In search of the Celtic Cross in Times Square
PDX HIBERNIAN INDEPENDENT 7 May 2026
More than an email. Less than a newspaper. Weekly newsletter of the Portland Hibernian Society. Delivered every Thursday. Available on your browser.
Next meeting. May 21, 2026. Seven P.M.- Kells Restaurant - 112 SW Second Ave When JFK Went "Home" to Ireland. Presentation by Hibernian Pat Casey. Dinner at Six P.M. (No host). Presentation and discussion after dinner. Free dessert. JFK Trivia too.
May is Membership Month. If you paid your dues last May, you've received an email reminder that it’s time to renew your support. Go raibh maith agat for those of you who have paid your dues for 2026. (The PHS doesn't believe in automatic renewals and will never share your email address.) You can support the PDX HI and all we do at the Portland Hibernian Society by clicking here.
How many of these people in Times Square know who this stature is dedicated to? Or who he was?
Three really is a Celtic Cross (of sorts) in Midtown Manhattan
Finding myself in NYC for a wee reunion of the Gallaghers, I wanted to check out what is listed as one of the half dozen or so Celtic Crosses in America; our Hibernian High Cross at Mt. Calvary among them. I have to admit that even though this wasn't my first trip to Times Square, it's the first time I took a good look at the Celtic Cross there. Long story shortl: This New York landmark honors Father Francis Duffy, World War I chaplain of New York’s 69th Regiment. Father Duffy loved being a priest near Broadway as the pastor of nearby Holy Cross Church in Hell’s Kitchen. He no doubt is delighted that his statue now shares the square with George M. Cohan, another of Broadway’s Irish characters. Coming in the PDX HI: Pat O'Brien played the part of Father Duffy in the movie The Fighting 69th. What a story! (All four of O'Brien's grandparents emigrated from Ireland. Cork on the pternal side. Galway on his mother's side.)
FAQs. Oregon's own Celtic High Cross
Now posted at the PHS website. Some things you may want to know about the real Celtic High Cross on the western rim of Portland. CROSS TALK is the first article to come about the Hibernian High Cross and the connections of thee ancient works of spiritual art to Irish history and culture. This is Column One: How and why and who built it. Ireland's High Crosses - Vikings couldn't steal or destroy them.
Say farewell on May 14. Micheal Smith, Ireland's current Western US Consul General, is leaving soon for his next diplomatic assignment: Saudi Arabia. Irish Network Portland is hosting a relaxed, no-host dinner at Kells on 2nd Ave at 7pm NEXT Thursday. Smith, Consul General of Ireland in San Francisco,has left his mark on the Consulate with his direct diplomacy for the last three years. He is headed soon with his family to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on his next diplomatic mission for the Republic of Ireland. What that might be like in times like these is sure to come up. Please RSVP to: irishnetworkportland@gmail.com
Ireland releases details of the 1926 census. It' pretty big deal
Many of you have studied the 1911 census in Ireland, looking for evidence of ancestors. That was the last census conducted by the British in Ireland until 1926, at which time they were gone from Ireland in all but the Six Counties. So, the Irish counted themselves. Having been sealed for 100 years, the details have been released and millions are going on line to study them.
Is it over betweeen America and England?
With King Charles II being feted at a gala at the White House recently, there's a lot written about whether that special relationship still exists between the US and UK. The man who represents the UK as Ambassador to the US told CNN the US has a special relatiobnship. But it isn't with England.
Don't forget. Sunday is Mother's Day
"Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don't want them to become politicians in the process." JFK
How about some very traditional Irsh music and dancing for Mother's Day
