”

Pennsylvania has a rich history of Irish immigrants who settled here, including the Molly Maguires, a secret Irish society that operated in the 1800s in northeastern Pennsylvania’s coal region.

There are several opportunities to learn about this secret society, as well as the history of our Irish ancestors in Pennsylvania’s coal region, including the Molly Maguire Auto Tour through Carbon and Schuylkill counties; the Hibernian House in Girardville, Pa.; the Old Jail Museum in Jim Thorpe, Pa.; Eckley Miners’ Village near Hazelton, Pa.; Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton, Pa.; and the Pioneer Tunnel in Ashland, Pa., according to the Pennsylvania Tourism Office.

“Both Irish-American history and the coal industry are key elements in Pennsylvania’s history,” Stack said. “I hope that we can all take time to remember our Irish American predecessors who helped shape the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

For more information about the tours and locations in the state’s coal region, go to visitPA.com or call 800-VISIT-PA.

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